House adjourned as NC creates ruckus over Kundal report

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Jan 17: The much-hyped Kundal Committee report which exposed 20 major scams in the Forest Department once again created pandemonium in the Lower House today with the main Opposition National Conference resorting to massive sloganeering and accusing the Government of intentionally not tabling the same in the House despite the assurances by the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad two days back.

Even National Panthers Party (NPP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other Opposition members from Jammu region joined National Conference in disrupting the proceedings but over an issue of Dogra certificate. This led to virtual chaos and confusion forcing the Speaker Tara Chand to adjourn the House for half an hour.

As soon as the House commenced its sitting, the National Conference members collectively and vociferously started raising the issue of Kundal Committee report. "The Chief Minister, during his speech on the Governor’s address on Tuesday, had assured to table Kundal Committee report on the very next day but he has failed to translate his assurances into reality", shouted Ali Mohammad Sagar.

The Speaker immediately intervened and informed the members that Government has sought time of two-three days for printing the report of Kundal Committee. But he failed to pacify the agitating National Conference members, who kept on demanding tabling of the report.

"If Government cannot get the report printed we can do the same", Mr Sagar further shouted. Pointing towards the Treasury Benches, he added: "Peerzada Sahib Ne Kaha Hai Ki Iss Hamam Main Sab Nange Hain". This led to shouting of slogans—"Kundal Report Ko Pesh Karo" and "House Ko Mislead Karna Band Karo".

Before the Speaker could succeed in his repeated attempts to pacify the agitating National Conference members, National Panthers Party (NPP) members Harsh Dev Singh, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Yash Pal Kundal and Faqir Nath, BJP’s Jugal Kishore Sharma and Independent MLA Ashwani Kumar Sharma started vociferously raising the issue of Dogra certificate leading to chaos and confusion in the House.

The slogan "We want Dogra certificate" continued to be raised by the National Panthers Party members with Harshdev Singh stating that the Government had assured to start issuing of Dogra certificates about three years back but till today nothing has been done on this vital issue of Jammu people.

While the National Conference members kept on demanding tabling of Kundal Committee report, the NPP, BJP and Independent Member Ashwani Kumar continued to stress on immediate settlement of Dogra certificate issue forcing Minister for Health and Medical Education Mangat Ram Sharma to intervene.

"The Government has no hitch in tabling the Kundal Committee report but its printing will take a day or two and whenever sufficient number of printed copies of the report are available to the Government the same will be tabled in the House", the Health Minister said, adding "as far as issue of Dogra certificate is concerned, the Revenue authorities will be directed to start issuing the same at the earliest so that Dogra youth could get certain relaxations in recruitment in the security forces".

However, NPP’s Balwant Singh Mankotia made it clear to the Health Minister that if the process of issuing Dogra certificates does not start within a week’s time the Panthers Party Members will stage dharna in the House.

Harshdev Singh said "if NC is insisting on the Kundal report despite Speaker and Mangat Ram’s assurances the Panthers Party Members will not relent till the receiving of Dogra certificate that too today itself".

Following massive protest by his party members, Leader of the Opposition Abdul Rahim Rather said "we were expecting the Government to table the Kundal Committee report on the very first sitting of the current budget session. But even after the assurance by the Chief Minister the same has not been tabled so far". He also expressed apprehension about the Government changing the report before its tabling in the House.

Subscribing the apprehension of Leader of the Opposition, Ali Mohammad Sagar said "we have a copy of the report and Government should not dare to change it before tabling in the House", adding "table report as it’s the question of Chief Minister’s credibility".

Amidst sloganeering by the NC members, Mangat Ram Sharma said "action can be taken against Ali Mohammad Sagar for possessing the copy of Kundal Committee report before its tabling in the House", adding "tell us from where you have managed the copy of the report".

Interrupting the Health Minister, NPP’s Balwant Singh Mankotia and Independent Member Ashwani Kumar Sharma shouted "we also want the stolen copy of Kundal Committee report".

As the National Conference members continued to agitate over the issue and House proceedings disrupted, the Speaker adjourned the House for half an hour.

