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Special package for J&K before 2000: Omar Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 26: Union Minister of State for Industries and Commerce Omar Abdullah today said that a special package for the development of Jammu and Kashmir will be announced before beginning of 2000. Talking to the mediapersons here today Mr Omar Abdullah said that extension of North-East type industries package to the J and K State was under active consideration of the Centre which would give a big fillip to the industrial scenario and sustainable growth of the state. The Minister said that the package would be announced in 1999. Referring to the statement of Mr Chaman Lal Gupta, the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, that the Central Government had rejected the National Conference demand of greater autonomy for the State, Mr Omar Abdullah said that Mr Gupta is not the spokesman of the BJP, so we should not take him seriously. "We will continue to take up our demand of greater autonomy with the Central Government for the interest of the state," he said. Spelling out measures in pipeline for industrial promotion in the State Mr Abdullah said every effort would be made to promote local talent and make the state an ideal destination for varied industrial activities. For this purpose he said necessary infrastructure and expertise will be provided to the entrepreneurs to create congenial and result-oriented industrial atmosphere in the State. He said state has a tremendous potential for promotion of low volume and hi-tech software industry which will be explored to broad-base the industrial growth in the state. For this purpose, Centre has sanctioned Rs 8 crore for setting up of two earth stations software technology parks. With the development of software industry, the State will become one of the hi-tech destinations within 5 years, he said. Mr Omar said that there was a tremendous scope for promotion of leather industry as the state had abundant quantity of raw material and needed its optimum exploitation and utilisation. He said to achieve this objective, the local entrepreneurs would be sent to Chennai for necessary training and would be provided with necessary incentives for setting up of their industrial units. This, he said would help to generate sufficient employment avenues as well as add to stabilise the financial position of the State. He said for revival of sick units a debit revival package is under consideration of the Centre which will help to revive sick units and help the growth on sustainable basis. The State occupies prime position in production of world’s famous handicrafts and handloom items and urgent measures would be taken to give further boost to this traditional industrial sector. This, would improve the economy of the State in the long run, he added. Regarding promotion of textiles industry in Jammu division, the Minister said the State Government will be asked to come up with concrete proposal for promotion of this industry. He said he will also explore the possibilities of setting up of all export promotion industrial park at Bari-Brahmana as early as possible. The Centre has agreed to organise a mega buyer-seller meet at Jammu in January next where local entrepreneurs would get an opportunity to sell their products to defence forces, he said. Mr Omar Abdullah said that Kargil war affected the tourism sector in the state. We have to make extra efforts to attract more tourists to the state, as tourism is the backbone of the state economy. The minister said a trade fair for the promotion of handicraft industry, will be organised in the State every year. This will provide the opportunity for the handicraft artisans to get exposure and good price of their items. This will also open the path for export. He said that there was no plan to close down the Srinagar unit of HMT. More industrialists will be invited to establish their units in the state, he said. Responding to the demands of the industrialists regarding relief in power tariff, the Minister said that though it was a matter of the state, but clarified that the prevalent power tariff was cheaper than other states. He said against Rs 3.50 paisa per unit cost of power, only Rs 1.65 paisa per unit was charged from the consumers excluding maintenance cost. It was most unfortunate that at the time of signing Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, no provision was kept to utilise and harness state’s river water resources for which the state is facing tremendous difficulties in harnessing its hydel power resources. This had led to lack of industrial promotion in the State. The State Government has explored possibilities to launch some mega hydel power projects in the state sector at Baglihar, Swalkote and Uri-II. On completion these projects would help in a big way to ease the power problem in the state and pave a way for sustainable growth of the industry in the State. He assured the industrialists that all the viable projects will receive favourable consideration from the Centre. On the much-talked about issue of the decision of pruning of existing State Cabinet, he commented that it was the prerogative of the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah. "I as son or as YNC chief have no role to play in this context." "Nobody is grooming me," he retorted when asked if he was being groomed to become the next head of the State. "I don't allow my self to be groomed by anyone and have my own identity. It is the people who will decide my fate in future and I can't say anything now. I would also like to make it clear that the offer to join the Vajpayee-led Government came from the Centre only and we had not asked for it." |
