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J&K
Ministry set for expansion Excelsior Special Correspondent NEW DELHI, Dec 14: The AICC supremo, Ms Sonia Gandhi, has , at last, given a go-ahead signal for the much-awaited expansion of the Jammu and Kashmir Council of Ministers headed by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. This became amply clear at the end of the 40-minute meeting Mufti Sayeed had with her here on Saturday evening. The "crucial" meeting took place after the Mufti’s separate meetings with the members of Ms Sonia’s think-tank on Jammu and Kashmir in the past two days. The think-tank mainly consists of the wily Thakur, Mr Arjun Singh, Dr Manmohan Singh, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ms Ambika Soni and Ms Mohsina Kidwai. Ms Sonia Gandhi had, during the day, other important visitors from J&K, namely, Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram, Social Welfare Minister, Mr Mula Ram, and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Tara Chand. However, as all eyes were focussed on the Sonia-Mufti talks, all those anxiously—indeed, desperately—waiting for the final word from the ‘Madam’were given to understand, at the end of the meeting, that the expansion in the J&K Council of Ministers will take place in the next few days. Mufti Sayeed had three major issues to discuss with Ms Sonia Gandhi. First, of course, was the move to add more members to his Ministry. Second issue related to setting up of a coordination committee to oversee functioning of the coalition Government. Third issue pertained to the selection of candidates for five vacant seats in the J&K Legislative Council. According to sources in the Congress High Command, the Sonia-Mufti talks took place at a time when the Congress, which is the biggest alliance partner in the Mufti Government, had apprised the party chief of its expectations and requirements in relation to the three "sectors"— Cabinet expansion, composition of the coordination committee and induction of new faces in the State’s Upper House. Thus, leaders of the two biggest alliance partners in the State Government (Ms Sonia Gandhi and Mufti Sayeed) discussed necessary modalities in relations to these three "sectors". According to these sources, the name of PCC(I) vice president Thakur Gulchain Singh Charak has almost been finalised for the Legislative Council. The Congress (I) leadership has decided to allot second council seat to a sikh, whose name was yet to be finalised. A decision about third seat, allotted to the Congress (I), was expected to be taken shortly. The Mufti’s political outfit, namely, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was reported to be willing to concede only three seats to the Congress in the Legislative Council. Although Ms Sonia Gandhi is expected to finalise the list of Congress nominees for their induction in the Mufti Ministry on Monday or Tuesday, indications are by no means uncertain that the Congress is tipped to get a major share. At present, Congress has three Ministers, including the Deputy Chief Minister. The ground work for the induction of members from the Congress, the PDP and other partners of the coalition had been done with Mufti Sayeed meeting the J&K PCC chief, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram, holding parleys with the party High Command, including AICC general secretaries, Ms Mohsina Kidwai and Ms Ambika Soni, and Dr Manmohan Singh. By the time the Sonia-Mufti meeting was over, mediapersons were also given to understand that the coordination committee, to be headed by Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, will quite likely be 10-member strong with representation to all alliance partners, namely, PDP, Congress, CPI(M), Democratic People’s Forum (DPF) and Panthers Party as per their strength in the Assembly. |
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Two terrorists shot dead in Delhi NEW DELHI, Dec 14: A day after the first anniversary of the terror attack on Parliament, Delhi Police today gunned down two suspected Pakistani terrorists of yet unknown Tehreek-e-Ghaznavi outfit in an encounter in Tughlaqabad area in South Delhi, foiling their design to carry out a "spectacular action" in the national capital. One terrorist, however, managed to escape in the darkness during the encounter that took place at around 6 am, Joint Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Neeraj Kumar said. The entire area bordering Haryana had been virtually sealed and Delhi Police and other security agencies across the capital have been put on alert as the hunt was on to apprehend the ultra. Two AK assault rifles, six magazines, three hand grenades and a number of live rounds of AK rifle, besides some documents, were recovered from the slain terrorists. One of the seized papers in Hindi suggested that they belonged to All India Tehreek-e-Ghaznavi outfit, a suspected front for Lashker-e-Toiba. It exhorted ‘Jehadis’ to fight for their cause, Kumar said. He said the police had been receiving intelligence inputs over past two weeks suggesting that Pakistan-backed terrorists would strike in Delhi around December 6 or December 13. While these days passed off