Jethmalani reacts to Malik’s outburst
Kashmir Committee meets Mufti, supports dialogue for peace

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Nov 23: The 6-member Kashmir Committee headed by Mr. Ram Jethmalani, MP called on J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed here this evening and exchanged views on efforts to solve the Kashmir problem through dialogue. The meeting lasted for more than one hour.

Earlier in the day, the Committee arrived here from Srinagar after holding discussions with different groups of public opinion.

Interacting with the Committee, the Chief Minister apprised the members of his coalition Government’s agenda to create conditions in the State conducive for dialogue and early restoration of peace and normalcy with dignity. He referred to Governor’s address to the joint session of legislature and said that his Government believed that dialogue should not only be held with representatives of the people elected in the most free, fair and transparent elections, but also with other groups to achieve a lasting and durable peace.

He welcomed efforts of Kashmir Committee for pursuing dialogue in Kashmir and wished them good luck in their endeavours.

The Kashmir Committee told the Chief Minister that it sincerely believed that Kashmir problem is best solved by all Kashmiris working together. They made it clear that Kashmiris include all those who were forced out by the events and their return and rehabilitation is vital for peace.

Giving their perception based on feed back gathered during their stay in the Valley, the members of the Committee said that there is a perceptible change in state’s climate, mainly due to certain steps taken by the new Government which is in office hardly for over 20 days. They told the Chief Minister that there is a growing feeling among the people that they are participating in governance and their voice is being heard. The issues that mattered to the common man are beginning to be addressed.

The other members of the Committee present in the meeting were Mr Ashok Bhan, Convenor, Mr Daleep Padgaonkar, Executive Editor of Times of India, Mr M G Akbar Editor-in-Chief, Asian Age, Mr Javeed Laiq, Journalist and Mr V K Grover, former Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs.

The members of Kashmir Committee will meet the Governor tomorrow.

Before returning to New Delhi, the Kashmir Committee will visit Purkhu camp of Kashmiri migrants.

Our Srinagar Correspondent adds: Kashmir Committee chairman Ram Jethmalani today launched a frontal attack on JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik, saying, it was for the people of Jammu and Kashmir to decide whether he was their friend or he was destroying them.

"It is for the people of the State to decide whether he (Malik) is their real friend or he is out to destroy them", Jethmalani said when asked about Malik’s recent outburst in which the JKLF chairman had accused him of adopting double standards.

"Everybody has the right to say anything. The freedom of expression of which I am a votary is not only for thoughts which you like but also for thoughts which you do not like", Jethmalani said after issuing a joint statement following a brief round of talks with separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah.

When asked about his reported statement that his mission in Kashmir was to bring the emotional loyalties towards India, Jethmalani said "it is not a war over the territory but over hearts, which India has to win."

Asked if Hurriyat had authorised KC to go to Pakistan for talks with the Pakistan Kashmir Committee, Jethmalani asserted "I do not need anyone’s Ikhtiyar (authorisation)".

Reading out the joint statement at Shah’s Rawalpore residence, Democratic Freedom Party leader Abdullah Tari said, to reach a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue, "it was imperative that all concerned parties rise above traditional positions and abandon the extremists stands".

After the third round of structured dialogue yesterday, the DFP and Kashmir Committee had reiterated their commitment to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue through peaceful means.

Tari said the two sides have agreed to work together in the direction of creating a conducive atmosphere for negotiated solution to Kashmir issue including the release of political prisoners.

They would also seek to initiate an intra-Kashmiri dialogue across the Line of Control as well as between the Kashmir Committee in India and its counterpart in Pakistan, he said.

Tari said DFP and Kashmir Committee would also try to devise a programme for speedy return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants.

Both sides have decided to remain in touch to monitor the developments in these areas and have agreed to meet at a mutually convenient time, he said.

Two JK Al-Qaida ultras killed in Surankote

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 23: In a first incident of its kind, two terrorists of Jammu & Kashmir Al-Qaida were shot dead by army and police in an encounter today in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district. In a separate incident, an over-ground worker of Hizbul Mujahideen was arrested in two separate incidents in Poonch and Kathua districts today.

Police sources said two terrorists were killed in an encounter with army at village Phagla in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district this morning. They have been identified as Shamsher Khan and Zaffar Rathore, both hailing from Pakistan. They were activists of Hizbul Mujahideen.