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Special
package for Industrial growth Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 26: Jammu and Kashmir Government is approaching the Centre for constitution of a working group for sanctioning a special package for industrial growth in the State. Indicating this at a high level meeting with the Union Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Mr Omar Abdullah, convened to review the grey areas and progress on industrial development in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah said he will soon take up this issue with the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. The Minister for Industries and Commerce, Mr Bodh Raj Bali, the Finance Minister, Mr Mohammad Shafi, the Minister for Rural Development, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, the Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Aga Syed Mehmood, Chief Secretary Mr Ashok Jaitly, Chairman, SIDCO, Mr Nukul Sen Anand, several senior officers of the State and the Union Ministry of Industries were present in the meeting. Dr Abdullah has already taken up with the Centre the issue regarding extension of new industrial policy and other concessions given to the North Eastern region to the State as well. He hoped an early response of the Centre in this regard. Stressing the need for maintaining quality of the produce in industrial units set up in the State, Dr Abdullah said the Government is keen to see the revival of sick units with a potential to grow. He said, setting up of a Growth Centre at Samba would go a long way in satiating the aspirations of the entrepreneurs. He asked the Power Development Department to take steps for providing requisite power to the Centre for which Rs two crores were approved in principle. He also urged the need for expeditious setting up of Export Promotion Industrial Park and provision of space for creating infrastructural facilities to give fillip to leather based industries. For achieving optimum results, the entrepreneurs interested in the trade could be taken to Delhi and other parts of the country to get acquainted with the latest technology in the field. Dr Abdullah also impressed upon the concerned for initiating measures to seek clearance from the Airforce authorities for setting up of software technological park in the State. The Union Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, while speaking on the occasion, said India International Trade Fair would be an annual feature in Jammu and Kashmir being held on rotational basis in Srinagar and Jammu. He regretted slow pace of progress on laying of Export Promotion Industrial Park in Jammu, earlier scheduled to be set up in Srinagar, and called for expeditious measures in this regard. He also hoped a similar park for Srinagar and said all possible steps would be taken for rapid industrialization in Jammu and Kashmir, which will go a long way in solving the waxed unemployment problem. Mr Omar Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir has a tremendous potential for horticulture, floriculture and food based units. Tourism, he said, is backbone of the State economy and measures would have to be taken for giving fillip to this vital sector. He said he has requested the Union Minister incharge of food processing and tourism to visit the State to see for themselves what steps would be required for giving boost to these sectors of economy. Stressing the need for reviewing the labour laws for making these attractive to industries, Mr Omar said an atmosphere has to be created for industry to grow on sound footings. He said the Centre is keen to see rapid industrialisation in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bodh Raj Bali spelled out the measures taken during the past three years in reviving industry. Despite resource crunch, he said, headway has been made under the able stewardship of Dr Farooq Abdullah in industrial sector, which received tremendous setback in the wake of militancy. Mr Bali said that during the past three years several prestigious units have come up in the State, which would go a long way in generating employment. He expressed his optimism about the prospectus of North-East type package for Jammu and Kashmir, which has already been taken up by the Chief Minister with the Central leadership. The Minister gave broad features of the achievements made in industrial sector. The Finance Minister, Mr Mohammad Shafi also spoke on the occasion. The meeting discussed the financial package approved by the union inter ministerial committee, sanctioning of capital investment outright subsidy, proposal for establishing a