Narasimha Rao passes away

NEW DELHI, Dec 23: Former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, who set India irreversibly on the path of economic reforms during an eventful tenure from 1991 to 1996, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here today.

The 83-year-old scholar-statesman had been sinking since he was admitted to AIIMS a fortnight ago.

The end came today at 1410 hrs. An AIIMS statement said Rao suffered a stroke at 1200 hrs.

He is survived by three sons and five daughters. His wife had pre-deceased him.

Parliament adjourned this afternoon, immediately after hearing the news, hours before it was to end its winter session.

The Union Cabinet met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the chair and announced a seven-day state mourning. It also decided that rao would be accorded a state funeral.

The place of cremation will be decided in accordance with the wishes of the family of Mr Rao.

Mr Prithviraj Chauhan, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, has been designated as the minister in attendance to assist the family in all arrangements including the last rites.

The former Prime Minister was taken to the hospital on December 10 after complaining of chest pain and breathlessness and was undergoing treatment for congestive heart ailment. Rao, who was a patient of diabetes and coronary heart disease, had been ailing for several months from interspitial lung disease and congestive heart failure. "He was admitted to AIIMS on December 10 after congestive heart failure and immediately developed serious heart rhythm disturbances which required repeated resuscitation. He improved thereafter and was under intensive care where he developed a serious respiratory problem which required life support system including dialysis for kidney failure.

"Mr Rao was maintaining a stable state on these systems till the morning of December 23 when he developed progressive hypotension and shock with repeated bouts of cardiac arrhythmias. Though he responded to interventions several times, he later went into a state of cardiac standstill from which he could not be revived," the AIIMS statement said.

Rao’s son Prabhakar Rao and All India Anti-Terrorist Front chief Maninderjeet Singh Bitta were at his bedside when he breathed his last. Other family members and relatives were also present at the hospital.

The embalmed body was taken to his residence where it lay in state. President A P J Abdul Kalam was amongst those who visited the house to pay tributes.

After placing a wreath on the body, the President said the death of Rao "was an irreparable loss."

The body will be taken to Congress headquarters tn Akbar Road to enable people to pay homage to the departed leader before the funeral, likely to take place in his home state of Andhra Pradesh.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi presided over an emergency meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) which adopted a resolution recalling the services rendered by Rao to the party as its chief and to the nation as Prime Minister.

All the CWC members present in Delhi attended the meeting.

Motilal Nehru Marg, where a huge crowd of political leaders, party workers, Rao’s friends and admirers and mediapersons had gathered at his residence, was closed for traffic.

Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat described Rao as a great litterateur, scholar, writer, philosopher and reformist who dedicated his life in the service of the people of the country.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Rao was a true patriot, a nationalist to the core, a visionary, a statesman, a builder, a reformer and, without doubt, a statesman.

"It is a personal loss for me. I sincerely valued his guidance, his advice, his support and his friendship. He was generous to a fault in extending each of these to me with grace and affection," said Dr Manmohan Singh, who had served as the Finance Minister in the Rao Cabinet. "Our country was fortunate that at a time when it was gripped by great national sorrow and a grave tragedy, on the one hand, and a serious economic crisis, on the other, it was able to reach out to an elder statesman like Shri Rao and place the destiny of this nation in his hands. He will forever be remembered as the father of economic reforms in India. I could do whatever I was able to as the Finance Minister because of his unstinted support and cooperation, said Dr Singh.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi said Rao was a tall politician of rare intellect whose name would forever be linked with the economic reforms programme.

Rao was one of "our senior-most and valued colleagues. Indiraji and Rajivji sought his counsel on a wide variety of issues. All of us have been associated with him in some way or the other. He was erudite, multi-lingual to an unusual degree, a politician of rare intellect. He always appeared calm and composed, unruffled by the ups and downs of public life," Ms Gandhi said.

CPI(M) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet said the country had lost a senior leader who began his political life as a freedom fighter and went on to become the Prime Minister.

The CPI said the party central secretariat expressed its sorrow on the death of Rao, "who was one among the veteran leaders of the Congress."

Nepal King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev’s eleven-day visit to India, which was to begin this afternoon, was rescheduled.

In Hyderabad, the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee expressed grief over the death of Rao, who was the State Chief Minister in the early seventies.