peacefully, police last night received a specific input that three terrorists in a white Maruti Car (No. DL7C 5921) would come into Delhi from Faridabad, Kumar said. On the basis of the information, policemen were deployed in strength at the border and check-posts erected at three places, particularly checking white Maruti cars, Kumar said. At around 6 am, when a white Maruti car was signalled to stop, it sped away towards Delhi on Badarpur-Mehrauli road, he said adding the cops chased it even as the terrorists fired at them. At one point, driver of the speeding car lost control of the vehicle and hit a culvert, he said adding the terrorists got out and started running towards Tughlaqabad Fort while firing and lobbing grenades at the cops. An encounter ensued in which two terrorists were killed while the third escaped. (PTI) |
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Handicrafts Inspector shot
dead in Pattan Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 14: In a development, extremely surprising for security and aviation authorities, Army has recovered a surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile in Kupwara forest area, in north Kashmir today. While as military and air force officials are assessing the new threat perception, authorities are apprehensive of more sophisticated weaponry in the militant arsenals in Jammu & Kashmir. A Defence spokesman at the Army’s 15 Corps Headquarers here told EXCELSIOR that for the first time a surface-to-air missile, alongwith its portable shoulder-fired launcher, has been recovered in the Valley. Last year, a similar SAM had been recovered from a Lashkar-e-Toiba hideout in Poonch area of Jammu division. While as the launcher weighed 15 kilos, its warhead (missile) was around 10 Kgs in weight. According to strategic experts, the 4ft 8-inch long SAM, with 80 mm diametre, can hit any type of aircraft in an effective range of 4.20 Km. It can be operated even in minus 40 degree celsius temperature. Its cost is estimated at around Rs 65 Lakh. The SAM has surfaced within days of the American ambassador Robert Blackwill’s aerial visit to LoC in Kupwara district. Defence Minister George Fernandes has been frequently visiting these border areas. Early this year, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee too visited Kupwara in a helicopter and addressed a gathering of security forces. Security agencies have apprehensions that presence of these anti-aircraft missiles in areas around Srinagar Airport could endanger operations of civilian and military aircraft as this shoulder-propelled weapon is famous for precision. It is believed that similar kind of missiles had been fired on an Israeli airliner in Kenya earlier this month. Fortunately, both the missiles had missed the target closely. On a specific information, troops of Drugmulla-based Sector-7 recovered the missile and its launcher, with all necessary accessories, from Nagri-Malpora forest area in Kupwara. The spot, where the missile and the launcher had been recently concealed underground, is just 7 Kms from the district headquarters of Kupwara. According to the Defence spokesman, Army had been receiving inputs since June this year that militants were smuggling highly dangerous surface-to-air missiles and light-weight shoulder-fired launchers into the Valley from Pakistan and PoK. He said that the militants’ mentors in Pakistan had communicated instructions of surface-to-air strikes to Valley-based commanders. Obviously, small aircraft of security forces and IAF, besides low-flying jets and helicopters, could be the target. The launcher and the missile seized in Kupwara carried ANZA MC-I markings. Authorities insist that this kind of weaponry was in Pakistan’s military arsenals. Some reports indicate that the same type of missiles had been used by Mujahideen in Afghanistan to ground aeroplanes and Russian fighters. Even as the missiles are believed to have reached in Kashmir during the last one year, freshly dug out and compressed clay at the hideout indicated that the same had been dumped recently. Civilian, soldier killed Meanwhile, Police today recovered the dead body of one Ali Mohammad Akhoon S/o Ghulam Hassan Akhoon R/o Gulshan Abad Botakadal, Hawal (Srinagar), from Chak Razaq Khan village in Pattan. It had a gunshot wound on its temple. According to the bereaved family members, Akhoon had left his home at 1.30 p.m. yesterday. He is believed to have been kidnapped and shot dead. Posted at Saidpora (Zainageer) Sopore, 46-year-old Akhoon was a senior Inspector in the Department of Handicrafts. Reports from north Kashmir added that in a militant attack at Dooniwara, Sogam, in Kupwara district, one soldier of RR 18th Bn, Kanwaljit Singh, got killed. In exchange of gunfire, driver of a truck, namely Bashir Ahmed Sheikh S/o Ghulam Ahmed Sheikh, sustained injuries. Toddler killed in mishap Meanwhile, a speedy minibus, JK05-5130, which was coming to the capital city from Tangmarg-Magam, skidded of the road and turned turtle at Lawaypora this evening. Fourteen commuters, driver and conductor were travelling in the vehicle. A 6-month-old baby, Omar S/o Nazir Ahmed Dar R/o Chak Kawoosa, died on spot while as nine commuters sustained injuries. Two of the critically injured were rushed to SKIMS and seven others were admitted for treatment at Bone & Joint Hospital, Bazullah. In another road accident, a speedy tipper, JK01C-8315, knocked down 16-year-old Asif Ali Bhat at Khomeni Chowk, Bemina, today. One of his legs suffered a massive fracture. At Mawar, Handwara, one woman, namely Taja Begum W/o Ghulam Ahmed Rather, consumed some poisonous substance. She was rushed to Srinagar and admitted at SMHS Hospital. However, she succumbed under treatment. At Pinjora, Shopian, 21-year-old Shaheena D/o Ghulam Mohammad drowned in a deep well and died. |