An identity card recovered from the possession of Shamsher Khan carried name of the outfit as Jammu & Kashmir Al-Qaida. On back side of the card was a fake stamp of Surankote police station, the sources said, adding that this was the first case in which a card of Jammu & Kashmir Al-Qaida was recovered from the terrorists.

Senior police officers were examining the identity card. They anticipated that slain terrorist Shamsher Khan could be a commander of the outfit. Further investigations were on.

Two AK-56 rifles with eight magazines and 150 rounds, three hand grenades, one wireless set and one identity card were recovered from them, the sources said.

Meanwhile, police have arrested an over-ground worker of Hizbul Mujahideen identified as Mohd Yusuf from village Lohai Malhar in Billawar tehsil of Kathua district.

Yusuf was acting as a courier of HM commander Shakeel Ansari. A letter was also recovered from him but police declined to disclose its contents but said it was meant to be delivered to a terrorist of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.

Further questioning of Yusuf was on and some vital clues about the network of Shakeel Ansari group in Billawar heights were expected, the sources said.

Meanwhile, a group of terrorists last night entered into the house of a civilian Mohd Ayub son of Khaliq Ayub at village Morha Chakli in Kalakote tehsil of Rajouri district. The ultras started questioning Mohd Ayub and beat-up him mercilessly with rifle butts and iron rods.

The terrorists left the house presuming Ayub as dead. In the morning, Ayub was shifted to the district hospital of Rajouri with a serious head injury. Police have started a search operation for the terrorists.

A female Village Defence Committee (VDC) member shot herself dead with an official weapon issued to her in her house at village Kongla in Bhaderwah tehsil of Doda district last night. She has been identified as Jasmeen Bano daughter of Ghulam Mohd.

The girl had died on spot. Police was investigating the reasons behind her death.

Cong-NC members clash as Saroori levels serious charges
Sagar says will resign if allegations proved

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 23: The Congress (I) and National Conference members today clashed in the Assembly after a Congress legislator levelled serious allegations against former Works Minister and NC MLA Ali Mohd Sagar, who announced that he would resign his seat if the allegations were proved.

Trouble began when newly elected Congress MLA from Inderwal, Ghulam Mohd Saroori alleged that Sagar had thrown a file pertaining to a water supply scheme for Mata Sarthal Devi in Kishtwar. "I had approach Sagar with the scheme and when he read the name Sarthal Devi, he threw away the file", Saroori alleged amidst the slogans of ‘shame, shame’ from the Congress benches and remarked :"this kind of secularism Sagar and his party propagate".

Sagar was quickly on his feet and described the allegations as very serious. Saying that he even didn’t know Saroori, Sagar declared that he will resign from the Assembly if the allegation that he threw away the file after reading name of Sarthal Devi were proved correct.

"I don’t need to learn secularism from you", the NC leader said.

However, Saroori insisted with the charges saying the file was still lying in the General Administration Department (GAD). "Yeh Bilkul Haqeeqat Hai. Aapne Bahut Sataya Hai Hamein (this is hundred per cent truth. You have tortured us)", Saroori, who had recorded the highest margin of 18,800 votes in the State, said.

Saroori’s insistence triggered further protests from the NC and its several legislators including Rashpal Singh, Mohd Sayeed Akhoon, Sajjad Kitchloo and A G Malik stood up from their seats and countered the allegation. "Since Sagar has agreed to resign if the charges against him were proved, Saroori should also make a similar commitment if he failed to prove the charges", a NC MLA stressed.

Sagar and other NC members requested to the Speaker Tara Chand to expunge the unParliamentary language used by the Congress (I) legislator. The Speaker ruled that unparliamentary remarks should be expunged.

This time, Congress (I) MLA Madan Lal Sharma was on the feet and explained to the Speaker that Saroori had only referred to the issue of a file and didn’t use any unparliamentary language. The Speaker clarified that what he said was that if at all any unParliamentary word had been used only that has to be expunged.

Again, all NC and Congress legislators, present in the House, started shouting at each other and nothing was audible in the din for about a couple of minutes. Both sides traded charges against each other.

The Speaker then adjourned the House about five minutes before the schedule.

Earlier, Saroori charged with former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah with enacting a drama in a Kishtwar school by signing an agreement with NHPC General Manager that people of Kishtwar will get Chenab river’s water. But, he regretted, nothing was done.