10 Sectt files’ copies seized from Noorani
*Cash recovered during raid

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Jan 17: In a major development, police have recovered notings of 10 different files of Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) courses, processed for approval in Education Ministry in Civil Secretariat from the house of Altaf Noorani, a driver of Board of School Education (BOSE), attached with former School Education Minister Peerzada Mohd Sayeed, who had resigned from the Ministry on Tuesday following corruption charges levelled against him by Independent MLA Shoaib Lone.

Top police sources told the Excelsior that recovery of photostat copies of Civil Secretariat files noting pertaining to approval of ETT courses for 10 different colleges was a "serious issue", which clearly established that Noorani had direct access to the Education Ministry.

Noorani couldn’t give any reasons to police when quizzed about recovery of file noting papers from his Government quarter in Janipura.

Out of 10 notings taken from files, six pertained to colleges of Kashmir division and four of Jammu region.

In addition to recovery of files, police have also seized Rs 23,576 cash from his possession for which he too couldn’t give any satisfactory reply. Why he had kept the cash with him? If it was his own money from which Bank he had drawn the amount? And why he had kept Rs 23,000 in his house? These were the police posers to Noorani but he couldn’t reply to any of them indicating that it could be corruption money.

Sources said recovery of file notings of Civil Secretariat, the seat of the Government and Rs 23,000 cash from Noorani, has not only given credence to the charges of corruption in the Secretariat but also established that Noorani was very close to "corridors of power" especially in Education Ministry.

Sources said the noting of files pertained to different offices of Education Ministry. Noorani, according to sources, had been charging sufficient amount for getting the ETT courses to the colleges approved. This, however, was not possible till Noorani had connections with top hierarchy of Education Ministry, they added.

A detailed itinerary of the recoveries including file notings and cash has been made by the police, sources said, adding tomorrow a senior police officer of Jammu will meet Vigilance Commissioner, Dr Ashok Bhan and hand him over the complete file made by police during last three days for investigation of corruption charges.

As already reported, the authorities had decided to hand over the case of corruption charges to the Vigilance Organisation. However, the case of a threatening call made to Shoaib Lone’s mother by Peerzada’s wife, Dr Tabassum and Altaf Noorani will be investigated by police.

Noorani was immediately arrested by police on Monday afternoon after Mr Lone made a sensational statement in the Assembly that his mother had been threatened on telephone by Altaf Noorani and the Minister’s wife from a mobile telephone of Noorani.

Noorani was presently in judicial custody at District Jail, Ambphalla.

On a case registered against Dr Tabassum at Gandhi Nagar police station, sources said a warrant is being obtained against her from Ist Class Magistrate to effect her arrest. The warrant was expected by Monday. If Dr Tabassum is not granted anticipatory bail by then by a court, she would be arrested, sources said.

Meanwhile, according to sources, Shoaib Lone had given police in writing all details required by them on corruption paid by him for getting ETT course approval for a B Ed college run by in-laws of his sister.

As per Lone’s statement recorded in police records, the amount of corruption, Rs 40,000 was paid to Altaf Noorani in an official car, which was at the disposal of Noorani, outside Civil Secretariat in Srinagar in the month of June last year.

Mr Lone, in his statement, has said that Minister of State for Education had approved his file but it was withheld by Personal Assistant of the School Education Minister, who told him that the file can’t be approved for want of "some formalities".

"As Noorani was known to me for having worked with my father as driver, he narrated me that Dr Tabassum used to take Rs 50,000 for getting ETT courses approved for the colleges. In my case, the deal was settled for Rs 40,000", Mr Lone said.

His statement has been incorporated in the file being handed over to the Vigilance Organisation tomorrow.

Peerzada: Shoaib enacted drama of corruption

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 17: Former School Education Minister and Congress leader Peerzada Mohd Sayeed today charged Independent MLA from Sangrama, Shoaib Lone with enacting "a drama of corruption" to defame him and his party. He subjected Mr Lone to a counter question as to why he didn’t reveal the issue of corruption for eight months, a period during which an Assembly session was also held in Srinagar.