craft development institute, software technology park, development of leather industry, promotion of sports goods industry, industrial growth centres at Lassipora, Kashmir and Samba, Jammu and power supply for industries in the State. Under the extension of North Eastern Package, Jammu and Kashmir would be entitled to higher allocations of funds for industrial growth centres and integrated industrial projects. Besides, transport subsidy upto 2007, capital outright investment subsidy for projects coming up at the growth centres, export promotion industrial parks, 3 per cent interest subsidy on working capital, duty exemption etc. Development of leather industry was discussed in details and the need was felt for setting up of common effluent treatment plants for maintaining ecology. A need was felt for setting up of a leather technology institute in Srinagar to cater to the research and training requirements of the leather sector. In this regard, a special dispensation for Jammu and Kashmir would be necessary, the meeting was told. In view of abundant availability of raw material for sports goods, the meeting felt the need for launching a programme for intensive quality and awareness for promotion of sports goods industry. Dr Abdullah asked the Principal Secretary, Industries to visit Meerut for having on-the-spot study of such type of industries. The Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, Mr K B Pillai, Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, Mr Jalil Ahmed Khan, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Mr Mohammad Shafi Pandit and other senior officers of the Union Ministry of Industry and various State Departments were present in the meeting. |
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Formal charges against Nawaz Sharif delayed KARACHI, Nov 26: Formal charges against ousted Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother and five others were today delayed for one week to give the prosecution more time to prepare its case. An Anti-Terrorism Court Judge agreed with a prosecution request to delay until December four the laying of the charges, expected to be criminal conspiracy, hijacking, kidnapping and attempted murder. The prosecution told the court the delay was needed because Mr Sharif’s brother and two other former members of his Government had been added to the list of accused yesterday. Mr Sharif told reporters before the court proceedings that he was innocent and that the charges were politically motivated. "General (Pervez) Musharraf has made me a victim of a personal vendetta and personal revenge. What he has done is something totally extra-constitutional," he said of the military leader who overthrew him last month. "I think the plane issue has been dramatised to cover up the act (coup), otherwise it wouldn’t have provided him a justification to do so," Mr Sharif told reporters. "There is no doubt that I did say very clearly and categorically that the plane should land at the Karachi airport," Sharif said. "Who ordered it to be diverted will come (out) in court." Judge Rehmat Hussain Jafri also ruled that Mr Shahbaz Sharif, former Chief Minister of Punjab province, Saifur Rehman, the Anti-corruption tsar in Mr Nawaz Sharif’s Government, and Mr Sharif’s former Principal Secretary Saeed Mehdi be remanded into police custody for questioning until Tuesday. The allegations stem from an alleged attempt on October twelve to divert a plane bringing Gen Musharraf to Karachi from Sri Lanka. Hours later, Gen Musharraf overthrew Mr Sharif. Mr Nawaz Sharif, who was arrested with three other former aides or Government officials last week, has said he is innocent and called for an open and fair trial. A conviction for hijacking could bring a death penalty. Also present at the trial were observers from the United States and two European Union embassies. Pakistan has executed a former Prime Minister, hanging Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in April 1979 during the regime of the last military ruler, General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq, on a disputed conviction of conspiring to commit political murder. Mr Sharif and the others were brought to the court in armoured vehicles amid very tight security, with police using batons to beat back a protest staged by backers of Mr Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League party, who shouted slogans supporting the deposed Premier. It was the first time Sharif had seen his brother since before the coup, and the two embraced and kissed inside the courtroom. "This is the first time I’ve seen him in 41 days," said Nawaz Sharif, who also kissed a visibly disturbed aide Saifur Rehman. The other accused are former Sharif adviser Ghous Ali Shah, former Pakistan International Airlines Chairman Shahid Khakan Abbasi and former Sindh province Police Chief Rana Maqbool. Former Civil Aviation Authority Chief Aminullah Chaudhry was also accused last week along with Nawaz Sharif, but officials say he offered to testify against Sharif and no longer faces charges. (REUTERS) Kashmir problem will remain: Gen Rao From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Nov 26: Gen KV Krishna