The allegation was objected by NC’s MLA from Kishtwar, Sajjad Kitchloo. An agitated Saroori shouted :"Loota Hai Aapne State Ko 27 Baras Tak. Nanga Kar Denge Hum Aapko (you have looted the State for 27 years. We will expose you)".

Saroori said today Sajjad Kitchloo was asking for district status to Kishtwar. "Why Kitchloo was silent during all these years when it was NC Government in the State"? he asked.

Saroori said he was in the Assembly today due to the efforts of the Election Commissioner and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). "In 1996 election, I was forcibly defeated as my ballot boxes were changed", he alleged.

Accountability Bill tabled in Assembly

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 23: As a major step to ensure clean administration and enforce accountability at all levels, the new Government today introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Accountability Commission Bill in the State Legislative Assembly. This brings for the first time, Chief Minister, Ministers and legislators under the purview of accountability.

Minister for Finance, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Muzaffar Hussain Beig introduced the Bill in the House.

With this, the coalition Government has implemented yet another commitment made to the people in their election manifesto and Common Minimum Programme to provide to the people just, responsive and clean administration.

The Bill envisages establishment of an institution of Accountability Commission for inquiring into the allegations and grievances against public men including Chief Minister, Ministers, legislators and other public functionaries in the administration.

Explaining the provisions of the Bill to the representatives of the media, the Law Minister said that the Bill not only provides for investigation into the complaints of corruption but also unexplained actions or omissions. He explained that the cause of action or grievance can be caused to any one by not deciding a matter for months together by a Minister or any other public functionary, brought to his notice. In this manner, the proposed Bill ensures integrity and accountability of public functionaries and check inefficiency and unreasonable delays. All these acts or omissions have been brought under the jurisdiction of the proposed Commission.

To be headed by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court or a Chief Justice of the High Court with other members, the Bill provides for their appointment by the Governor on recommendations of a committee. It shall be headed by the Chief Minister with Chief Justice of J&K High Court, Presiding Officers of both Houses of the State Legislature, the Law Minister and the leaders of opposition in the Assembly and the Council as members. In case there is no leader of opposition in a House, the leader of the single largest group or party in opposition shall be deemed to be the member of the selection committee.

The term of the Chairman and the members shall be three years or till the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier. They shall be ineligible for re-appointment in the Commission or taking any other assignment or appointment to be made by the Governor under law or hold office of profit under the State or the Central Governments.

The Bill seeks to widen the definition of public functionaries by encompassing offices of Chief Minister, Minister, MLA, MLCs, Chairman, Vice-Chairman of the Standing or Subject Committee or Member of local authority other than Panchayat constituted under relevant law; Vice-Chancellor or Registrar of a University; Chairman, Vice-Chairman or Members of Board of Directors of Statutory Body or Corporation other than a local authority; duly registered Society controlled by the Government or Co-operative Society, etc.

The Commission can take cognizance of a complaint made within seven years from the date of occurrence of the action complained of. However, the Commission shall not investigate any complaint made after 12 months from the date on which action complained of or against becomes known to the complainant. This is based on the Lokpal and other similar legislations passed in some states. The Commission can also take suo-motto cognizance of any complaint.

The comprehensive Bill also protects public functionaries against false, frivolous and vexatious complaints by providing punishment for such malafide charges. The Bill provides for imprisonment of not less than one year, extendable to three years with fine upto Rs 50,000, in case the Commission is satisfied of the willful and malafide charges made by the complainant.

The Commission after completing the inquiry would communicate its findings to the complainant, public functionary and competent authority for action that shall required to be communicated to the Commission within 90 days. In case the Commission is unsatisfied with the action taken by the competent authority, it would send a special report to the Governor for appropriate action.

In case of Chief Minister or the member of legislature, the report would be sent to the Governor, who is the competent authority for taking action against such top functionaries.

The Commission’s jurisdiction for investigation extends to the act or conduct of any person other than the public functionary in so far as it considers it necessary to do so for purpose of inquiry into any such allegations.

The Commission shall also have powers of civil court for effective discharge of its functions and also to punish for its contempt.

Describing the proposed legislation as historic and path breaking, the Law Minister said that the Government has brought this Bill in the very first session of the newly constituted Assembly to cleanse the public life. He said that Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed insisted that the office of the Chief Minister must be brought under the purview of the Commission, as the accountability must start from the highest political functionary.