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What Farooq did to JVMC,
Mufti do to Soura hospital From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz SRINAGAR, Dec 14: After Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is going to extend his administrative catharsis to the prestigious Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura. While as search has already begun for the new Vice Chairman (VC), Director Dr Meraj-ud-din has been asked to submit his resignation and pave way for the new incumbent. Highly placed sources in the PDP-led coalition Government disclosed to EXCELSIOR that, immediately after Khursheed Naqeeb’s removal as the Vice Chairman LAWDA earlier this week, Dr Meraj-ud-din has been asked to quit as the SKIMS Director. According to these sources, the SKIMS VC Dr Mohammad Ali Matoo is also being shown the door in near future. While as Matoo happens to be the brother-in-law of the former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, both Naqeeb and Meraj-ud-din are being counted among the top beneficiaries of the National Conference (NC) Government. Dr Meraj-ud-din is being replaced in the wake of serious allegations that he had siphoned off a part of the Rs 55 Crore-a-year SKIMS budget and also paid a sum of Rs 2.00 Crore as "election fund" to the NC government. However, Mufti’s government is taking utmost care to ensure that the proposed crackdown on corrupt officials was not interpreted as an exercise of political vendetta. In fact, Naqeeb’s attachment and sanction to his prosecution is also being projected as a "follow up action" to an old process, which had initiated during the NC government last year. In the first phase of the crackdown, at least a dozen officials, who enjoyed tremendous politico-bureaucratic clout in Dr Abdullah’s Government, are being purged out from prestigious positions. It is still a matter of consideration whether these blue-eyed boys of the previous Government would be quizzed and prosecuted by the soon-to-be reorganised State Vigilance Organisation or the so-called Accountability Commission. Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir High Court has already been requested to nominate the head of the commission. Retired Justice R P Sethi is said to be heading the panel of probables. Under considerable pressure from some relatives, widely known as the ‘kitchen cabinet’, Dr Abdullah had ignored all complaints and allegations against the SKIMS administration during the last six years of his rule. On one point of time, when this newspaper carried an investigative series on the irregularities manipulated in the faculty appointments, Dr Abdullah’s Government had ordered an inquiry into the SKIMS selections. Retired Justice G A Kuchai was appointed as its head while as Dr Girija Dhar (former Principal of Government Medical College) and a retiring IGP, Mohammad Ashraf, became its members. Even as it was viewed as a ray of hope in the medical community, the terms of reference of the inquiry were changed within a week’s time. The 3-member committee conducted the investigation but its report— allegedly dumped in the General Administration Department— did never see the light of the day. Head of Department Endocrinology, Professor Abdul Hameed Zargar, was even nominated as the new SKIMS Director, but the erstwhile ‘kitchen cabinet’ prevailed upon the CM and managed to get the process aborted. The SKIMS VC is said to have played key role in perpetuating Dr Meraj-ud-din’s posting as the Director. Dr Abdullah’s Health & Medical Education Minister, Mian Altaf Ahmed—who is known for his honesty and integrity— had asserted only to the point that the Director SKIMS was stripped of some powers. In September last year, Dr Meraj-ud-din’s status of being the ex-officio Commissioner-Secretary to Government was withdrawn and this authority was delegated to Principal Secretary to Government Health and Medical Education. However, thanks to the ‘kitchen cabinet’, all serious allegations of nepotism, favouritism, misappropriation of huge funds, irregularities in appointments and purchases, as also manipulations in the selection of faculty staff, fell on deaf ears. Now that a new Government is in office, the SKIMS Director has been desperately using all possible links to block the top level reshuffle on cards. However, if the well-placed sources are to be believed, HoD Cardiology, Dr Jalal-ud-din, should take over as the Director SKIMS within this month. Sources said that some senior PDP functionaries, including the influential Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig, had