APCC president K Keshava Rao, in a statement, said Mr Rao was a great politician, whom the world recognised as a "great economic reformer as well as statesman." Mr Rao had sacrificed his life for the nation and the poor.

Noting that Mr Rao had taken several steps to uplift the poor during his stint Chief Minister, he said Mr Rao had brought a legislation on land reforms in 1971-72 and distributed land worth several lakh acres to the poor. Before moving to the Centre, Rao was Minister of Law, Endowment, Health and Education in Andhra Pradesh before he was chosen as Chief Minister in 1971 when Kasu Brahmananda Reddy was asked to step down by the Congress high command in the wake of the Telangana agitation.

After stepping down as Chief Minister, Rao crossed the Vindhyas to play an important role in national politics.

Former Prime Ministers — Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Chandra Shekhar, I K Gujral, V P Singh and H D Deve Gowda — said in Rao’s death, one more stalwart of the freedom movement had fallen.

Mr Vajpayee said an era had come to an end in the nation’s life.

"Mr Rao led the nation during difficult times and demonstrated a rare and proud courage of conviction," he said.

People from all walks of life streamed into the residence to pay their last respects to the former Prime Minister.

Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Dr Manmohan Singh, Ms Sonia Gandhi, Mr A B Vajpayee and BJP president L K Advani were among those who visited the residence where Rao’s body has been kept in state.

Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar was among the first to reach there followed by Mr Rao’s lawyer and old friend R K Anand.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and AICC general secretaries Ahmed Patel, Devendra Dwivedi and several other ministers and MPs reached the residence of Rao to express their condolences to the bereaved family.

Delhi Lt Governor B L Joshi, Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit, UP Congress chief Salman Khurshid, Janardhan Reddy, Union Minister T R Baalu and former Union Ministers K C Lenka, P Upendra, G Venkataswami and several Andhra MPs also visited the residence to condole his death.

Noted Gandhian and long term associate of Rao, Nirmala Deshpande also came to express her sympathies. BJP leader Sushma Swaraj and S S Ahluwalia paid floral tributes to Rao.

Tight security arrangements were in place at his residence with sniffer dogs and RAF personnel presssed into service in view of the VIP visits. (UNI)

PSC directed to conduct fresh interviews
HC quashes selection of 594 Assistant Surgeons

Excelsior Legal Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 23: In a landmark judgment, Justice YP Nargotra of the State High Court today quashed the much controversial selection of 594 Assistant Surgeons selected by Public Service Commission (PSC) and directed the Commission to conduct fresh interviews.

With these directions, the Court decided 11 writ petitions wherein the selection of these Assistant Surgeons was challenged on the ground that PSC had made the selection in violation of the advertisement notices as well as the mandate of Rule 40.

While quashing the selection, Justice Nargotra directed PSC to conduct fresh interviews of the candidates who had applied pursuant to the advertisement issued against the advertised 430 posts of Assistant Surgeons by following the criteria set-down in Rule 51 of J&K PSC ( Conduct of Business and Procedure)- Rule 1980 ( Amended) after restricting the number of vacancies to be called for the interview to the ratio of 1:3.

The Justice further directed to issue notification inviting applications against 164 vacancies referred to PSC by Health and Medical Education Department through its requisition dated May 19, 2004 and June 5, 2004 and make selection in accordance with the rules and law.

After hearing battery of Advocates, Justice Nargotra observed that Public Service Commission was aware of the fact that the criteria envisaged by Rule 51 was not in accordance with law and reservation of 100 marks for viva voce against 40 for other record was in violation of law laid down by Supreme Court in its various judgments.

Advocate Sunil Sethi appearing for the petitioners submitted hat the selection was bad for having been made in exercise of power actuated by malafide.

The Commission consisted of five members and a Chairman. Wards of four members of the Commission were candidates in the selection list, as members had shown undue favour and brought their wards within the zone of selection at the cost of meritorious candidates.

It was also alleged that the candidates who were the wards of former and present Ministers and other influential persons were too showered with favours on the basis of their political connections.

It was a case of quid-pro-quo where one member favoured the ward of another member and vice versa.

In 106 page approved for reporting judgment, Justice Nargotra to the favoritism made in respect of selected candidates who happened to be the sons, daughters, sons- in-law and daughters-in-law of the members of PSC, present and former Ministers and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

As per the stand of the Commission, the wards of the members of PSC were interviewed by Selection Committee headed by Chairman and Dr Madan and expert members on different dates while’s others were interviewed by one or the other committee.