Making a suo moto statement in the Assembly, Mr Sayeed, who had vowed out of office, both as a Minister as well as Pradesh Congress chief on Tuesday after his name was made public by Mr Lone, asserted that the MLA could have raised the issue of corruption eight months before when, as per him, the money was paid to a driver.

Making his first appearance in the Assembly after his resignation, the MLA Kokernag charged Shoaib Lone son of Dr Ghulam Nabi Lone, a former Cabinet colleague of Peerzada, with "hatching a conspiracy" to defame his 40 year political career "under compulsions". However, he didn’t elaborate on the "compulsions".

"The member never brought corruption charges into my notice. Even, he didn’t inform me about the charges on telephone. I can’t understand how suddenly he started speaking all this", Peerzada said in his brief statement in the House.

Speaking from the same seat where he used to sit as a Cabinet Minister as seating arrangement has not been changed by the Assembly Secretariat so far, the former Minister charged the MLA Sangrama with using driver (Altaf Noorani) to defame him.

"While the MLA claimed to have paid corruption in June last year, why he remained silent during all this period. An Assembly session was also held in August in Srinagar. Moreover, the MLA could have spoken to the Chief Minister or to the media during this period. How is it that he suddenly started raising uproar", Mr Sayeed asked describing Mr Lone’s charges as a "drama" and "conspiracy".

Also taking strong note of what he called "baseless allegations" levelled against him by some members in the House, the former Minister said he could have brought a privilege motion against them in the House but added that he has no intentions to do so.

Declaring that he will expose "conspiracy" behind the allegations, Peerzada said he resigned from both the posts only to facilitate an impartial inquiry into the charges.

Handing over a copy of the file in which ETT courses to the college of in-laws of Shoaib Lone were sanctioned to the Speaker, Mr Sayeed said he had cleared the file within couple of hours after it came to him on June 22, 2007. "All formalities had been completed and I cleared the file immediately", he said.

Describing corruption charges levelled against him as "baseless", the Congress leader said the member kept on changing his statement first blaming his Personal Assistant, then PRO, then Private Secretary and formally came down to a driver.

He added that Altaf Noorani was earlier posted as driver with Lone’s father and still called Lone’s mother as ‘mummy’ and brother as ‘bhai’.

Mr Sayeed left the House after making the statement.

NC, BJP MLAs walk-out
Sadhotra's bill on reservation defeated

By Avtar Bhat

JAMMU, Jan 17: Opposition National Conference (NC) and BJP MLA, Jugal Kishore Sharma today staged a walk out in the Assembly after a Private Member’s Bill regarding the amendment in Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act of 2004 introduced by NC MLA, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra was defeated in the House after the Party pressed for a division of vote.

Pressing for the Division of vote, NC members said we will see who is with SCs and STs. But the Bill was defeated as only 22 members voted in favour of it and 29 voted against.

Earlier the Bill was defeated by voice vote also, but NC member, Mir Saifullah not satisfied, stood up and demanded for a division of vote. Supporting him, Opposition leader, Abdul Rahim Rather also stood up from his seat saying the Speaker should go for a division of vote as demanded by the Member.

The Deputy Chief Minister, Muzzaffar Hussain Baig who was present in the House said the Government has no objection in conceding the Opposition demand and the Speaker, Tara Chand put the Bill for Division of vote. As the Bill was defeated entire Opposition and BJP MLA staged a walk out saying today we have come to know who is with SC and STs.

Through the Bill, Mr Sadhotra demanded insertion of Section 1-A in Act No XIV of 2004, Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act. And the provision of this Act be made applicable to every post and every appointment under the Government, including temporary , contractual, casual, adhoc and other types of appointments like Rehbar-e-Taleem, Rehbar-i-Sehat, Rehbar-i-Zirat etc.

Strongly advocating for the Bill, he said it is for the depressed and oppressed classes of the society as they have been deprived of employment opportunities in ReT, ReS and contractual appointments so a provision be created for their reservations also in these schemes.

The Minister of Social Welfare, Abdul Gani Vakil,while opposing the Bill said appointments as ReT, ReS and on contractual basis is a temporary arrangement and so no provision of reservations can be kept in these schemes.

