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Demolition
of Buddha’s statues condemned Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 19: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today denounced the demolition of Buddha’s statues by Taliban and burning of holy Quran’s copies by some fundamentalists in New Delhi recently. "Tareekh Button Ko Meetane Se Mit Naheen Sakti (history can’t be changed by removing statues)", Abdullah said while replying to debate on grants of the Ministries under his control in Legislative Assembly today. Abdullah, who made his first speech in Assembly after his return from 20-days Haj, said :"Taliban can remove Buddha’s statue but can’t change history. History will remain there whether statues remain or not". He also denounced the forces responsible for burning of holy Quran in New Delhi few days back. Referring to alleged defence deals scam, Abdullah welcomed the announcement of inquiry by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee but said the four month time, fixed for completion of inquiry, was very long. "Inquiry should be completed immediately and action taken against anyone found guilty", he said, adding ‘those who are not guilty should be absolved of all charges’. He also favoured a discussion on the allegations in Parliament. Abdullah repeated his appeal to Pakistan to live in peace and ‘let us live in peace’. This objective will be good for both the countries, he asserted and criticised Pakistan for driving Jammu and Kashmir State towards destruction. Denying the allegations levelled from some quarters regarding diversion of development funds towards militancy, the Chief Minister (without naming Hurriyat leaders) said ‘everybody knows that who was receiving funds from across the border and other countries’. He regretted that Centre hadn’t been able to contain the flow of hawala money to these leaders. Voicing concern over corruption, Abdullah said the Government has activated Vigilance Organisation, which has booked a number of Government officials and registered cases against them. Drive against corruption will continued, he said and denied that Government was adopting different yardsticks in sanctioning prosecution of officials. "One of my relative approached me for not sanctioning prosecution of an official but I categorically turned down the request and told Vigilance to go ahead with the charges", he disclosed. The Chief Minister, however, admitted that corruption can’t be removed in a single shot. At this, he was interrupted by Congress (I) MLA from Kalakote Ashok Sharma, who demanded that Government should legalise corruption and fix rates of bribe. Abdullah countered Sharma saying the rupee rates continue to fluctuate and, as such, the rate of corruption can’t be fixed. Replying to a query by CPM member Mohd Yusuf Tarigami on strike launched by Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) employees, Dr Abdullah announced payment of salary and Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to the employees. He said the public sector was constantly running on losses and the Government had appointed Godbole Committee which suggested disbanding of some Corporations. "We are going through that process and were also preparing a Golden handshake scheme of the employees", he added. Regarding MLAs demand for raising their Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, the Chief Minister assured the House that this will be done if Centre increased their next year’s annual plan. He said the balanced payment of CDF will be released when Centre released Rs 350 crore of plan, which has been withheld. He said the Union Home Ministry wants development effort to be redoubled in militancy ravaged State but at the same time there are hurdles in allocating sufficient funds for the purpose. The annual plan of the State has remained static for the past three years despite Planning Commission assurance of allotting Rs 9500 to 10000 crore during 9th plan period. This year’s plan, he said was finalized just at the fag end of the fiscal year and Rs 350 crore out of Rs 1750 crore were withheld for no reason. He said he has taken it up with the Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee yesterday to release the withheld amount so that development needs of all areas are attended to. He sought help of BJP members in persuading Centre to release this amount. He said when this amount is released and also higher outlay of our plan given, the CDF would be enhanced, saying that this fund does not lapse. Dr Abdullah said the monetary performance of Jammu and Kashmir is far better compared to other states and there seems no justification for withholding Rs 350 crore. In fact, due to its peculiar situation the State needed much more funds to meet the development needs. This assumes greater significance in order to face the challenges of militancy, he added. In reply to various cut motions, the Chief Minister said the State