Selected candidate Rakesh Bansal S/o CL Bansal ( member PSC) was awarded 79 marks out of 100 for viva voce though his academic merit was not highest. Gulnaz Choudhary, a kin of Ch Bashir Ahmad was awarded 67 marks, Sheilja Tickoo, D/o VK Tickoo ( PSC Member) obtained the total marks of 87. Bisma Sharief Khan, D/o MS Khan ( PSC member) too got 87 marks out of 100. Athar Bashir, son-in law of BA Choudhary member PSC was also placed in the selection list after granting 87 marks to him in interview. Shagufta Rahim, a close relative of AR Rather ( Ex-Finance Minister) was awarded 68 marks to accommodate her in the list.

Nighat Rashid Dar, D/o Speaker AR Dar was granted 70 marks, Irshad Ahmad Shah, S/o Hakim Mohd Yasin (Revenue Minister) was awarded 87 marks, while’s Rifat Jan, D/o Mohd Shafi Uri (Ex-Minister) was awarded 86 marks. Lubana Shafi, D/o Shafi Uri and daughter-in-law of Ch Mohd Ramzan was awarded 86 marks. Nusrat Jan, another daughter of Shaffi Uri was awarded 84 marks. Similarly one Malika, a close relative of present Housing Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir was awarded the highest marks of 89.

Justice Nargotra observed that from the marks awarded to such candidates, it appears that they have been awarded unusually high marks to place them in the merit list. To add to it, PSC didn’t retain/maintain any record of any selection committee from which the performance of these candidates in interview can be commented upon.

"The award rolls prepared by each selection committee though bear the signatures of the members and experts, yet awarding highest marks in interview to such candidates at the cost of meritorious candidates cannot be said to be absolutely free from suspicion.

With these observations and directions, the court disposed of the batch of writ petitions by quashing the selection of 594 Assistant Surgeons and directed for issuance of fresh advertisement and conducting of fresh interviews.

HC pulls up Crime Branch, rejects shifting
of Anara to Nari Niketan

Excelsior Legal Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 23 : Coming down heavily on State Crime Branch for failing to probe properly former Miss Jammu Anara Gupta —porno CD case, the State High Court today directed it to a file full CD-report after the winter vacations on the interrogation of all those who figured in the case.

It also dismissed the petition by the Crime Branch to shift Anara Gupta to the Nari Niketan saying home was the best place for her.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S N Jah and Justice S K Gupta pulled up Crime Branch for not investigating the case properly. Chief Justice on behalf of the Bench remarked: " Status report is perfunctory. He wondered how State was functioning in this matter"

When Advocate General AH Naik stated that " Police was demoralised", Justice Jha remarked: " Are we demoralising Police?"

"We are not satisfied by the probe report of crime branch. They have not interrogated all those who figured in the case," the Bench regretted.

When Mr Naik further stated that Crime Branch was facing difficulty as Anara Gupta has denied everything in her petition, upon this the DB took serious note and posed a question : " Is it the fact that in her earlier statement she had named certain persons and whether those persons have been interrogated or not?"

Mr Naik with the assistance of Investigating Officer Abdul Rouf Lone again referred that Anara had named five persons before turning hostile. Upon this the DB with anguish observed that out of five why just two have sofar been questioned and not the other three.

The Bench directed the Crime Branch to interrogate all those who were named by the former beauty queen and to whom calls from her mobile were made.

Anara possessed mobile of one Pankaj Raina. This was informed to DB by the investigating team adding that this mobile phone remained with Anara Gupta for 13 days and number of calls were made through this phone to different persons from various parts of the State. The Investigating Officer also presented a paper giving particulars of few persons who had made calls to Anara Gupta during 13 days.

At this stage, Mr Naik and Additional Advocate General Anil Sethi prayed for conducting of in-camera proceedings. The DB, however, didn’t agree to this submission.

Hoping that Crime Branch will properly investigate the case and interrogate the remaining three people whom Anara had earlier named, the Judges stated that who-so-ever the big person may be, he/she should be dealt in accordance with law.

The Crime Branch should, therefore, file fresh and full CD report after interrogating all those after winter vacation, the Bench further said, hoping that the Crime Branch will come with comprehensive report and no one should be spared in this matter.