India heading towards disintegration: Ansari
NC asks Mufti to explain Kashmir solution

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 23: The National Conference members today continued their attack on both Centre and State Government with prominent Shia leader and NC legislator Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari predicting that India was heading towards disintegration while another veteran party leader Ali Mohd Sagar seeking an explanation from Mufti Government as to what type of solution it had for Kashmir problem.

Participating in the resumed debate on Governor’s address in the Legislative Assembly today, NC leader and former Minister Iftikhar Hussain Ansari said India was sitting on a volcano and could disintegrate if immediate ‘remedial measures’ were not taken by the Centre Government.

"Albeit, India was a democratic nation since 1947 and there was no democracy in Pakistan yet the Government of India would have to look into the reasons behind a demand for division emanating from several quarters", he said. Ansari, whose party was a partner in the NDA Government at Centre, added: ‘the history was witness that the Centre didn’t spare anyone including Bakshi Ghulam Mohd, Sheikh Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah’.

Ansari said the Accountability Commission Bill, which was introduced today in the Assembly, should have covered the period of Governor’s rule also or the period even before that as the Advisors had looted crores from the State.

Former Works Minister Ali Mohd Sagar sought a clarification from Mufti Sayeed, who was scheduled to reply to debate on the Governor’s address on Monday, that what kind of solution he proposes for Kashmir problem. "Whether you want to give the people of Kashmir "azadi" (independence), accede Kashmir to Pakistan, follow Dixon plan or you want to increase or further decrease the State’s autonomy"? he asked.

He pointed out that people of Kashmir didn’t vote on the plank of development but gave their mandate on POTA, disbanding of the Special Operations Group (SOG) and honourable resolution of Kashmir problem. "Had it been a vote for development, the NC would have won 70 seats", he claimed and said ‘the people were eagerly awaiting Mufti’s ‘honourable solution’ to Kashmir problem’. "The Government must explain the solution immediately sop that the Kashmiris are not kept in darkness", he asserted and said ‘as far as we (the NC people) are concerned, our stand is very clear on the issue that we stand for restoration of pre-1953 position in the State’.

Maintaining that no one should play the ‘cheap politics’, Sagar equated PDP’s graph with the bubbles of soda water saying they would burst very soon.

Tracing the history, he said that several mistakes were committed on Kashmir right from the very beginning. The first mistake, according to him, was committed by Pakistan, whose ‘Kabailis’ raided Kashmir in 1947 without knowing as to what the Kashmiris wanted. "The second mistake was the arrest of Sheikh Abdullah, who was kept in jail for 15 years despite the fact that it was ‘Baba-e-Qaum’, who had rejected Pakistan and shook hands with secular India. And then followed a series of mistakes and Kashmir was made an ‘experiment ground’ by the Government of India but all their experiments failed", he added.

Two recent experiments including the one under which a Hizbul Mujahideen group was to join the political process and another one to float a group parallel to the Hurriyat Conference have also failed, he pointed out. He quoted the Hurriyat Conference as saying today :"Hum Apni Izzat Aur Khoon Ke Dalalon Ko Naheen Bakshenge" and said it should serve an eye-opened for the supporters of the Hurriyat.

Sagar advised the treasury benches not to indulge in mud slinging on the NC leaders saying ‘Kisika Daman Naheen Bachega. Sab Gunahgaar Hein (none of us is clean. all are accused)’. "There could be no end to the political of mud slinging. It should be stopped".

Sagar alleged the National Conference was made a ‘sacrificial goat’ by the Government for targeting Pakistan and projecting the India’s cause at the international forums. Without naming the PDP, he said they campaigned among the Kashmiris to first get ‘azadi’ from the NC and then second ‘azadi’ will follow. He charged that even the security forces asked people to cast their votes in favour of one party and asked the PDP members "whether I’m wrong"?

Still, he said, if the State could benefit from out defeat, we are ready to make any sacrifice. If the State gets relief, we will presume our defeat as our biggest contribution even if we are reduced to five seats, he added. Sagar said his party didn’t want to go into the history as to who started the militancy and who introduced the Disturbed Area Act in the State but threatened that ‘if forced we will expose all’.

Another former Minister and NC leader Dillawar Mir said the Government of India should go through the reasons as to why the youth of Kashmir felt that their future was ‘bleak’ in India. "If you ask the youths to join the mainstream, they will straightway say no", he claimed.

Mir recalled that former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao had stated that only sky is the limit as far as autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir is concerned and wanted to know ‘where was that sky’?