Government had accepted in toto and initiated action on the recommendations of Justice S R Pandian Commission report on the firing at Brakpur (Bulbul Nowgam) that indicted seven police officials. After filing the FIR three State police officials of SOG, were placed under suspension. The investigations into the case have been completed and challans would be filed shortly. The report has been sent to the Union Home Ministry for action against indicted CRPF officials. On the basis of this report several officers were placed under suspension for negligence and lack of supervision, which include Mr Farooq Ahmed Khan, SP, Mr Tejinder Singh Dy SP and Mr Gazanfar Ahmad, SI. He said the district administration failed to appreciate the situation. About enquiry into the Chittisinghpora incident, the Chief Minister said that Mr Pandian was approached, and even he himself requested him in New Delhi and Chennai, for taking up the probe which he declined owing to personal engagements. He, however, said the Centre was approached by former Law Minister Late Mr Handoo for nominating a judge to enquire into the carnage. The new Law Minister would pursue it further. He said necessary instructions have been issued to examine and implement the suggestions of the Pandian Commission for preventing recurrence of such incidents in future. On Mukerjee enquiry report on killing of Amarnath pilgrims etc in Pahalgam in August last year, Dr Abdullah said that this too has been accepted in toto and action has been initiated against four police officers who were indicted for negligence and dereliction of duty. They have also been charge sheeted, he said adding that Mr K Rajindera, DIG has been appointed as Enquiry Officer. He will hold departmental enquiry further to findings of the Mukherjee Committee and make recommendations of specific action to be taken against these officers within one month. As regards CRPF personnel found indicted in the report, the Union Home Ministry has already been requested to take action against them. He said the recommendations of Mukherjee probe for overseeing Amarnath yatra and effecting improvement of the Yatra management were examined by a committee of Officers at a meeting recently chaired by the Governor and the suggestions of the committee would be available within a week. A Board is being set up for Amarnath Yatra and assured that the arrangements during Amarnath yatra this year would be further improved. Acknowledging the splendid work by Jammu and Kashmir police in combating militancy, Dr Abdullah said that though borders have turned quite in the wake of cease-fire announcement by the Prime Minister, yet the major brunt of maintaining internal security is being borne by the police. Police is suffering more causalities than para military forces in discharging their duties, he said and announced that the Centre has ultimately agreed, after great persuasion, to enhance the ex-gratia to the kin of killed police personnel at par with PMF. He said the security grid is being strengthened in the State, which include provision of sophisticated weaponry and other logistics to VDCs and SPOs. He said recruitment of SPOs is not a job opportunity but a necessity due to disruption in the public order in a particular area. At present there is no proposal for providing any Government employment to SPOs. He said All India pattern of voluntarism is to be adopted about Homeguards. He said the Centre has partly acceded to the state’s demand about 5000 SPOs, of which 3000 have been sanctioned while remaining 2000 are also expected to be cleared. The Centre has provided over Rs 15 crore for procuring sophisticated weapons and improving mobility and communication. Dr Abdullah referred to the unique procedure of on-the-spot recruitment by Police Chief and appreciated the good work by Mr Gurbachan Jagat in reactivating state police force, hoping that his successor will maintain it. He said thrust is being laid on having a composite police force from various areas of the State to meet the challenges posed by elements inimical to peace. Jammu and Kashmir is a mini India and therefore it needs a force that can instill confidence among the people of all the three regions. He assured that the pay anomalies of ministerial and executive cadre in the police would be removed. The Chief Minister said unemployment poses a big challenge to the country and sought an action plan to be formulated mutually by the State Governments and the Centre to address to this problem. In Jammu and Kashmir, there is no other source of employment than Government jobs because the State lacks industry. He said though the Planning Commission is insisting on down sizing the establishment, 65000 youth were provided jobs in recent years. He also complimented the vigilance organization and said that cases have been registered against the guilty. He said he never withheld the sanctions for prosecutions. He said the work on Dal Conservation Project