The Advocate General also produced a compliance report of Director General of Police Gopal Sharma in which he expressed that he was not competent gto suspend SP or DySP but stated that recommendation has been sent to the Government to place under suspension SP North Deepak Salathia, SDPO Bakshi Nagar Tanveer Jeelani and also a request has been made for initiating departmental action against them for allowing TV Channels to interview Anara Gupta while she was in Police custody.

It was further informed that DGP has placed SHO Women’s Cell Kiran Bala under suspension. He further informed that the instructions have been received from the Home Department that Salathia and Jeelani too have been place under suspension by the Government.

At this stage Advocate Sunil Sethi appeared on behalf of Inspector Kiran Bala and stated that without hearing his client, she has been placed under suspension. Upon this the DB observed that: " You are at liberty to raise all possible pleas during departmental enquiry".

The bench also dismissed Crime Branch’s petition to shift Anara to Nari Niketan reasoning that home is best environment for her.

While Advocate Rahul Pant appeared on the behalf of Anara-Nari Niketan case, Advocate Shiekh Skheel appeared for Shiv Sena activist, who had demanded CBI probe into the case.

4 top ultras killed in Mahore, Gool

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 23: Four militants were today gunned down by Army in two separate encounters in Mahore and Gool areas of Reasi and Ramban police districts respectively while security forces destroyed a hideout of the militants at Sabjian in Poonch.

Reports said the troops engaged three militants in an encounter at Tiranga area of Mahore tehsil in Reasi police district last night. A contact with the militants was established this morning at 10.40 am.

A heavy exchange of firing between the two sides continued for four hours in extreme chilly weather condition with heavy rains in the area and snowfall on the hills.

At about 2.50 pm, the Army personnel succeeded in eliminating two militants. The third militant, however, managed to escape taking advantage of hostile weather. Security forces continued searches in the area till late this evening for the fleeing militant but he remained untraced.

Bodies of both the militants were recovered from the spot this evening. Their identity hasn’t been established so far but one of them was believed to be a foreign mercenary of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit, the sources said.

Two AK-47 rifles with magazines, ammunition, one wireless set, two grenades and some other explosive devices were recovered from the encounter site, the sources said.

They said another encounter took placer between Army of Mohar Brigade and the militants at village Lancha in Gool area of Ramban police district at 9.30 am today.

Four militants were trapped in the encounter in the afternoon. Again due to inclement weather, two militants fled away to an adjoining dense forest area while two others were shot dead by the security personnel.

Two AK rifles, 5.5 kg explosive, two detonators, one electronic detonators, one AK-47 bayonet, a large quantity of ration and medicines were recovered from the scene of encounter.

Security forces didn’t suffer any casualties in both the operations, the sources said.

In a joint operation, security forces and police destroyed a hideout of the militants at Sabjian in Poonch district and recovered two AK rifles, three Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs), two AK bayonets, two AK silencers, two launching tubes, 12 AK magazines, 314 rounds, two hand grenades, two detonators, one Kenwood set, five letter pads of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and some clothing items.

The hideout belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.

Meanwhile, Army and police today recovered one AK rifle, one magazine and nine rounds from Magni Dhar area in Billawar tehsil in Kathua district. The weapon had been snatched from four police personnel killed by the militants recently in upper reaches of Lohai Malhar in Billawar tehsil.

Security forces recovered one Yashu radio set, one SLR magazine, 15 SLR rounds and one digital watch during a search operation at Kaincha in Thathri in Doda district today.

Mufti admits failure to contain corruption

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 23: Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today candidly admitted that coalition regime led by Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has, so far, failed to contain corruption in the administration. He, however, said that without active support of the people it was not possible to eradicate this menace.

Addressing a one day convention of the PDP card holders of Jammu district urban and rural units, the Chief Minister admitted that the party, during its election campaign, had promised to provide corruption free Government to the masses. "I do admit, without any hesitation, that we have failed to fullfil this promise", he remarked but hastened to add that coalition regime was committed to eradicate corruption from the administration.

The one day conference was presided over by senior vice-president of the party, Rangil Singh while as Ministers, MLAs and MLCs attended the function.

The Chief Minister claimed that his Government has taken many revolutionary steps to provide eradicate corruption. "Apart from pre-mature retirement of some corrupt officers, State Vigilance Organisation has been activated", he pointed out.