He said Government is already giving a lot of benefit to the people belonging to SC and ST communities and 25 percent quota has been fixed for them in Anganwaris.

He said in Rehbar-i-Zirat all the trained agriculture graduates were appointed and no SC and ST candidate was left so asking for temporary reservations is not possible.

He said as they have been already given more benefit than reservations so the member should withdraw his Bill. However supporting Mr Sadhotra NC, MLA Sharif-ud-Din Shariq said reservations is a matter of right to these categories of people and Government should consider the Bill.

Contesting the Minister’s claims, Mr Sadhotra said ReTs are not temporary employees but regularized after every five years and it will be a biggest setback to deprived sections of society if Bill is not passed. He pressed for the introduction of the Bill so that House could discuss it.

However Minister turned down his plea saying when the need exists the Government can launch a special drive for SCs and STs.

Demanding the introduction of the Bill, Nazir Gurezi, Mushtaq Bukhari and Rashpaul Singh stood up and said that the Bill should be considered. Bukhari also alleged that not a single SC and ST was considered in ReT and ReZ.

Who's this Dr Tabbasum?

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Jan 17: Immediately after the Independent MLA Shoaib Lone took objection to the arrest of driver Altaf Noorani and alleged that the bribe of Rs 40,000 had been actually demanded and received by the Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed's wife on June 22, 2007, Police and intelligence agencies have begun to delve deep into the accused woman's background.

According to official sources, Police agencies have learned that Peerzada Sayeed had married the wife of a slain militant within a year of the death of his first wife in 1998-99. He had no issue from his first wife who belonged to his Kokernag locality in Anantnag district. Tabbasum happens to be the daughter of one-time JKPCC Secretary Abdul Aziz Tourist who had in his lifetime managed to get her a special seat for MBBS course with the help of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1983-84.

After getting the job of an assistant surgeon in J&K Health Department, she developed good relations with the seniormost JKLF militant commanders in 1989-90. It was in the first year of insurgency in J&K that Dr Tabbasum married senior JKLF commander Pervez Billa, who lived in Chhattabal locality of Srinagar. While she became the mother of a male child, Pervez was captured and killed by militants of Hizbul Mujahideen on the allegation of having killed the outfit's "Intelligence Chief" Mamoon Rasheed as also the father of another top functionary of the organisation, namely Firdaus Kirmani, both residents of Chhattabal area.

Tabbasum's son from her militant husband, who is now 17-year-old, has been living with her and Peerzada after she married him in 1999. Later, she also became the mother of a male child from Peerzada. Four years back, she has been posted in Kashmir chapter of Red Cross, though officials have learned that she has never been on duty during this period. They say that she had been recommended for a course in anaesthesia but due to her preoccupation with the husband Minister's work, she refused to undertake the training. They have also learned that she had been taking keen interest in the Minister's official files and his public relations.

After his dismissal from service and admission into PDP, a former Director of Rural Development Department is said to be targeting the Minister's wife than the Minister for the corruption in which Peerzada was "neckdeep" according to former Chairman of J&K State Accountability Commission Justice R P Sethi. SAC has, later, absolved Peerzada of the charges levelled against him in Panchayat Ghar Electrification Scam.

Even when Peerzada was a Minister and he failed to stop a Srinagar newspaper's tirade against him in 2004, many people here believed that editor of the Urdu daily was kidnapped and silenced by activists of a separatist group on the instigation of his wife.

Two killed, 3 injured as houses collapse
Passengers, vehicles stranded on NH

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 17: About 600 passengers and 1100 trucks were stranded at different places as Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was again blocked today after heavy and continuous rainfall since yesterday triggered massive shooting of stones at highly vulnerable spot of Panthyal.

The continuous and heavy rainfall across the State also led to the collapse of two houses wherein two persons including a minor were killed and three others sustained critical injuries.

Senior Superintendent of Traffic Police, National Highway, Danish Rana said that overnight heavy rainfall triggered massive shooting of stones at Panthyal today leading to the blockade of the highway which was officially closed last evening due to slippery conditions at major portion.