However, Mir was interrupted by Congress (I) member Madan Lal Sharma, who said, the NC leader after coming to the power remained busy in other ‘works’ and didn’t take up the issue seriously.

Again, there was trouble in the House when Dillawar Mir alleged that Narasimha Rao kept on watching the demolition of Babri Mosque on computer and didn’t act. PDP MLA Mohd Aslam Lone retaliated :"when the Muslims were being butchered in Gujarat, Omar Abdullah was enjoying the power. He refused to resign and stuck to the Chair. Usko Kayon Sharam Naheen Aaye (why he didn’t felt ashamed)".

Independent MLA from Banihal, Moulvi Rashid told the NC members that they were part and parcel of the Government in the Centre, whose activists were responsible for demolition of the Mosque.

Referring to the allegations that the NC was responsible for increase in militancy in the State, Mir asked :"whether there were NC’s forces on the borders or that of the Indian Government. This questions should be posed to the Centre and not the the National Conference".

"We didn’t loss due to our weaknesses but entire Indian Government had been campaigning against us", he alleged. Again, Mir was interrupted by Madan Lal Sharma saying ‘entire India was behind the NC in 1996’.

Meanwhile, Ashwani Sharma, lone MLA of Jammu State Morcha (JSM) in the Assembly said the continued discrimination with Jammu and Ladakh regions has forced the people to raise the demand for statehood and UT status respectively.

"A glaring example of discrimination was set by Mufti Government within a fortnight of its working when it gave letters of appointment to 240 militancy victims in Kashmir even as several such cases were pending in Jammu", Sharma said. He demanded that an inquiry commission should be set up to inquire into the loot worth hundreds of crores of rupees by the previous Government.

Congress (I) MLA from Gandhi Nagar, Raman Bhalla, who had polled the highest number of 38,000 votes in the Assembly election, took serious exception to NC leader Mohi-ud-Din Shah’s allegations that Mufti Government was trying to run ‘Kaagzi Gode’. "We’ve race wale Gode and they will reach their destination", he said.

Demanding implementation of Wazir and Gajender Gadkar Commission reports, Bhalla noted with satisfaction that the meetings of all District Development Boards were held within three weeks. He said there was no need for autonomy and what was required was economic package.

Cong MLA from City, Yogesh Sawhney charged the NC with looting the people of the State for 27 years and doing no development works. He said the previous Chief Minister only flew on helicopters and failed to realise the ground realities. He demanded implementation of Wazir Commission report and setting up of a Delimitation Commission.

Sawhney said the population of Jammu was more than Kashmir region but still the Parliamentary and Assembly seats of Jammu were less.

Independent MLA from Billawar, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma hoped that Mufti Government will steer the State out of trouble and will implement the CMP in practical terms. BSP MLA from Vijaypur, Manjeet Singh demanded creation of a Sessions Judge post at Samba. He said the Government should also take care of Sikh migrants from Kashmir. Singh described the Assembly election as fairest saying it was due to this that he was sitting in the House and alleged that in 1996 he was forcibly defeated.

PDP MLA from Ganderbal, who had defeated National Conference’s Chief Ministerial candidate Omar Abdullah, said that despite being single largest party the NC had not claimed to form the Government as party’s leader was defeated in the election. "I am, who is sitting on this side, is responsible for formation of this coalition Government", he said, adding, "NC could not form the Government as I defeated their leader".

He termed coalition as ‘historical alliance’ and said that PDP, Congress, Panthers Party, CPI(M) and Independents joined togther for the betterment of State as well as the nation. He reminded the NC leaders how Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah was made Chief Minister of the State in 1975 when there was not even a single member of the National Conference in the Assembly.

Putin questions Pak steps tofight terror

MOSCOW, Nov 23: Putting US President George W Bush on the spot, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin questioned whether America’s allies Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are doing enough to fight terrorism and expressed fear that Pakistani nuclear weapons might fall into the hands of terrorists.

"We should not forget about those who finance terrorism," Putin said at a joint press conference with Bush in the catherine’s palace of the imperial summer retreat near St Petersburg last night.

While noting that 15 of the 19 September 11 terrorists were Saudis, he cited reports that Osama bin Laden is hiding in the Afghan-Pak border region and wondered whether President Pervez Musharraf has done enough to stabilise the area.