"We have been taking every possible effort in this regard but peoples’ support in not upto expectation", he regretted and exhorted the party workers to work as ‘watch dog’. "Besides opposing corrupt practices, give us feed back about those officers who have been indulging in corruption and looting people", he told the workers. "As long as people remained mute spectator it is not possible to wipe out this menace", he opined, adding, " launch a vigirous war against corruption".

The Chief Minister also admitted that the present dispensation has failed to involve common masses in the activities of governance. "People by and large are not participating in the developmental activities of the Government", he said but added that without involvement of people it was not possible to attain credibility and to remove alination of common masses. "We want full involvement of people in different activities of the Government" he said and pointed out that coalition has decided to conduct civic bodies as well as Panchayat elections to ensure participation of people in Government. "These elections will help in trickling down democracy to grass root level", he said.

Highlighting achievements of the coalition regime, the Mufti said that policies being propagated by the Government to win ‘hearts and minds’ of people have been appreciated nationally as well as internationally.

"Some forces had launched a vicious campaign against our party but today every one has been appreciating our programmes", he said.

Pointing towards PDP-Congress relation, Mufti Sayeed said that coalition regime has been running on the basis of Common Minimum Programme (CMP). "Removing of POTA and containing atrocities of forces were on top of our agenda and we have fulfilled these two promises", he said adding, "it is Dr Manmohan Singh, who framed CMP two years back and now Dr Singh is Prime Minister of the country". He said that positive change was very much visible in the State after formation of coalition regime.

Responding to the demands raised by some workers regarding allotment of adequate number of seats to PDP in forthcoming Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) elections, the Chief Minister said, "being coalition partners we have to jointly fight the elections". "A committee has been already constituted to discuss modalities with Congress Party in this regard", he announced.

Earlier, Minister for Agriculture, Abdul Aziz Zarger inaugurated the convention which was also addressed by Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Qazi Mohammed Afzal, Rajya Sabha member Trilok Singh Bajwa, Minister of State for Labour, Manjeet Singh, Rangeel Singh, M S Tariq, Ved Mahajan, MLC, Dhaman Bhasin, general secretary, Shanti Devi, MLA, Ramesh Mottan, general secretary, Ashok Sharma, Baldev Singh Slathai, district president, Zaffar Khan and others.

A political resolution was passed in the convention in which card holders expressed satisfaction over performance of the party since its formation in 1999.

They said that the the policies of healing touch were initiated to provide succor to the hurt feelings of the victims of militancy, which was highly appreciated by one and all.
ADB approves 250 million for restoring infrastructure in J&K

SINGAPORE, Dec 23: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today approved a loan of 250 million dollars for a multisector project for infrastructure rehabilitation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The project is the first major intervention in the state by a multilateral aid agency in recent times.

ADB’s loan, which covers 70 per cent of the total project cost of 358 million dollars , comes from its ordinary capital resources. The loan carries a 25-year term, including a grace period of five years. Interest is determined in accordance with ADB’s libor-based lending facility.

The Central and the State Government will contribute 108 million dollars towards the project’s total cost. The State Government and era are the executing agencies for the project, which is due for completion in December 2009.

As part of the programmatic approach, a follow on project for the urban sector in the State has been programmed for 2006 for possible adb financing. To facilitate the preparation of this follow on project, a 500,000 technical assistance grant funded by the Government of the United Kingdom accompanies the project, said the ADB.

It will restore existing infrastructure facilities and services in two key infrastructure sectors, the urban and transport sectors, said the Manila-based ADB.

More specifically, the urban sector component will cover water supply and drainage systems in Srinagar and Jammu, while the transport sector component will finance the rehabilitation of roads and bridges throughout the State.

The project will also support capability building of a newly established nodal agency, the economic reconstruction agency, responsible for the effective management of externally funded projects in the State.

The Bank said the state holds great economic and business potential, having a landmark tourist destination and a successful horticultural and agricultural production industry. Besides that potential to be tapped, the overall socioeconomic environment needs improvement.

The economy of the State lags far behind other similar states in India, it noted.

The condition of roads has deteriorated and many bridges have been damaged. Public services such as water supply and drainage are in poor condition.

There is an urgent need to restore infrastructure and services in order to improve living conditions in urban and rural areas, thus contributing to the turnaround of the State economy.

Earlier this year, the Central Government had requested ADB to provide financial assistance for the restoration of essential infrastructure in the State on an urgent basis as part of normal lending operations.