has received a new impetus as many springs in its periphery have been revived. Two dredging machines are currently engaged in desilting while another two are proposed to be procured, which after completing work in the Dal would be pressed into service in other water bodies like Anchar and Wullar lakes. He said human greed has taken toll of water bodies in the State and stressed for their conservation in Ladakh and Jammu divisions too. Cautioning against the impeding drought, the Chief Minister said special exigency plans need to be formulated to meet the situation. On fixing priorities to development works, the Chief Minister said the district development boards with representatives of people would be finalizing the schemes to be taken in respective areas. The board meetings would be held immediately after the budget session and the local demands like opening of fire stations etc could be considered there. He denied the charge that Leh and Kargil districts have been ignored in respect of funds and said in fact the region has got priority in provision of funds. The Chief Minister also replied the cut motions moved by the members. Mr M Y Tarigami withdrew his cut motion while the other cut motions moved by Mr Ashok Khajuria, Mr Som Nath, and Mr Prithvi Chand were rejected by the House when put to vote. Later the House passed the grants amounting to Rs14,04,20,01,000 pertaining the departments under the charge of Chief Minister. Earlier 16 members including Sheikh Abdul Rehman, Mr.Khalid Najib Shurwardhy, Mr Abdul Gani Malik, Mr Shiv Charan Gupta, Mr.Saif-ullah Mir, Ms Bimla Luthra, Mr Doorjay, Mr Mohammad Dilawar Mir, Mr Abdul Gani Naseem, Mr Mohammad Sharief Tariq, Mr Prithvi Chand, Mr Jagjeevan Lal, Mr Mohammad Abbas, Mr Harsh Dev Singh, Malik Ghulam Hyder and Mohammed Farooq Mir took part in the discussion. |
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Working remained paralysed
for 6th day Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 19: Working in all public sectors remained paralysed in the entire Jammu province for the sixth consecutive day in response to strike call given by the All Public Sector Employees Joint Action Committee to force the State Government to accept their long pending demands. Striking employees took out an impressive procession which passed through the various bazars of the city and culminated at Shalamar Chowk. Earlier, thousands of the employees of the public sector units gathered at Transport Yard of the State Road Transport Corporation at Bikaram Chowk. From Bikaram Chowk employees took out an impressive procession under the leadership of Mr Suresh Sharma, chairman of the PSEJAC. Shouting slogans against State Government for maintaining a criminal silence over their demands, the enraged employees blocked traffic at ever-busy Tawi Bridge. The employees lifted the blockade after some time and started march towards walled city. Airing slogans against State Government the procession passed through the main bazars of the city and culminated at Shalamar Chowk where it turned into a big rally. Leaders of the employees union addressed the rally and asserted that their struggle would be continued unless their demands were not fulfilled. Leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Mr Mohammed Yosuf Tarigami also addressed the employees and assured full support to their on-going agitation. While addressing the striking employees, Mr Tarigami expressed his anguish over the attitude of the State Government for not taking effective steps to improve conditions of the public sector units. He regretted that instead of removing rampant corruption, State Government has been offering ‘Golden-Handshake’ to virtually close down these units. CPM leader said that existence of public sector units were essential not only to generate employment but to fulfill some other social obligations. He asked the State Government to provide budgetary support to these units rather than offering ‘handshake’ Offering support to the employees, Mr Tarigami assured them that he would continue to raise his voice in and out-side the Assembly for their just and genuine demands. Other employees leaders while addressing the rally demanded release of COLA, time bound promotions, implementation of SRO 43 and 14, pensionary benefits, regularisation of daily wagers, increase in wages, Km basis driver’s regularisation etc. Employees leader asked the Chief Minister to personally intervene in the matter and accept their long pending demands. Mr Amrik Singh, Anchal Bakshi, Mrs C K Sudan, Surinder Gupta, Jagjit Singh Bawa, Dev Raj Bali, A K Tandon, Jai Krishan, Ishu, Joginder Pal, Puran Singh, Parveen Kumar, Surjit Singh, Kuldip Kumar, Karam Chand, Bharat Bali, Bashir Malik, Barkat Singh, Pawan Kumar, William, Nar Singh, Karan Singh, Baldev, Balwinder Singh, Darshan Kumar, Ab Manan Bhat and others addressed the rally. After the rally some employees marched towards Civil Secretariat where they were arrested for defying section 144. It was also decided in the rally to extend the on-going strike for two more days. It was also announced in the rally to organise massive demonstration tomorrow in support of their demands. |
