NEW DELHI, July 16: Proceedings in Rajya Sabha were disrupted today as the opposition pressed for a debate on the Gaza situation but the government steadfastly refused saying it could impact upon India’s diplomatic ties with Israel and Palestine.
The government and opposition locked horns over the issue of discussion and cited rules and precedents in the House, while arguing for and against on whether the business once listed can be altered.
The opposition pointed out that the issue had been listed as part of business for the day and should be taken up first.
Members kept citing rules to argue in favour and against the debate for almost two hours during which the House was adjourned a number of times. It was finally adjourned for the day at 3 PM.
Earlier resisting a debate, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said she had come to know late about the listing of the issue in the day’s business and had written to Chairman Hamid Ansari requesting that it should be dropped.
She said, “We have diplomatic ties with both nations. Any discourteous reference to any friendly country can impact our relations with them.”
Swaraj, along with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu, said the House should take up the debate on Railway Budget till the Chairman’s ruling on her letter came.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien also said that the House should take up other business till the Chairman’s ruling comes.
The entire opposition refused to budge and insisted that they will not let any other item to be taken up till the issue is resolved.
“We cannot take up the Railway Budget unless the first item is disposed of,” said Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was to speak on the Rail Budget.
“In the larger interest of the country, I urge the House to take up the Railway Budget,” Naidu said amid uproar by opposition.
Swaraj said “this discussion cannot be allowed” and cited rules in this regard asking the Chair to take up the Rail Budget instead. This request evoked a resounding ‘no’ from the opposition benches, who joined hands to corner the government.
Coming to her aid, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said government business gets priority and till Chairman’s decision on the External Affairs Minister’s letter is taken, government business has to be taken up first.
“Railway Budget needs to be taken up first and completed. It is important,” he said.
Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said this is “not permissible” and cited rules in support of his contention, while Swaraj told him that he should not read the rules in piece meal and rather read them together. She also said the Railway Budget was part of the business listed for the day.
Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (TMC) said he was not aware of the letter written by Swaraj and what its contents were, but said, “there should be sufficient grounds for variation in the list of business”.
Various opposition members cited rules and said once the business is listed even the Chairman has no authority to alter it, saying if done so it will set a bad precedent.
Naidu cited yesterday’s proceedings of the House when the Chair had called for starting the discussion on Railway Budget but the Leader of Opposition said he will speak tomorrow.
Giving his ruling on whether the business of the House can be altered, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said, “I want the House to help the Chair. I am not disagreeing with what is being said. It is true that this item is listed in the business and that it cannot be changed unilaterally. But the Chair is in an unusually peculiar situation.
“Government has to respond when there is a debate…But, government has written disagreeing on a debate. She (Swaraj) has clearly expressed that she is unable to respond to clarifications/discussion on the issue. The Chair cannot ignore that. The Chair needs more time to give ruling and, therefore, we move to next business,” he said. (PTI)
Uproar over fighting in Gaza strip rocks RS
Two held with charas
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 16: Police today arrested two drug peddlers and recovered around 240 grams of charas from their possession in holy town Katra.
As per police sources, police team from Katra police station arrested two persons along with around 240 grams of charas.
The accused have been identified as Showkat and Veer Singh, both residents of Chamba, Katra.
A case under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at Katra police station and investigation started.
Police team headed by SI Vikas Jasrotia made the arrest under the supervision of SP Katra Kulbir Singh.
UGC to probe sanction of grant to ineligible colleges: Govt
NEW DELHI, July 16:
The HRD Ministry has asked UGC to conduct a thorough investigation into instances where sanction letters were issued to colleges not eligible for grants even as a police probe in the matter was underway.
The Ministry has also asked the UGC chairman to ensure submission of reply on irrigularities pointed by DG of Audit, Central Expenditure in the organisation.
“UGC has reported that instances have come to its notice wherein colleges not eligible for UGC grants were issued sanction letters by UGC secretariat and grants also issued to these colleges.
“Taking note of these instances, HRD Ministry has written to the UGC for a thorough investigation of these matters, fix responsibilities and devise an effective internal control to avoid such lapses,” HRD Minister Smriti Irani told Lok Sabha today.
She said two FIRs have also been lodged by UGC officials and police investigations are underway in the matter. Besides, departmental actions have been initiated against two “erring” UGC officials.
The Minister was replying to a question on whether widespread financial mismanagement and lack of transparency on financial issues in UGC have come to the Government’s notice.