ADB said it responded immediately by establishing a project team in April to initiate preparation and processing of the proposed project.

Investment needs for the rehabilitation and development of infrastructure in the State are huge, estimated to amount to more than 4 billion dollars.

They need to be addressed in a programmatic manner, starting from this project, which will address the most urgently needed rehabilitation of infrastructure, together with the establishment of a necessary institutional set up for project management. Consideration also needs to be given to the provision of subsequent infrastructure projects in key sectors such as urban, road and power.

In the transportation sector, potential subprojects under the project include the rehabilitation of about 1,500 kilometers of deteriorated roads under the jurisdiction of the public works department, and about 80 damaged and weak bridges, located in 14 districts.

The project will boost the mobility of people in the State and pave the way for increased trade with other states, ultimately contributing to poverty reduction.

A rundown water distribution system has led to erratic service, high water losses, and poor coverage. The influx of migrants over the years to the cities of Jammu and Srinagar is also putting additional pressure on the existing water supply systems, creating health hazards. Rehabilitation of water supply systems in Srinagar and Jammu would benefit 1.5 million people, according to the bank.

Drainage is also a major problem. Due to worn-out dewatering pumps and lack of maintenance of drains, there is large scale clogging in the cities, especially in low-lying areas. The rehabilitation of cities’ drainage systems would significantly improve the level of sanitation of these two cities, benefiting 1.02 million people, it said.

"Unless attended to now, the deterioration of the State’s existing assets will get to the point where the only way forward will be their total reconstruction from scratch, which is both expensive and disruptive," said Shunso Tsukada, an ADB Principal Transport Specialist/mission leader.

"This project will save money later but, more important, it will raise the quality of life of people now." (UNI)

4 killed, 4 hurt as Army truck plunges in nullah

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 23: Three soldiers and a civilian working with Army got killed while as four soldiers sustained critical injuries when a vehicle, carrying troops, plunged in a nullah in Uri sector of Baramulla today.

Informed sources said that a truck, carrying troops of Rashtriya Rifles 56 Bn from Uri to Kalgai, skidded off the road and plummeted deep into a gorge near Nawpora at 1130 hours. In all, seven soldiers and a civilian, who was working with Army’s CSD canteen, were travelling in the ill-fated vehicle. Sources said that two soldiers and the civilian died on spot.

Five of the critically injured soldiers were evacuated and rushed to Army’s 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar. One of them succumbed to injuries on way to the hospital. Sources said that all the four at the military hospital were "extremely critical" late this evening.

The site of accident is close to Jabla bridge and Salambad and the LoC in Baramulla district.

Meanwhile, sources said that troops of RR 44 Bn killed an unidentified militant in an encounter in Kandi Pathri locality of Rajpora-Shopian belt in Pulwama district.

Sources said that one of the 15 people, who had sustained injuries in a grenade blast at Sangham, Bijbehara, on Jamm-Srinagar highway last evening, has succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

Turmoil over PMO's letter

NEW DELHI, Dec 23: Parliament today witnessed uproarious scenes over a letter from the Prime Minister’s office on the Babri Masjid demolition case with the opposition BJP charging the ruling UPA with "grossly" interfering with the working of CBI and the Government stoutly denying the allegation.

Dismissing the opposition allegation that it was pressuring CBI to reopen demolition case against BJP president L K Advani, Government categorically told the Lok Sabha that seeking information about the legal position in any case was its "legitimate right".

Responding to the suggestion by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that the PMO should not have written any letter to personnel secretary with regard to the case, leader of the house Pranab Mukherjee said the Government was not in any way interfering with the functioning of the investigating agency CBI.

"The reference from the Prime Minister’s office only requested clarification on the legal position about filing of revision petitions (by witnesses) and failure, if any, on the part of the prosecuting agency in taking timely action to move a higher court.

"The sum total of this correspondence is nothing more than eliciting information from the investigating agency. It is not a directive of any kind to any investigating agency and cannot be construed to amount to any manner of interfering in the working of the agency," Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee further said seeking legal opinion on any issue was a "legitimate official communication" and fell within the purview of due process within the Government machinery. Dissastified with the contention of Mukherjee, members of BJP and its allies walked out of the house. They, however, returned after a few minutes.

In the Rajya Sabha, uproarious scenes were witnessed for nearly an hour as senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley alleged that the Government in an "arrogant and brazen" manner was interfering with the functioning of investigating agencies.