supported the nomination of eminent gaestroentrologist Dr Mohammad Sultan Khuroo. But the negative point was that Dr Khuroo is a man whose services had earlier been terminated in the same institute. In the wake of a security threat, he had fled to Saudi Arabia and worked with foreign hospitals without resigning as Director SKIMS eight years ago. Nevertheless, the Mufti Government is a bit disturbed over the proposed removal of Dr Matoo as the SKIMS VC. The hospital is a creation of Sher-e-Kashmir Medical Trust, founded by late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. Dr Farooq Abdullah continues to be the SKMT head. As per rules, the SKIMS VC has to be the nominee of the SKMT. Before Matoo, Dr Ali Mohammad Jan and Dr A Q Allaqabandh had also been nominated by the SKMT. According to sources, the PDP-led Government was weighing several options to "smoothly" remove Dr Matoo as the SKIMS VC. One of the options is to request the SKMT chief to nominate a new incumbent. Another is to use the government’s extraordinary powers, dismiss the VC and abolish the trust on the pattern of Jhelum Valley Medical College. Within weeks of its returning to power, the NC government had abolished the erstwhile Kashmir Medical Trust and made the JVMC as an affiliate of the SKIMS in 1997. Yet another option is that the new Director would bypass the VC and report directly to the Chief Secretary. |
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Woman accused granted bail Excelsior Legal Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 14: In a much publicised one lakh US dollar case, Presiding Officer, Designated Court under POTA Jammu, Mr PN Razdan has issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Mohd Yasin Malik, chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) for his failure to appear in the case. Meanwhile, the same court today granted bail to Ms Shamima Khan, also one of the accused in the same case. The non-bailable warrants against Malik were issued after the JKLF supremo, (who was granted bail in this case on July 20, 2002) failed to appear in the court today. The POTA Court had earlier bailed him out on medical grounds, but he was not allowed to furnish the bail bond as the Government issued his detention order under Public Safety Act (PSA). The Crime Branch Jammu had produced challan against Yasin Malik, Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, Shamima Khan alias Shazia and Altaf Hussain Qadri against whom general arrest warrants under Section 512 CrPC were issued by the Court. In the challan, it was submitted that the case was registered on March 24, 2002 under Section 3/4 POTA on the basis of the statement of accused and recovery of one lakh US dollars. The Police had arrested Malik on March 25, 2002 when he was addressing a press conference at Srinagar. Malik was, however, granted bail on various grounds including his deteriorating health condition. He was, however, asked to cooperate with the Court, but he avoided his presence, as a result, a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against him today. Meanwhile Presiding Officer POTA Court, Mr PN Razdan granted bail to Shamima Khan of Radio Colony, Srinagar ( at present District Jail Jammu), with the direction that she should provide bail and personal bond to the tune of rupees one lakh with two sureties and the personal bond of the like amount. She was directed not to leave the jurisdiction of this Court without prior permission and shall continue to appear in the case without default. While allowing Shamima Khan’s bail application filed through Advocate Yogesh Bakshi, Mr Razdan observed that in the opinion of the Court, proviso Section 497 CrPC is also applicable to the person accused of an offence punishable under POTA. " When this proviso is applicable to the case of POTA, then the petitioner is entitled to bail in the light of Section 497 CrPC which states that even if a woman or a sick peon is accused of any heinous offence of which the punishment is death or imprisonment for life or is detained under Provision of POTA, she is entitled to bail, being a woman. So in the light of Section 49 RW Proviso to Section 497 CrPC, the court finds that the petitioner being a woman, is entitled of bail who has already remained in custody for the last about nine months", the Judge held. On Mach 24, 2002, Police had arrested the accused at Kud from a vehicle number JK02M- 267 which was driven by one Rakesh Kumar. During the inspection of the vehicle and the personal search of the accused, Police had recovered 70,000 US dollars from Shamima and 30,000 US dollars from another accused Mushtaq Dar. On inquiry, the duo had stated that they had collected the money from one Altaf Qadri, (Pak based Hurriyat leader) in Kathmandu, Nepal and the same money was to be handed over to Yasin Malik in Srinagar. |
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Govt's new plan for