The DG of Audit Central Expenditure in its draft inspection report for 2012-13 had brought out irrigularities in UGC in the nature of audit paras (question/query/suggestion raised by auditing authority for which compliance is must), funds remaining unutilised with universities since long, lack of monitoring and weak internal control mechanism.
The Minister said the UGC chairman has been asked to ensure submission of replies to the pending paras, ensure required inspection to happen and report the outcome of such inspections and expenditure status.
UGC, she said, has reported that it has introduced a system of internal mechanism of checks and balances to safeguard against irregular sanctions and grants.
An internal financial division has also been created in UGC which examines files relating to grants and vets proposals of colleges, she said in her written reply. (PTI)
SDS delegation meets Shantmanu
Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, July16: A deputation of District Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Poonch headed by its president, Satish Sassan today called on Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Shantmanu and discussed the issues of minority community and their worship places. They also submitted a charter of demands.
The deputationists maintained that the State Government had grabbed Hindu Shrine lands and have constructed Government buildings over there and due to anti minority community approach adopted by the State Government, thousands of Acres of Hindu Shrine lands have been grabbed illegally by the majority community across the Poonch district.
They said that there is a deep conspiracy being hatched by some anti nationals to grab Hindu Shrine lands as well as Hindu’s properties in the district that too with the connivance of Revenue officials in the district and it would not be tolerated at any caste.
They alleged that some people wanted to compel minority community to migrate from Poonch as they have already succeeded to vacate over 36 villages out of total 46 Hindu dominated villages across the district during the last 25 years of turmoil in the State.
They alleged that some criminals are trying to grab temples’ land and have been polluting atmosphere of peace in the district.
They demanded that Gujjar Hostal, Horticulture Nursery and Media complex buildings which have been constructed on the Dashnami Akhara land be vacated so that necessary infrastructure for the annual Shri Budha Amarnath Yatra be eructed. They also demanded allotment of land to Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha for the annual Dushehra festival.
The Divisional Commissioner paid the patient hearing and assured that all the necessary steps would be taken to provide protection to the worship places of minority community.
The deputation was comprised of Ramesh Bali, Sanjeev Sharma, Lakshmi Chand Shastri, Dr Dharmender Shastri, Gulshan Bakshi, Chander Mohan Sharma, Balkrishan Sharma, Madan Sharma, Kamaldeep Sharma and Sanjeev Kapoor.
Army jawan booked for raping girl
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 16: On the direction of Court, police today booked an army jawan for allegedly raping a girl after luring her on the pretext of marriage in Gangyal area of the winter capital.
As per police sources, the victim, a resident of Ramnagar, district Udhampur came in contact with army jawan identified as Sachin Chadda of Madhya Pradesh. Army jawan on the pretext of marrying the girl, raped her.
The girl came to know that the accused is already married and then she approached the Court seeking action against the accused, they added.
Court passed the direction to SSP Jammu to register a case under Sections 420 and 376 of RPC against the army jawan in Gangyal police station and start investigation.
CAPD, LMD conduct joint inspections
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 16: A joint team of Assistant Directors, Area Inspectors of CAPD Department and Inspectors of Legal Metrology Department under the instructions of Director CAPD Jammu conducted the market checking of essential commodities in the areas of Ware House, Railway Station, Bahu Plaza etc and 70 establishments were checked/inspected and a fine of Rs. 30,000 on spot was realized from 15 business establishments.
Meanwhile, a regular drive was also conducted in Udhampur district by the officials of CAPD Department and around 80 establishments were checked in areas of Udhampur town, Chenani, Ramnagar, Majalata etc and a fine of Rs.73,000 was realized from the defaulters.
The department has already initiated a regular drive against profiteers/black marketers indulging in overcharging or non display of rate lists in view of holy month of Ramzan and Shri Amarnathji Yatra. Similar drives will continue in and around Jammu in future as well.
Wasim Kohli tours far-flung areas
Excelsior Correspondent
Kalakote, July 16: Er Wasim Kohli, youth leader toured far-flung areas of Kalakote in Panchayat Narla Bambal, Gaibass, Keri Kotechadwal, Udan Motla, Panglar and Methani etc and interacted with people who are extremely hard pressed due to lack of basic amenities such as roads, water supply, electricity and health care.
Locals in Narla Panchayat demanded extension of road from Narla to Loharki Bui since there is no road connectivity. People are suffering due to non availability of doctor and medicines. While similar demand has been voiced by locals of Gaibass Panchayat, who also demanded extension of road to Kotechadwal from Gaibass.
Shabby tracks and roads speak volumes of neglect by local NC MLA. Basic amenities of ration and electricity is not being made available to people despite the fact that certain locals are fasting during Ramzan.