Rao, former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, has ruled out the possibility of early settlement of Kashmir problem. The problem, he is of the firm opinion, will remain. "No Government in Pakistan can survive if they give up their claim. No Government in India can survive if they lose Kashmir. This will go on", Gen Krishna Rao has stated in an interview. Gen Rao’s wife, Ms Radha Rao, who was chairperson of J&K Social Welfare Board, has been quoted as saying: "I lived there (Kashmir) without stepping out of the Badami Bagh cantonment. The people there are not so friendly towards Indians; if you go to buy almonds, they would say tum Hindustani – tum moongphalli khao. But in Jammu, I moved around a lot. Kargil, Leh, Ladakh was also very nice". When he was asked as to what he was looking forward to in the new millennium, Gen Krishna Rao stated: "I am looking to it, but not expecting anything. I’m a contented person. I have written one book, in the process of finishing another and maybe I’ll do one more!". Asked how will he be celebrating December 31, Gen Rao said: "This security thing… there are certain restrictions to my moving around". What has been the most significant moment of the century ? Gen Krishna Rao’s reply: "Why century, you can even say this millennium. Mahatma Gandhi evolved a new approach of non-violent resistance which facilitated de-colonisation in a peaceful manner. If we had to fight the British, I don’t thing we would have ever got independence". On woman power in the millennium, Gen Rao’s wife was quoted as saying: "The girl has changed a lot. She has been brought out of her kitchen and she has evolved into a complete person". And Gen Rao answered this question by saying: "I think they must fight for their rights. They’re not just cooks in the house. I am not satisfied with the progress they have achieved. When I read about rapes, dowry… I can’t stand it. They are not assertive enough. Only a few of the educated lot are aggressive. Not all". When asked as to what made him zero in on Hyderabad to settle down in post retirement, Gen Krishna Rao said: "I originally chose Bangalore, but the defence colony had not come up yet, and then some people wrote and suggested why not settle here in Hyderabad. I asked my wife, and she said why not, we belong to that State. We did not want to settle down in Delhi, although I was offered a house with the necessary security. I told them I would rather stay in my own house; you can provide the security here". Gen Krishna Rao was commissioned in 1942, before India’s partition. What are his views on it ? His reply: "We never thought there would be a partition. We were all officers, very close, very friendly. Yes, there was agitation, but we thought it was just another political movement. We were very proud of our unified Army, and wanted to keep it that way". |
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Many SFC officials
booked for fraud Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 25: Vigilance Organisation has registered two separate cases against the officers of the State Level Purchase Committee of Education Department and also booked Chief Divisional Manager of State Finance Corporation (SFC) in a unique fraud case. According to the first case, an FIR has been registered on the complaint of the State Government against the Purchase Committee of the Education Department for the purchase of the jute mats during 1997-98. It was found that the purchase committee had issued a notice in July 1997 inviting tenders from original manufacturers to supply jute matting and uniform clothes to the Education Department. In response to the notification , nine tenders were received and one of them was from Messrs Commercial Corporation Lala Rukh Building Srinagar and after certain negotiations, the order was placed on October 23 , 1997 for three lakh meters of jute matting of D-6-E quality which was to be supplied within 45 days. During the preliminary inquiry, it was established that NIT didn’t indicate the quality and specification of the material to be purchased and no expert was associated with the Purchase Committee. There were also gross violations in the rates amounting to the excess of Rs 40 lakh to Rs 50 lakh on the whole purchase. The supply was received on exhorbitant rates in connivance with the officers of the Purchase Committee having nexus with the suppliers, it was pointed out. In another unique fraud case, Vigilance Organisation has registered a case against Mr. S C Chopra., Chief Divisional Manager State Finance Corporation Jammu, Mr S K Gupta, Incharge Transport Section, Mr K S Slathia, and Surinder Singh , both head assistants, and R S Kotwal, Supervisor. The case has been also registered against one Ashwani Kumar Kapoor, S/o Chuni Lal Kapoor, resident of H No 150, Bakshinagar Jammu in this fraud case. According to the case,a complaint was received in the Vigilance Organisation written by Ratno Devi, Widow of Mewa Ram of Samba on December 15, 1998, and on that basis the investigations in the fraud case were taken up. According to the investigations, Ashwani Kapoor and Deepak Talwar in connivance with the officers of State Financial Corporation had fraudulently drawn loan for the purchase of the Bus Number JKU-4066 by way of the fabrication of false and fictitious documents on the name of her deceased husband. During the investigations, it was found that the Officials of SFC by abuse of their official position in connivance with Ashwani Kapoor, a beneficiary had prepared false documents and managed to get the loan of Rs 4,42,195 on the name of Mewa Ram. The case has been taken up for detailed investigations. |