migrants Excelsior Special Correspondent NEW DELHI, Dec 14: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led coalition Government in Jammu and Kashmir has no plans to permit separate zones for Kashmiri Pandit migrants in the Valley. This became amply clear here on Saturday, when the J&K Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, told mediapersons that while his Government was keen on the return of Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) to the Valley with dignity, the question of providing separate zones for them did not arise. The State Government, the Mufti asserted, had no scheme to make separate zones for the migrants in the Valley. His assertion seemed to be based on the feedback he had got from a section of the KP migrants. Mufti Sayeed said, in reply to a question, that Kashmiri Pandit migrants "are not willing" to remain in segregation once they returned to the Valley. He said that a number of Kashmiri Pandits had expressed "a keen desire" to return to their homes in the Valley. Most of the migrants, living in camps in Jammu and other areas, he divulged, had met him recently to convey their "willingness" to return to the Valley. The Mufti Government’s new scheme envisages re-settlement of 150 Kashmiri Pandit families, in the first phase, near temple towns of Mattan in Anantnag district and Kheerbhavani in Ganderbal tehsil. The Chief Minister, in fact, disclosed that his Government was,at present, giving final touches to the scheme to arrange return journey to the Valley of the first batch of 150 families by March next year. This, he explained, was part of the Government’s overall strategy to rehabilitate more than 2 lakh displaced people. The Government’s new scheme hasn’t, as it appears, approved the Farooq Government’s proposal of having separate clusters for KPs in Srinagar and Badgam districts. The Mufti Government has, on the other hand, accepted the previous Government’s recommendation, calling for a fool-proof security system for the migrants after their return to the Valley. While talking about his Government’s readiness to provide financial assistance to the displaced families to renovate and rebuild their houses, the Chief Minister revealed that the police and paramilitary forces had been directed to finalise a fool-proof security system for protecting them from militant attacks. The Farooq Government’s plan, which the Vajpayee Government has already approved, contains a large number of incentives to facilitate the return of Kashmiri Pandit migrants to the Valley. It was estimated that implementation of the plan would involve an estimated expenditure of Rs 2799 crores. Salient features of the plan: (1) Provision of three major transit settlement units in Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag districts—5000 units (Srinagar), 2000 units (Anantnag) and 1000 units (Baramulla)—(2) investment of about Rs 1 lakh per unit, (3) grant of Rs 1.50 lakh per family, (4) Rs 4 lakh for reconstruction of fully damaged house in urban sector as against Rs 2 lakhs per unit in rural sector, (5) Rs 2.5 lakhs for reconstruction of partially damaged unit (urban sector) as against Rs 1 lakh for partially damaged unit in rural sector. The Farooq Government’s KP plan had put the number of migrant families at around 50,000. The number of KP structures in the Valley was placed at 15,400. Of these, nearly 11,000 houses, it was noted then, needed "minor" repairs. The State’s new Chief Minister made it plain in the Union capital that his Government was also ready to provide job opportunities to the migrant youth if they decided to return to the Valley. Mufti Sayeed had wide-ranging talks with senior Congress leaders on various aspects of the J&K situation. The Congress is considered as the coalition Government’s ‘stalwart partner’. And, hence, much importance to these talks. The Mufti said that some "vested interest parties" were out to scuttle the peace process in J&K. He accused them of causing difficulties in restoring peace and tranquility in the troubled State. He said in reply to a question that the revival of tourism, which had been badly affected by militancy, was his "first priority". Stating that there was a need to develop pilgrim tourism in J&K, the Mufti pointed out that his Government planned to develop amusement parks at various tourist places. He voiced satisfaction at what he termed as "immense response" from the industrialists to invest in various sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. |
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Hurriyat fires first salvo at Mufti Ministry SRINAGAR, Dec 14: Firing its first salvo at the new Government in Jammu and Kashmir, the Hurriyat Conference today accused the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led ministry of failing to live up to its poll promises and described it as a "puppet" in the hands of the Centre. "Hurriyat has been saying all along that the Government in Jammu and Kashmir is a puppet in the hands of the Central Government. That is why change in Government or elections can never solve the Kashmir issue," a spokesman of the multi-party conglomerate said here. "Sayeed’s party had promised to provide a healing touch to the people of the State but it must have realised by now that the State Government has to function as directed by the Centre," he said. The Government had promised to release all political prisoners in the State, disband the special operations group and put an end to custodial killings. "But these promises have remained as promises only," the spokesman said. "Sayeed must have realised his helplessness when the Centre forced him to stop the process after releasing some political prisoners," he said. (PTI) |