Observing the CBI had taken its decision on how to proceed further in the Ayodhya demolition case after the judgement of the court in Ferozebad discharging Advani, he said the independent decision taken by the CBI was being "grossly" interfered with by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Strongly refuting the charge, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachouri said "I will like to make it very clear that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has never interfered with the functioning of CBI".

"It is not a directive... The Government is also entitled to know what is happening in the case", said Pachouri, who is also Minister of State of Personnel, under which CBI comes.

The Lok Sabha was earlier adjourned for ten minutes after the question hour amidst pandemonium with BJP members trying to raise the issue of alleged interference in the working of CBI and ruling UPA members countering by referring to the latest expose made by Tehelka with regard to reported payment of money to a key witness in the Best Bakery case.

The house had plunged into turmoil immediately after it had assembled this morning with NDA members making allegations against the PMO and Congress and RJD members waving copies of a news report that the key witness in the Best Bakery case was allegedly bribed by a BJP MLA.

During the zero hour in the Lok Sabha, Vajpayee said the "peculiar" letter from PMO amounted to putting pressure on CBI.

Maintaining that such a letter should not have been despatched by the PMO, the former Prime Minister wanted to know as to who had been asked to expedite the case and that CBI was being "misused" by the Government.

BJP deputy leader V K Malhotra alleged that only Prime Minister Manmohan Singh could have asked the official to write the letter. He was supported in his contention by party colleague Sushil Modi and JD (U) member Prabhunath Singh.

Observing that it would be wrong to impute political motive to a routine correspondence, Mukherjee said "in all such cases, this Government will respect the autonomy of investigatin agency and is following the dictates of the law and judicial decisions".

Noting he was again responding as the issue had been raised by the country’s seniormost Member of Parliament (Vajpayee), Mukherjee said "on a similar occasion, when an allegation was brought in by P R Dasmunsi (Cong) and many others, the then Prime Minister wanted to ascertain the fact in order to inform the House".

Contending that no Government would be able to function if correspondence between departments became public, Mukherjee reminded Vajpayee that "in 1977, correspondences between the then Prime Minister Morarji Desai and the then Deputy Prime Minister Charan Singh were never allowed to be debated and discussed on the floor of the house". (PTI)

Parliament adjourned sine die

NEW DELHI, Dec 23: The winter session of Parliament came to an abrupt end this afternoon immediately after the news of former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao passing away reached the presiding officers of both the houses.

Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die, after paying tributes to the former Prime Minister, only a few hours before the proceedings were to end on the last day of the winter session.

In the Rajya Sabha, the announcement about Mr Rao’s death was made by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri, after which Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat said he and the entire house were saddened by the news. He recalled the services of the former Prime Minister to the country.

The house then observed two-minute silence in honour of the departed leader before it was adjourned.

In the Lok Sabha, leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee announced the passing away of Mr Rao and made a submission that the house be adjourned sine die without going through the formality of giving account of the session and thanksgiving by the Speaker.

The 17-day winter session began, on December 1, on a tumultuous note as the opposition attacked the UPA Government and Tamil Nadu Government for arresting Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati, terming it a "virtual war against the Mutt". It however turned volatile after Railway Minister Lalu Prasad did not show up in the Lok Sabha after visiting the rail accident in Punjab and went to Patna instead.

The issue reached such a situation that Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, enraged at the alleged opposition remark that he was behaving like a dictator, offered to resign. The situation however was defused after the opposition clarified that its remark "Tanashahi" was against the Government. The NDA however stuck to its gun, saying that the Speaker should have taken the name of the Railway Minister whose absence was responsible for the pandemonium. Acrimonious exchanges between the ruling alliance and the opposition combine were also witnessed on the controversial statement given by External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh abroad holding the NDA responsible for the country going nuclear, repealing of POTA, unbridled price rise and setting up of a national commission for minority institutions.

Even as the Government failed to introduce the much awaited Lok Pal Bill and Women Reservation Bill, it however succeeded in repealing POTA and introducing the Employment Guarantee Bill.