"Soon after assessing the highway condition at Panthyal this morning we directed the Traffic Police personnel both at Jammu and Srinagar not to allow fresh movement of vehicles", he disclosed but regretted that despite the directions several passenger vehicles from Jammu reached Ramban increasing the number of Srinagar bound stranded passengers to 600 from 400 till yesterday evening.

He disclosed that about 1100 trucks carrying essential commodities were stranded at different locations from Manwal to Ramban due to closure of the highway.

Mr Rana said that Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel tried their level best to clear the portion of highway at Panthyal of accumulated stones and debris but the road clearance operation was repeatedly hampered by the inclement weather which led to shooting of stones after regular intervals.

"We will assess the road condition tomorrow morning before taking any decision about the allowing of vehicular movement", he said. However, the SSP Traffic National Highway made it clear that only stranded vehicles will be given priority after the reopening of the highway.

Meanwhile, all incoming and outgoing flights from Srinagar airport including those carrying Haj pilgrims from Jeddah, were cancelled today due to snowfall and poor visibility.

More than 400 pilgrims were scheduled to return their homes in the special flights from Jeddah today after performing the annual pilgrimage but the flights were cancelled owing of bad weather conditions.

Sources said that as the summer capital’s aerial link with rest of the country was also snapped, National Conference president and Member Parliament Omar Abdullah, who had to reach here today, ignored the announcement about the closure of the Highway and reached Panthyal from Srinagar by road.

He crossed the vulnerable spot alongwith his security personnel by making use of foot bridge at Panthyal to reach the another end where vehicles had already been stationed for his further journey to the winter capital of the State.

Reports said that a minor child was killed and three others sustained critical injuries when the house of Mohd Iqbal Naik collapsed at village Manjos Khari in Banihal tehsil due to heavy rainfall.

All the four critically injured persons were evacuated to Emergency Hospital Banihal where one of them was pronounced as brought dead while the condition of three others was stated to be critical when reports last came in.

The deceased has been identified as Obais Iqbal (5), son of Mohd Iqbal Naik while the injured have been identified as Abas (25) and Abdul Abid (10), sons of Mohd Iqbal Naik and their mother.

Reports from Srinagar said that a man was killed after a house collapsed in village Koil of Pulwama district. The deceased has been identified as Ghulam Ahmad Ganie.

According to the Indian Meterological Department spokesman, there will be rain/snow at most of the places during the next 48 hours. He also issued warning about heavy to very heavy snow/rain at few places during the period.

Holiday on January 21

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 17: The holiday on account of Muharram which was earlier notified on January 19, 2008 (Saturday), will now be observed on January 21, 2008 (Monday).

According to an official order, the holiday will be observed in all the Government offices, educational institutions and also under Negotiable Instruments Act.

IUM challenges ban on Muharram

SRINAGAR, Jan 17: Challenging the ban on Muharram processions imposed in the summer capital by authorities in the High Court, the Intihad-ul-Muslimeen (IUM) said it was a denial of religious and fundamental rights.

However, the High Court issued a notice to the authorities seeking objections on a petition filed by the IUM within two weeks without saying anything about processions being taken out tomorrow and on January 20 (8th and 10 day of Muharram month).

The petition described the ban on the religious processions as violation of religious rights and against international law.

It appealed to the court to quash the ban so that Shia Muslims could perform religious duty.

A single bench comprising Justice M Y Mir issued notice to the State, including Finance Commissioner Home, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and District Magistrate, Srinagar, to file objections within two weeks.

The authorities have imposed a ban on Muharram processions in the city on the 8th and 10th Muharram month every year. However, no ban order was communicated to the organisers of these processions despite several requests to authorities, the petitioner said adding whenever Shia Muslims tried to join the procession near here, they were being arrested, lathicharged and teargassed.

The petition said Shia Sects of Muslims were taking out processions on 8th and 10th day of Muharram month through different routes before concluding at Imambada Zadibal and Khushalsar.

But to avoid any unpleasant incident during the procession, it was decided on the request of then Chief Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1977 that Muharram processions would be taken out from Abi Guzar to Zadibal through the old city.