He further assured full support to the youth of Kalakote in their fight against social evils and in their efforts of development of the region.
Sanjay Sharma, Shabir Poswal, Ibrar Shah, Babar Hussian, Ajit Singh, Muneer Hussian, Raj Kumar Sharma, Shafiq, Tariq Bhat and others accompanied.
Jugal raises issue of West Pak, PoJK refugees in LS
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 16: BJP State president & MP, Jugal Kishore Sharma raised the issue of refugees from West Pakistan and PoJK, who had been forced to take refugee in Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 and are residing since then here as refugees in Lok Sabha during Question Hour today.
Jugal pointed out that these refugees have become victims of State Government’s lopsided thinking and ideology. The fact of their taking up residence in Jammu and Kashmir has proved to be grave misfortune for them. The West Pakistan refugees have no citizenship status and rights in the J&K though they have been continuously residing here for the last more than 65 years. They have no say in the local affairs as they cannot vote for the Assembly elections nor can they have any property here and are homeless people. The refugees of PoJK have also huge problems which have not been till date addressed by the State Government. Their claims in lieu of their properties left by them in PoJK have not been settled or even addressed till date. This approach of unconcern shown by the State Government is because of its retrograde thinking and mindset.
Jugal Kishore Sharma’s expression of anguish and suffering of the refugees evoked strong sympathetic response from the other members of the House, who in one voice supported that the problems of the West Pakistan and PoJK refugees be attended to at the earliest and should not be allowed to linger on for long.
Proud to be on Indian soil in UK: Dhoni
London, July 16: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni introduced his squad to the British Indian community at a special reception here ahead of the second cricket Test match which gets underway at Lord’s here tomorrow.
“It feels like we own this property when we come back every year,” Dhoni said in reference to his team’s visit to the residence of the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Ranjan Mathai, in central London for a special reception on Tuesday evening.
“But jokes apart, it is more of a ritual wherever we go, any nation, the one common thing is that we meet the community there. It really gives us pride to be on Indian soil in a way,” he added.
His teammates including Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir and Ravindra Jadeja then introduced themselves at the garden party attended by ministers, MPs, Indian-origin businessmen as well as former cricketers such as Farooq Engineer, Dilip Vengsarkar and Dilip Doshi.
“We in the British government believe passionately and strongly in the strength of the relationship between our two countries, built on a strong future together and, of course, it is also built on cricket,” said Mathew Hancock, newly-appointed as the UK minister of business, innovation and skills as part of Prime Minister David Cameron’s Cabinet reshuffle.
“I was honoured to be asked to attend Cabinet for the first time. I would like to stress that of the various travel plans I have, my plans to come to India each year will not be moved because we believe strongly in this relationship between two countries that share the values of enterprise and looking forward with innovation. I think it is a great relationship with cricket at its heart,” he added.
The ongoing India vs England Test series has been described as a historic one, being the first full five-Test match series India will play on England soil since 1959. The first match at Trent Bridge ended in a draw and the second match opens at Lord’s tomorrow. (PTI)
JTAC assails JDA move to shift Jammu Bus Stand
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 16: Jammu Tourism Action Committee (JTAC), an amalgam of various trade organizations of Jammu City, has severely condemned the recommendation by Jammu Development Authority (JDA) to gradually shift the General Bus Stand Jammu from its present site at BC Road and its diversification at four different places, away from the old city.
A meeting of JTAC held here today under the chairmanship of its convener, Inderjeet Khajuria, termed the recommendations of JDA as contradictory to the assurances give by the authorities at the highest level of Chief Minister.
“The Chief Minister while laying the foundation stone of Jammu Cable Car Project had announced that the present Bus Stand will continue as terminal point for the buses of all routes. Similarly, the Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, had publically announced at a function in the Bus Stand premises that the present Bus Stand will operate as terminal point of buses of all routes including inter State buses”, the meeting said and condemned the latest JDA report sent to J&K High Court in which JDA has recommended that the present Bus Stand should be made as inter-city Bus Stand, while inter State buses should operate from the newly set up Bus Stand at Narwal.
JDA in its report to High Court has said that inter State bus terminal at Transport Nagar and bus terminal for RS Pura buses near old RTO office, Ware House, are operational, while it described the present Bus Stand as intercity bus terminal.
At a time when the traders of Jammu City and stakeholders in Jammu tourism are fighting for making Jammu City and its surroundings as independent tourist destination and the authorities at the highest level have assured the same, the report by JDA is total negation of the same, the speakers said.