On the last day of the sitting, the opposition attacked the Prime Minister’s Office for attempts to influence CBI to reopen case against former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani in regard to Ayodhya demolition episode of December 6, 1992. The opposition accused the Government of coaxing and nudging CBI to file a revision petition against Mr Advani. (UNI)

Pak distances itself from Geelani

NEW DELHI, Dec 23: The Pakistani establishment has started distancing itself from the hard-core Hurriyat faction of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, which once it promoted, after finding its ideology contrary to ‘enlightened and moderate Islam.’

Officials here said Pervez Musharraf Government’s tilt towards moderate Hurriyat faction, led by Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, was evident as even state-controlled Pakistan Television (PTV) had started giving more coverage to Mirwaiz describing him as ‘Hurriyat rehnuma (Hurriyat guardian) instead of the earlier `Kashmiri rehnuma.’

The change in Pakistan’s attitude is because Islamabad found Hurriyat (Geelani) chairman Ali Shah Geelani very stubborn and not compromising enough to forge unity between the two rival factions of the Hurriyat.

Pakistan made several failed attempts this year to forge unity between the two factions. Hurriyaat leaders even met Pakistani leaders who arrived here for talks with Indian Government. The sources said Pakistan had tried its best to forge unity between the two factions. But Geelani’s hard-line attitude aborted all their attempts.

The change in stance also stems from President Musharraf’s slogan at the OIC calling for ‘enlightened, moderate Islam.’

"Pakistan thinks that Mirwaiz fits the description of an enlightened, moderate Islamic leader who can guide the Kashmiri people," the sources said. (UNI)

SP retains Mainpuri, wrests Akbarpur

LUCKNOW, Dec 23: The ruling Samajwadi Party today retained the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat and wrested the Akbarpur (reserved) seat from the BSP in the December 20 byelections in Uttar Pradesh.

In Akbarpur, once a stronghold of the BSP, ruling party nominee and Minister of State for Fisheries Shankh Lal Manjhi defeated his nearest BSP rival Tribhuvan Dutt by over 96,000 votes.

It is for the first time that an SP candidate has won from the seat, which was represented by former Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati for a record three times in 1998, 1999 and 2004.

SP candidate Dharmendra Yadav, who is nephew of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, won the Mainpuri seat defeating his nearest BSP rival Ashok Shakya by over 1,79,713 votes.

Both Congress and BJP candidates were unable to save their sureties.

On November 11, the Election Commission had countermanded the Mainpuri byelection held on October 13 following complaints of largescale rigging.

Bypoll for Akbarpur was also postponed from October 13 after detection of technical flaws in the notification.

Polling for both the Akbarpur and Mainpuri seats was held on December 20 on a peaceful note.

Altogether, 13 candidates contested from Mainpuri and 15 from Akbarpur.

The Mainpuri seat was vacated by Samajwadi supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav who chose to stay back in the state.

The Akbarpur bypoll was necessitated following the resignation of BSP chief Mayawati after her election to the Rajya Sabha.

In the general elections held in April-May, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav had trounced Mr Shakya by over 3.37 lakh votes, securing 63 per cent of the total votes polled, while in Akbarpur, Ms Mayawati who won by a margin of 58,277 votes, was given a good fight by Mr Manjhi who secured 35.97 per cent of the votes.

Ummed Singh, husband of dacoit-turned-politician late Phoolan Devi, was a Congress candidate from Akbarpur.

The SP tally has now gone up to 36 seats out of the total 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP. BSP has 18 seats, BJP has 10 and Congress has nine.

Seven others seats are held by smaller parties or independents. (UNI)

Trader robbed of Rs 5.5 lakh cash

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 23: A trader was robbed of Rs 5.50 lakh by two unidentified motor-cycle borne youths at Karara on Dayalachak-Gopalachak road in Hiranagar tehsil in Kathua district late this evening.

Police said the trader Ashok Kumar son of Kali Dass, a resident of Gopalachak had collected Rs 5.50 lakh from BSF Jammu as payment for the ration supplied. He came upto Dayalachak in a bus and was on way to his house in Gopalachak on a bike when he was intercepted by two youths riding on a motor-cycle at 7.15 pm.

The accused threw chilly powder in the eyes of Ashok Kumar and snatched a bag from him containing Rs 5.50 lakh cash.

Police parties led by DySP Border Jugal Sharma and SHO Hiranagar Brij Mohan Sharma swung into action soon after getting the report of cash snatching. A manhunt has been launched for the assailants. However, there was no breakthrough in the snatching till late tonight.

A case has been registered in the looting at Hiranagar police station.
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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