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Basohli bus accident
case Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Nov 26: When the scores of passengers injured in Basohli bus accident were crying for help from the deep nullah and succumbing to their injuries due to excessive bleeding, the two heartless brothers—of village Jandrali were busy in looting their cash and other valuables instead of coming to their rescue. The police managed to arrest these two villagers and recover Rs 1.14 lakh cash and four wrist watches, which the accused had looted from the Basohli bus accident victims recently. The action was taken in this regard by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Basohli, Mr M R Baghat after he received several complaints from the family members of those killed in this tragic accident. They alleged that cash and other belongings of the deceased persons were missing from the accident site. The police started investigation into the case and arrested two accused namely—Shoukat Ali and Ghulam Ali of Jandrali and after their sustained interrogation recovered the looted amount of the dead passengers. Infact, the eyewitnesses to this incident hailing from the area, came openly against these Ali brothers, who set an example of cruelty in the society by indulging in this act. After a police party from Basohli arrived at the village for investigation, the locals cooperated and revealed the truth. A day before Diwali, this most tragic bus accident took place on Basohli— Bani road, taking toll of 56 persons. Most of the Government employees serving in that area were returning to their respective homes on the festival, which they could never celebrate with their dear-ones. NEW DELHI, Nov 26: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today reviewed the overall security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, even as State Government officials continued parleys with Planning Commission to discuss the state’s financial needs. The high-level meeting presided by the Prime Minister was also attended by Home Minister L K Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandes, Home Secretary Kamal Pandey, Cabinet Secretary Prabhat Kumar and other senior officials of intelligence agencies, official sources said. Meanwhile, a high-level sub-committee formed recently for resolving the state’s financial problems has made some progress on assessing its needs, but was yet to reach any conclusion, state Finance Secretary Ajit Kumar told. Kumar, who met member-secretary of Planning Commission N C Saxena yesterday, said there was progress on some issues. Centre is stressing that the State Government should utilise the funds for only those schemes for which they had been allocated, the sources said. The decision to form the sub-committee was arrived at after state Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had a high-level meeting with Advani, Fernandes, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission K C Pant on November 17. The Centre had committed extra financial assistance to J and K and assured it of stepped up anti-militancy operations in the backdrop of Abdullah’s threat to resign if security and financial needs of the state were not met. (PTI) |
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Fierce encounter in Banihal Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Nov 25: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was mysteriously missing from his camp of Alfa Company, deployed in Banihal in Doda district. However, the arms and ammunition allotted to the jawan, were intact. The possibility of kidnapping hasn’t been completely ruled out. Official sources here said the jawan identified as Abdul Majid son of Ghulam Rasool, a resident of Badgam district in Kashmir valley, was posted with Alfa Company in militancy-infested Banihal tehsil. He mysteriously disappeared from the camp, which was detected last evening. Sources said he had gone out of the camp for a stroll but didn’t return. The CRPF personnel have brought the matter to the notice of senior officers and lodged a report of missing with Banihal police station. Police parties, assisted by security forces, carried out searches at several places today but couldn’t locate the whereabout of the CRPF jawan. Efforts continued to trace him, the sources said. Meanwhile, a fierce encounter was today going on between 20 Rashtriya Rifles and militants at Batta area of Banihal. Sources said jawans of 20 RR, assisted by para-military and Special Task Force (STF) personnel, launched an operation in the upper reaches of village Bata in Banihal, after developing an information about the presence of militants. Atleast three militants were spotted by the troops, moving on the hills and were challenged. Militants opened firing, which was retaliated by the troops. The exchange of firing continued till late this evening but the militants managed to escape. Troops continued operation to track down the militants. |