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Lucknowites prepare one-km-long citation for PM LUCKNOW, Dec 14 : Citizens of Lucknow, the Constituency of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, have prepared a one-km-long letter of citation, reportedly the longest of its kind ever in the world, featuring his achievements and contributions during the past over 50 years of public life. The letter, sketching the major events of his life since birth and messages from common people of the state capital, would be presented to Vajpayee on his birthday on December 25. Prepared under the supervision of the Avadh Award Council, the letter was released for public viewing by senior BJP leader and Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Minister Lalji Tandon here today. Avadh Award Council president Subhash Bhalla claimed that this is the longest citation letter ever prepared in the world "to match the great personality of Vajpayee". The exercise of penning the letter started on July 13 last year and completed only on November 1 this year, he said. As many as 750 water proof pens were used to write down the messages as well as life sketch and major incidents of his life in Hindi. The Council would stake its claim for the letter’s entry in the Guiness Book of World Records and Limca Book of Records, Bhalla said. "Presently, a 200-metre-long letter prepared by the citizens of New York for then US President John F Kennedy holds the Guiness record of the longest letter in the world," Bhalla said. (PTI) |
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Newspapers could show right path: PM NEW DELHI, Dec 14: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said newspapers pursuing certain ideologies could show the right path to the people. Felicitating veteran editor, author and social activist Manikchand Vajpayee at a function at his residence, Vajpayee said such publications could help its readers in arriving at the correct decision on various issues. As a mark of respect, the Prime Minister, who has closely associated with 82-year old Manikchand popularly known as ‘Mamaji’ for several decades, touched his feet. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said there was missionary zeal in both politicians and journalists before the country attained independence. It was unfortunate that such occupations have now degenerated in several instances into a business, he said. Manikchand, who was the first editor of Indore-based ‘Swadesh’ newspaper, has authored several books. Union Minister Satyanarain Jatiya, former BJP president Kushabhao Thakre, RSS leader Srikant Joshi and editors and senior members of various publications of Swadesh were present on the occasion. (PTI) |
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Two HC Judges asked to proceed on leave NEW DELHI, Dec 14: Two Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court were today asked to proceed on "indefinite" leave after a high-level judicial committee found "prima facie true" the charges of "undue influence and misuse of office" against them. A third judge of the same court was, however, let off with a "reprimand" as he is retiring early next year, authoritative sources said here. Justice Amarbir Singh Gill and Justice Mehtab Singh Gill were asked by the Chief Justice of India G B Pattanaik to proceed on indefinite leave pending further action after a three-member committee headed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Justice A R Lakshmanan, submitted its report on certain charges against them. Justice M L Singh has been reprimanded by the CJI, but no action was proposed to be taken against him as he was due to retire early next year, the sources said. The committee was set up by the CJI after allegations were levelled against the three judges that they had used their influence with the disgraced former chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission Ravinderpal Singh Siddhu for getting jobs for their kin in the State Government. (PTI |
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Choudhry to be new Army vice chief NEW DELHI, Dec 14: General Shantonu Choudhry, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Army Training Command, has been appointed Vice Chief of Army Staff, a defence spokesman said today. He will be replaced by Gen J J Singh, presently GOC-in-C, one Corps, Mathura. Gen Choudhry, who got commissioned in 1963, is from artillery and has commanded 11 Corps. He was Additional Director General (Military Intelligence) during ‘Operation Vijay’ and has commanded the ‘Victor Force’ in Kashmir valley. Gen J J Singh, a 1964 Commissioned Officer, is from the Maratha Light Infantry and has commanded the strike corps of the Indian Army. He was Additional Director General, Military Operations, during ‘Operation Vijay.’ Both the officers will take over their new assignments from January one, 2003, the spokesman added. (UNI) |
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