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Bhoot, Bomb among 5 escape Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 19: Two youths including a former underworld don of Bakra group were seriously injured in a shoot-out, reportedly by their erstwhile associates in the gang, along Canal Road on the outskirts of City this evening. Besides a reformed don, an Advocate was among the injured in the shoot-out which occurred at Gali No 4 along Canal Road at 1730 hours today, police said. The injured included Brahamjot alias Citu son of Darshan Lal, a resident of Shakti Nagar, a former member of Bakra group who had last year laid down arms before police and joined maintstream and Rajesh Sharma alias Billa son of Bhagwan Dass of Talab Tillo, an Advocate. Both of them sustained three to four bullet injuries on their persons and were rushed to Medical College hospital, where they were operated upon. Their condition was stated to be critical. Police said a group of gangsters of erstwhile Bakra group had been asking Citu and Bakra to resume their underworld activities as they were running short of money. However, Citu and Bakra had refused to oblige their former associates on the ground that they had joined mainstream. Preliminary investigations carried out by police revealed that five gangsters held a meeting at Shakti Nagar resident of Vipan Kumar alias Bhoot at 1500 hours today in which a conspiracy was hatched to eliminate Citu for his refusal to arrange money for the gang. Incidentally, Citu and Bhoot were stated to be residing in the same locality. At about 1730 hours today, four gangsters intercepted Citu and his Advocate Billa when they were moving towards Citu in their Maruti Zen car No JK02M 2999. Two of the gangsters fired a volley of shots on City and Billa with Mousers while two others had taken positions at some distance to strike if their two associates failed in firing. The duo were seriously injured as all four assailants managed to escape from the spot. A police party from Bakshi Nagar rushed to the spot after getting a report of shoot-out and shifted the injured to Medical College. Police identified the assailants as Arun Kumar alias Sethu, Bomb, Raju Pandit and Sanju, all members of former Bakra group. All four accused and conspirator Bhoot were absconding. Police said raids were being conducted to apprehend the assailants but a breakthrough couldn’t be made immediately. According to police, Sethu and Bhoot were earlier also involved in a murder case. Sanjay Kumar alias Bakra and Pardeep Mahendru alias Deepu, who had also joined mainstream last year, today threatened that they would be forced to review their decision in the wake of firing on Citu. Doctors said bullets have been removed from the persons of Citu and Billa but their condition was still critical. Bakshi Nagar police have registered a case in the shoot-out and started investigations. |
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Militants can target low lying aircraft From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Mar 19: India’s Military Intelligence (MI) has come across reports, clearly indicating that certain terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir have acquired a capability to target low flying aircraft. These reports, according to highly-placed Government sources, have also been confirmed by the country’s two premier intelligence agencies, namely, the RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) and the IB (Intelligence Bureau). The Defence Ministry, EXCELSIOR was officially told, had already stressed the need for "effective, appropriate measures" to thwart the designs of the militant groups in Jammu and Kashmir. Field Intelligence Units (FIUs) in the vital Kargil sector of Ladakh have been alerted, following the receipt of reports about the activities of certain over-ground workers and supporters of Pakistani ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) in the area. Even as the Defence Ministry has not any concrete inputs to suggest enhanced ISI activities in the Kargil sector, the Army Headquarters called for the continuance of what is officially termed as "appropriate action" to monitor and curb the activities of trouble-makers or subversives in the area. The Government, sources pointed out, was aware of certain anti-India activities of ISI operatives from across the border. But no instances of ISI agents having infiltrated the defence set-up had come to the Government’s notice, sources insisted. According to the Defence Ministry sources, while there are no two opinions on the existence of certain camps in Pakistan and PoK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) for training of terrorists, Indian security forces