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My future is in J&K, not at Centre: Omar Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 26: Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Mr Omar Abdullah foresees his future in the State of Jammu and Kashmir and not at the Centre. He conveyed these feelings while talking to newsmen here today. "The Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah is determined to quit politics after his term, and he has been repeatedly indicating the same", Mr Omar said , adding that National Conference has to play a role at the State level for all times to come. "So definitely, my future lies in the State and not at the Centre", he asserted. To a query, Mr Omar said that his party found a berth in the Union Cabinet due to the introduction of the coalition era in the Indian politics." Had Congress or Bharatiya Janata Party got a majority in the recent elections of their own, NC would have no role to play at the Centre", he said. " Our induction was a God-given gift. But this will definitely help me gain experience and test my potential before I take up the State politics ", he further said. |
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Army launches massive
operation in Tral Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 26: In yet another operation in south Kashmir, security forces today eliminated three more militants near Dooru while as officials today confirmed that a total of 5 militants had got killed in the operation at Lankarpumbai on Thursday. Meanwhile, security forces have launched a massive combing operation in a vast forest area between Tral and Srigufwara. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that on the basis of a specific information, troops of ITBP 24 Bn conducted a search operation at Panzoo village in Dooru area of Anantnag district today. During the operation, militants opened fire and the 4-hour long fierce encounter left three militants killed. They were identified as Bilal Bhai and Hafeez Bhai of Pakistan and Shabir Ahmed Naik son of Mohammad Subhan Naik of Mahoomangad, Banihal. As already reported in this newspaper, two militants had got killed in a joint operation of RR 36 Bn and Anantnag Police at Brunti Shool near Anantnag last evening. Today, they were identified as Parvez Ahmed alias Zahid S/o Abdus Salam resident of Khodwani and Tariq Masood alias Suhail resident of Arwani. Reports from Anantnag said that the residential of Abdul Rehman Dar, Ghulam Mohammad Dar and Gulzar Ahmed Dar as also three graineries perished in the encounter. These reports identified the slain militant of Arwani as Sabzar Ahmed even as a handout identified him as Tariq Masood alias Suhail of Hizbul Mujahideen. Official today confirmed this newspaper's Thursday report that in all 5 militants had got killed at Lankarpumbai, Kulgam. Yesterday, officials had confirmed the death of four militants at Lankarpumbai and that of two more militants at Panchnar, Nagni in Qazigund area. An official handout identified the fifth militant killed at Lankarpumbai as Zahoor Ahmed Bhat S/o Aziz Bhat resident of Zalangam. Meanwhile, troops of 79 Brigade, camping at Khrew, launched a massive combing operation in a vast area of upper Tral between Nagberan upto Khirm and Sirhama where from troops of an Anantnag-based brigade joined the operation. Troops also conducted cordon and search operation at Ramnagri Reshinagri and Maimendar localities of Shopian today but there was no major development. Militants today caused a crude bomb explosion at the shop of a chicken-meat seller, namely Pritam Singh, outside Police Control Room in which one customer and one female beggar sustained injuries. According to some reports, illicit liquor was being sold to customers at the outlet in front of RTO's office. |
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NEW DELHI, Nov 26 : Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in his first comment on Kalyan Singh’s attack on him, tonight described the charges levelled against him by the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister as baseless. All this is utterly incorrect. I have already made a clarification in this regard in Lucknow yesterday, Vajpayee told reporters at the reception hosted by Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav for his son’s Marriage. The Prime Minister declined to comment when asked if there was a possibility of a split in BJP’s Uttar Pradesh unit on the Kalyan Singh issue.(PTI) Police nabs 30 suspects in Jammu Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 26: The police arrested thirty suspects from various parts of district Jammu since last night. A police spokesman said that at least thirty persons were picked up by police from various parts of Jammu in past 24 hours. Besides, them one was detained under preventives measures while three others were booked under Motor Vehicle Act. |
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