However, in late 1989, the then Governor imposed a ban on taking out these two processions and the ban was still on, the petition said.

The petition also mentioned that religious processions were being taken in the Valley since 1527 when Sultan Mohammad Shah was King.

The IUM had been seeking permission for taking out the procession on the eve of Ashura from the District Magistrate Srinagar and the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir.

"We were being granted permission in the past but when people gathered at Abi Guzar or any other place, they were beaten up and lodged in jails," the petition said adding the petitioners had a constitutional and legal right to profess their faith and religion and the State was bound to facilitate the religious practices of its citizens.

The petition further said the action of the State was in violation of the Constitution and law and amounted to religious interference.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that freedom of religion was also guaranteed by international law and declaration on elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or beliefs. (UNI)

‘Kundal Ko Hi Pesh Karo’

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 17: "Agar Report Naheen Hai to Kundal Ko Hi Pesh Karo. Yeh Report Badal Bhi Sakte Hain (if the Government didn’t have Kundal Committee report, they must produce Mr Kundal. The Government can tamper with the report)".

These remarks were made by NC MLA Sharief-ud-Din Shariq in the Assembly when House resumed after adjournment.

Chief Secretary B R Kundal had inquired into allegations of irregularities in Forest Department and submitted his report to the Government. The NC members have been demanding tabling of Kundal report in the House. Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has already agreed in the House that Kundal report will be tabled in the Assembly.

Govt to establish Islamic Tech Varsity

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 17: The State Government proposed to establish a residential and technical University in the State to offer Islamic, scientific , technical and other education as also utilization of finances of Jamiyat-e-Ahalihadees, Salfiya Muslim Education Trust and Wakf Tanzeem Trust.

This was stated by Deputy Chief Minister, Muzzaffar Hussain Baig, while replying to a private Members bill tabled by Mir Saifullah of National Conference (NC) in State Assembly today.

The Deputy Chief Minister, said that Government intends to bring a Bill itself and hence the member should withdraw his Bill.

Though the MLA demanded a categorical assurance from the Government as the Bill would be introduced in this session, Mr Baig said that he can’t give the assurance but as a gentleman’s word, the Bill will be introduced in this session.

Earlier tabling the Bill, Mir Saifullah said the goal of the proposed university is to build a university which will serve and suit the modern world through the quality and impactful education and research in modern fields of medicine, science and technology and principles.

He said the university will facilitate to produce a new generation of leaders in the above mentioned fields who will be also gifted with high religious values and shall take the initiative in this direction.

He said the University would be able to induce confidence among the students in terms of their potentials and the aim of the university will be fulfilled only with the cooperation of the common masses and their participation so that the new generation can well compete within and outside the country.

66 cross sides in Karvan-e-Aman

SRINAGAR, Jan 17: As many as 66 passengers of Karvan-e-Aman bus crossed sides at Kaman, the last Indian military post on the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector in north Kashmir today, official sources said.

They said 33 passengers from here boarded the buses at an undisclosed place this morning for Kaman Post under tight security arrangements.

Of these 18 passengers were returning to their homes in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) after their meeting with relatives here for the first time since 1947 partition.

They said 15 passengers were travelling to PoK for the first time to meet their relatives across the border since their separation 60 years ago.

Sources said despite rain, the passengers deboarded the buses on this side of the border and crossed the Kaman Post bridge on foot to reach the other side. They were later taken to Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK in buses belonging to (PoK-administration).

Similarly, sources said, 33 passengers also arrived here after crossing the bridge on foot from the other side of the LoC.

The returnee passengers, included 25 citizen of this side, who had crossed over to PoK for meeting their relatives there.

Sources said a fresh batch of only eight citizens of PoK arrived here this time to meet relatives.

The trans border bus service, suspended in 1947, was resumed on April 7, 2005, after the first bus was flagged off by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

The bus service played successfully despite threats by a number of militant outfits. However, it was suspended for about a month when the Kaman Post bridge and road on other side was damaged in the devastating earthquake on October 8, 2005, which claimed one lakh lives on either side of the border. (UNI)