continue to exercise "appropriate vigilance" and take necessary measures to safeguard the country’s national security interests. India has reasons to caution Pakistan against "provocative" attempts at violating Indian air space in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the statistics available with the Defence Ministry, there were as many as 13 air violations by Pakistani aircraft in J&K during the year 2000. The number of air violations by the Pak aircraft in the State during the first quarter of 2001 has been put at 2. There are set procedures to detect intruding aircraft, either visually or by radars. The visual sighting could be either by the observers of defence forces or paramilitary organisations. The two Pakistani aircraft, which violated Indian air space in the Chhamb sector of Jammu region, flew at ultra low level, to evade detection by radars. This development has followed by efforts by the Government of India to strengthen the vigil in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir by inducting various types of surveillance equipment. |
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Baffled Hurriyat launches fresh "diplomatic drive" NEW DELHI, Mar 19: Stung by endorsement of India’s stand internationally and isolation of Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, Hurriyat Conference has begun a fresh "diplomatic drive" to gain the lost ground by meeting diplomatic corps of various countries. A three-member delegation of the conglomerate headed by its chairman Abdul Gani Bhat today met Iranian ambassador Mohammed Al-Mosuvi and discussed the present political situation in the Valley with him for over an hour. According to a statement issued by Hurriyat’s office based here, the delegation briefed him about the situation arising out of denial of travel documents to the conglomerate by the Centre for visit to Pakistan. Besides Bhat, the delegation comprised Abdul Gani Lone and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, the statement said. The Hurriyat delegation also met the South East representative of the United Kingdom last evening and apprised him of the situation in the State. The Hurriyat statement said that contacts had also been established with missions of other countries like the United States, France, Japan and European Union members and meetings was held with their representatives were likely to take place soon. The move comes close on the heels of the Hurriyat leadership getting a rude shock from the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who said in Islamabad that Kashmir issue should be solved in accordance with the Lahore declaration and that there was no role for any third party. The denial of a meeting with Annan was yet another shock for Hurriyat Conference which had despatched its senior leader Lone to brief him about the present situation in the State. The denial was seen as a rebuff to Hurriyat Conference, which claims to be a principal party to the Kashmir dispute. Annan had ruled out in Pakistan implementation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir or a separate UN human rights commission for Kashmir saying a lasting solution to the problem lay in implementation of the Lahore declaration. Annan’s statement was denounced by the Hurriyat Conference leaders and Bhat said that its executive would go into the depth of the statement and see the "intentions" behind it. Fire-brand Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani reacted more severely saying it was "the moral obligation of the UN to resolve the longstanding problem and use its influence to force the solution of the problem between the two concerned countries." Senior executive member Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had said "such statements give a hint that the UN is shirking its commitments made to Kashmiris." (PTI) |
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Meenakshi’s
kidnapping Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 19: The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) today registered a fresh case of rape and kidnapping against three accused Aftaab Ahmed Chandel, Anoop Khajuria and Vikram Singh Slathia in Meenakshi episode. A case against three accused was registered by CBI under RC No 3/2001 and Sections 376, 363 and 120-B RPC. It may be mentioned here that Udhampur police had registered a case against all three accused in much publicised Meenakshi kidnapping case at Udhampur police station under FIR No 18/2001 dated February 9 under Sections 366, 363 and 109 RPC. A case of rape hadn’t been registered against the accused. However, CBI registered a fresh case on the basis of statement given by Meenakshi to Judicial Magistrate, Udhampur under Section 164 CrPC in which she clearly stated that she was gang-raped by three accused. On the basis of Meenakshi’s statement, CBI added Section 376 (rape) and 12-B (conspiracy) against all three accused. Meanwhile, Advocate R K