"Pakistan has mass destruction weapons, and we don’t have any confidence that they will not fall into evil hands," Putin said.

The Russian President said the international community needs to keep an eye on Islamabad to make sure it is not supporting terrorists.

"We should not forget about the safety of mass destruction weapons in those countries where they could fall into the hands of terrorists," he said.

Bush and Putin also unanimously cautioned Iraqi leader Saddam Hussain to comply "fully and unconditionally" with the UN resolution or face "serious consequences".

"We call on Iraq to comply fully and immediately with this (latest UN resolution) and all security council resolutions," the two leaders said in a joint statement.

They warned Baghdad of serious consequences if it tried to disrupt the work of weapons inspectors.

However, Putin told Bush that Washington should not wage war against Iraq on its own and suggested any action against Baghdad should be taken within the "framework" of the United Nations.

He said it was important to make sure that Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction in its possession but "we have to stay within the framework of...United Nations".

Bush said by closely working together the US and Russia will bring all the terrorists to justice, wherever they hide. (PTI)

Kashmiri militant group demands release of leader

ISLAMABAD, Nov 23: A group fighting Indian rule in Kashmir demanded today that Pakistan release their leader they say is detained in the capital Islamabad.

Calling Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar a "big name in the Kashmiri Separatist Movement", a statement issued by his Al-Umar Mujahideen group said Pakistani authorities would be responsible for the consequences if he was not released immediately.

"This arrest shows there is a concerted attempt to provide opponents of the separatist movement with enough ammunition to shoot it down," the statement said.

"If he is not released immediately, the responsibility for whatever happens will lie with Pakistani authorities," said Khalid Mumtaz, a spokesman for the group.

Officials at Pakistan’s Interior Ministry have declined to confirm Zargar’s arrest.

Zargar was one of three militants released by Indian authorities in December 1999 in exchange for hundreds of passengers on an Indian Airliner that had been hijacked and flown to Afghanistan.

Another of the trio, known as Sheikh Omar, later shot to notoriety when he was arrested and sentenced to death by a Pakistani court for the kidnap and murder early this year of US reporter Daniel Pearl. The sentence has yet to be carried out.

Zargar’s group, which is fighting for Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan, was banned by India last year. (AGENCIES)

Gill posted as ADG Home Guards

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 23: The State Government today ordered transfer of Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) P S Gill as Additional DG Home Guards.

Services of Mattu, Kirmani terminated

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 23: The State Government today terminated extension of two more Government officers. The extensions had been given by previous National Conference Government headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah.

Authoritative sources said the officers, whose extension have been terminated, are Abdul Majid Mattu, Managing Director, J&K Power Development Corporation and M I Kirmani, Special Officer, Haj. Mattu was given two years extension by Farooq Government while Kirmani was re-employed as Special Officer Haj after he retired as Director Estates.

Earlier, the new Government had cancelled the extension of M Y Hamdani, Principal Private Secretary to former Chief Minister’s Advisor, Ashok Jaitley and Mohd Aslam, Private Secretary to former CM’s Principal Secretary B R Singh.

Lone elected as Deputy Speaker

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Nov. 23: Mohammad Akbar Lone of National Conference was today elected unopposed as Deputy Speaker of the newly constituted Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.

Motion for his election as Deputy Speaker was moved in the House by Mubarik Ahmad Gul and the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Muzaffar Hussain Beig seconded the Motion.

Lone was the lone candidate who had filed nomination papers for the post of Deputy Speaker in the Assembly.

Venkataswami quits as Tehelka Chairman

NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Justice K Venkataswami today resigned both as head of the Tehelka Inquiry Commission and Chairman of the authority on advance ruling on customs and excise, informed sources said.

Venkataswami’s resignation comes in the wake of the strong criticism of the opposition in Parliament yesterday over his acceptance of a Government job when he was probing the Tehelka expose into fictitious defence deals.

The sources said that Venkataswami, a retired Supreme Court judge, sent in his resignation from both the posts to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Venkataswami was appointed in April last year to head the commission to probe into allegations of corruptions in defence deals made by Tehelka.

The Commission was initially set up for four months and later got more than three extensions.

The sources said Venkataswami, in his letter to Vajpayee, said the controversial job during the pendency of the Tehelka probe was offered to him on the recommendation of the then Chief Justice of India last year and that he had never sought the post.

But now that the allegations had been levelled against him, it was difficult for him to work, he said in the letter. (PTI)

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