Kotwal today filed a bail application of Aftaab Ahmed Chandel before Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jammu, who is also a Special Judge for CBI cases under Delhi Police Act. The case of Aftaab Ahmed’s bail was recently transferred to Jammu from Udhampur court. After considering the arguments advanced by Advocate Kotwal and CBI Public Prosecutor S K Bhat, CJM Jammu Brij Mohan Gupta granted time to CBI for filing objections in the bail application, as desired by the CBI. The CBI had earlier filed objections before CJM Udhampur in the bail application of Aftaab on the ground that CJM Jammu was empowered to take cognizance of the matter as a Special Judge CBI cases as State Government under SRO 61 of March 16, 2001 had referred Meenakshi kidnapping case to CBI. Two accused Vikram Singh Slathia and Anoop Khajuria had already been released on bail from kidnapping charges. There was no word as yet as to whether they would be arrested again as a rape case has also been registered against them. |
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PMO goes on counter-offensive on tehelka NEW DELHI, March 19 : The Prime Minister’s Office went on the counter-offensive today on the tehelka expose with Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra denying allegations against him as RSS softened its stand favouring continuance of the Vajpayee Government while NDA constituent Samata Party faced a threat of split on resignation of its three ministers. Stepping up pressure on the Vajpayee Government, main opposition Congress unveiled a nation-wide agitation to demand its ouster but did not agree to take up Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee a trial of strength in the Lok Sabha. As Parliament remained paralysed on the issue, the Congress and other opposition parties said they would continue the stalling tactics in both Houses till the session breaks this week-end for a recess. Breaking his silence, Mishra denied as "baseless" allegations in the "so called" expose and said on no occasion he had talked to the Prime Minister on defence deals or former BJP president Bangaru Laxman on funding his Party "with my help or that of PMO." Asked whether he would resign as demanded by political parties, he said " if it ever helps strengthening of the Prime Minister’s hand I would go". He denied Vajpayee’s foster son-in-law Ranjan Bhattachary has any constitutional authority. In a related development, Chief Justice of India A S Anand wrote to the Government expressing inability to spare a sitting judge for the probe into the tehelka expose and said he would be choosing a retired judge for the purpose. While the three Samata Party ministers including Nitish Kumar today decided to withdraw their resignations and resume work, differences came to the fore in the Party with six rebel MPs including Prabhunath Singh and Raghunath Jha opposing the decision. A threat of split loomed large over the Party with the rebels planning moves for forming a separate group. Singh also spoke of resigning from the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee dared the opposition, specially the Congress, to face a trial of strength in the Lok Sabha, Congress Party said it would be meaningless to move a no-confidence motion. Fresh from its plenary in Bangalore, the Congress announced that it would launch its first phase of agitational programme against the Government by organising protest rallies and awareness programmes from March 24 to April 10. After a harsh criticism of PMO yesterday, the RSS today did some damage control saying it wanted the Vajpayee Government to continue as there was no alternative to it. A key ally of the Government, Telugu Desam ruled out withdrawal of support to the coalition on the issue. (PTI) |
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Oppn storms into Well Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 19: Acrimonious scenes were witnessed in the State Legislative Assembly for over 15 minutes today when entire opposition barring Congress stormed into the Well of the House protesting against the failure of the Government to re-appoint over 400 class fourth employees in Education Department despite the assurance given by the Chief Minister during the last session. The trouble triggered when the Education Minister, Mr Mohammed Shafi Uri said that the High Court had upheld the cancellation orders of Director School Education, Jammu and termed the appointments made by the Chief Education Officers of five districts in the Region during the month of May-June 1999 as illegal. He said in the pursuance of the directives of the Court,the matter has been examined and the posts have been readvertised for which eligibility is to be reckoned with reference to the date on which the original advertisement was issued. This infuriated the Opposition and they blamed the Government for backtracting from the promise made by the Chief Minister in the House last time. The opposition ignoring their political affiliation were all on their toes to corner the Government. They shouted slogans and entered into heated exchanges with the Treasury Benches. Sensing the mood of the members, the Speaker, Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil tried to pacify them by saying that appointments have been declared illegal by High Court and not the Government. He said the Government is taking the measures to fulfill the assurances and process will take some time. But on this BSP’s Som Nath stood up from his seat and quoted the Chief Minister having said that we ( he and the Education Minister)have no right to sit in the House till the retrenched employees are re-appointed. Supporting him all the opposition members also stood up from their seats and shouted slogans. This forced the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah to intervene who said that "my Government is committed to re-appoint all the 400 persons." The Education Minister said that he will get legally examined the assurance of the Chief Minister But the Opposition was not satisfied with this reply and they alleged that one year has already elapsed and Government has not fulfilled its promise. They demanded that the Government should give a time frame in which all these class fourth employees will be engaged. When no specific reply came, the Opposition again shouted slogans and stormed into the Well. There was a surcharged atmosphere for over 15 minutes in the House as slogan shouting opposition was in no mood to allow the routine business. While some opposition members were busy in shouting slogans others were seen making arguments with the chair. Harsh Dev Singh who was also in the Well said we demand justice. The repeated pleas of the Speaker asking the Opposition members to return to their seats and allow the normal business failed to yield results and they continued the drama. Hinting towards the BJP members who were in the Well, the CPI (M) member, M Y Tarigami said in a sarcastic way BJP "Baith gayee hai". But Ashok Khajuria retorded back saying "Yeh kahan baith gayee hai" Taking the advantage of the situation the NC member Jagjivan Lal also tried to taunt the BJP members saying "tehelka mach gaya hai"( It is tehelka). In the meantime, Ashok Khajuria of BJP said it is anti Jammu Sarkar (Government). He made some observations also but the Speaker Mr Vakil later ordered these to be expunged from the records. There were also heated exchanges between some opposition members and NC chief whip Mubarak Gul and MLA Gh Mohammed Jan but nothing was heard in the din. After the order was restored in the House, Mr Vakil said the Chief Minister has a special position in the Government and no body can deny his directions. Pointing towards the Education Minister whose reply generated heat in the House and infuriated the opposition, Mr Vakil said Mr Shafi is also a responsible Minister and there is collective responsibility of the ministers to carry directions of CM. He urged them to give him some more time. You have to come in the House for 15 days more in the current session. You can seek the reply from him, he added. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 19: Panthers Party MLA Harshdev Singh today exchanged words with BJP legislator Ashok Khajuria on joining the ruling National Conference. Speaking during debate on Chief Minister’s grants, Harshdev Singh threatened that he will stage a dharna in front of Chief Minister’s seat if Constituency Development Funds (CDF) of MLAs was not increased from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. At this, Ashok Khajuria asked Harshdev Singh as to whether he has joined the National Conference. Harshdev retaliated saying ‘everybody knows that you (Khajuria) have joined the National Conference. Your activities also confirm this’. |
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Army court of inquiry begins
proceedings NEW DELHI, Mar 19: The three-member high level Army court of inquiry, headed by Lt Gen S K Jain, today began in-camera proceedings into the sensational Tehelka tapes case in the backdrop of the Army Chief Gen S Padmanabhan’s warning that the guilty would be sternly dealt with. Besides Jain, the court of inquiry has two other members, Maj Gen Mohinder Puri and Maj Gen M Mathew, both holding the rank of Additional Director General at Army Headquarters here. The first major task of the inquiry was to write to tehelka.Com asking for the tapes, Army sources said adding that all the five other officials who figured in the tape had been attached to the Army headquarters here pending the completion of the inquiry. The inquiry has provisions for calling civilian witnesses, the sources said. Though there was no time-frame set, it would be completed at the earliest, they said. The court of inquiry has asked four senior officers including Maj Gen M S Ahluwalia, Maj Gen Satnam Singh, Brig Iqbal Singh and Col Anil Sehgal to make written statements. The sources said the court of inquiry would spend the initial days in studying minutely the tapes and then take up cross examination of the charged and witnesses. The court of inquiry, however, unlike court martial proceedings, does not have powers to summon witnesses and it is upto civilians whether they want to voluntarily depose before it or not. If the court of inquiry finds prima facie substance in the allegations against the officer, it can then go in for summary of evidence followed by initiation of court martial proceedings. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Crorespodnent SRINAGAR, Mar 19: A self styled commander of pro Pakistani Hizbul Mujahideen was killed and three securitymen injured in a fierce clash at Tral in Pulwama district today while elsewhere in the Valley two persons were killed and four security personnel injured since last evening. Militants attacked a security force camp with rockets and automatic weapons at Sirhama in south Kashmir late last night. Security forces also retaliated but there were no reports of any causalities. A joint search party of Special Operation Group of Jammu and Kashmir police and Border Security Force(BSF)was attacked by militants hiding in a house at Laroo Jagir near Tral in Pulwama district this morning. Security forces immediately encircled the house and returned the fire killing a Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Wahid.Two BSF jawans and a SOG man were injured in the clash. The house was also damaged, police said. However, people alleged that security forces fired mortars during the clash damaging a house. Body of one Nissar Ahmad Dar, resident of Bazloo Jagir, was recovered at Adibal Wattoo in south Kashmir this morning. A body was fished out from Dal lake late last night. In another incident, militants hurled a hand at a CRPF party at Paraipora on the outskirts of the city this morning causing injuries to two jawans. At least two special police officers were injured in a mine blast at Naidihal Bandipora in north Kashmir today. The injured were hospitalised. |
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NEW DELHI, Mar 19: In a move to pressurise ouster of Vajpayee Government over the expose of corruption in defence deals, Congress today announced a nation-wide multi-phased action plan beginning this week and said moving a no-trust against it in the Lok Sabha would be "meaningless." In the first phase beginning March 24 after Parliament adjourned for a three-week recess, Congress spokesman S Jaipal Reddy said awareness campaign would be launched and protest rallies would be organised in every district headquarters. Stating that the first phase would conclude on April 10 and the date of launching of the second phase would be announced later, Reddy said the movement would continue till the NDA Government was dislodged. Rallies would also be organised in Municipal towns and block headquarters and these would be addressed by national leaders, he said. Asked how long the agitation would continue, the Congress spokesman said "it all depends on Atal Bihari Vajpayee." To a question whether the party was considering moving a no-trust motion in the Lok Sabha against Vajpayee Government, Reddy said no-trust motion by opposition or a confidence vote by Vajpayee "are equally meaningless". In view of the "shattering revelations" by the news portal, the Vajpayee Government had no moral right to continue any longer, he said. Congress president Sonia Gandhi had yesterday stated in Bangalore where the AICC session was held that an action plan for the ouster of NDA Government would be announced in Delhi. Reddy, however, indicated that although Congress was enormously exercised over the implications of the revelations by Tehelka tapes, the party being a responsible opposition would not obstruct passage of vote-on-account in Parliament. "We would like to avoid any constitutional impasse," he remarked, adding the "business of the nation will not be disrupted." Asked to comment on the observation made by Supreme Court Chief Justice that he was unable to spare a sitting judge to probe the Tehelka expose, Reddy said that he would not like to react as he did not know the authenticity. Congress has already rejected offer of a judicial probe into it, Reddy said that "there is no need for a probe in view of the transparent disclosures and the confessions made in this regard." (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 19: A militant was killed in an encounter with army in general area of Kachimarg, about 10 kms from Banihal last evening. Defence sources said the militant was killed in retaliatory firing by army after their patrol party was attacked in Kachimarg. Subsequently, troops destroyed a militants’ hideout in the area and recovered ration items. One AK-56 rifles and ammunition was recovered from the possession of slain militants. |
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