NEW DELHI, Jan 28: Kumari Selja, who has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha, has quit the Union Council of Ministers to work in the party.
Selja, who held Social Justice and Empowerment portfolio since October 2012, submitted her resignation to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh last night, sources close to her said.
The resignation of 51-year-old Selja, a known detractor of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, comes at a time when the Congress high command is undertaking a rejig in the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
The fourth-time Lok Sabha member put in her papers soon after being nominated to the Rajya Sabha from her home state Haryana. Assembly elections in Haryana are scheduled by the year-end.
Congress sources said that the Union Minister is being drafted for party work for the next Lok Sabha polls.
The party high command is in search of a PCC chief for the state to replace Phulchand Mulana. Earlier the name of young party Ashok Tanwar, also a Dalit was doing rounds for the PCC post.
She has been active politics since 1990 and was first elected in 1991. She is a four term Lok Sabha MP. A section in the party believes that she could be accommodated in AICC.
Selja is Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment.
She is the daughter of former Union Minister Chaudhary Dalbir Singh. She was a Lok Sabha member from Ambala and had earlier represented Sirsa. A prominent Dalit face of the party in Haryana, she had been more active in the politics of Centre.
Selja is second woman Minister to have quit the Union Council of Ministers in the recent past after Jayanthi Natarajan.
A number of Union Ministers are likely to put in their papers in coming days to involve them in party work ahead of the Lok Sabha polls scheduled in April.
Recently four senior Ministers P Chidambaram, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Salman Khurshid and Anand Sharma were made senior spokespersons of the party while Shashi Tharoor and Jyotiraditya Scindia were made spokespersons. (PTI)
Selja quits to work for party
2-day Spituk Monastery festival begins
Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Jan 28: Two-day Spituk Monastery festival began today with full enthusiasm and religious sanctity at Spituk Monastery here in Leh.
The monastic sacred performances were witnessed by a large crowd of local as well as national and international audiences. The Red-Chapel of ‘Paldan-Lamo’ (also popular as Sri-devi among Army jawans posted here) was thronged by devotees lined up to pay their tributes.
Bureaucrats of Hill Council, Army personnel and representatives of different organizations also attended the famous winter monastic festival.
Situated approximately 8 kms south of Leh city, monastery is named as ‘Spethub’ meaning exemplary. It is said that when Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo, the great translator, came to that place he said that an exemplary religious community would arise there and so the monastery was called Spethub / Spituk (exemplary).
The principal statue at the 11th century monastery is that of Lord Buddha. Within this statue there is a finger sized sacred image of Amitayus, presented to King Tagspa Bum-Lde by the great Tsongkhapa.
On the 28th and 29th days of the Tibetan 11th month, monastic sacred performances by monks of the monastery are held.
The incumbents of all these monasteries are the successive reincarnations of Skybsje Bakula Rinpoche.
Actors attacked with fire-pot
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 28: Bollywood actors Shahid Kapoor and Irfan Khan were attacked with a fire pot (kangri) in sensitive old city area of Srinagar when they two were shooting for Vishal Bhardwaj’s upcoming film ‘Haider’.
Reports said a youth threw a fire pot (Kangri) on the actors during the shooting of the film at Aishan Sahab in Zainakadal here.
“The shooting was in progress and both Shahid Kapoor and Irfan Khan were moving towards a white Maruti car when suddenly somebody from crowd threw a kangri (fire pot) which hit Irfan Khan and the ash whirling in air touched Shahid Kapoor as well,” said an eyewitness, adding, that soon after the incident spectators started fleeing from the spot while few youth shouted slogans
However, the police controlled the crowd and shooting for a sequence of the movie went on smoothly.
One of the crew members said that the incident took place while they were shooting for a kidnapping sequence in the film.
Superintendent of Police, City North, Tahir Saleem denied the reports saying, “There was huge crowd and the youth demanded autographs from the actors. When police tried to control the crowd, one of the youth slipped along with his kangri which he was carrying,” he said.
Last year, controversy eclipsed the movie while shooting in the university following protests by the students over hoisting of the Indian national flag atop a make-shift bunker, forcing Bhardwaj to cut short the shooting.
‘Haider’ is a Hindi adaptation of Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet, starring Shraddha Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor. Tabu and Irfan Khan also have role in the film.
ReTs threaten Secretariat ‘gherao’
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 28: Rehabar-e-Taleem Teachers Forum has threatened to ‘gherao’ Civil Secretariat in Jammu to press the Government to fulfill their demands.
In a statement JKRTF demanded that the State Government to consider their other genuine demands and address them immediately.
“We also appeal the Government for enhancement of wages, quashing of transfer policy and SRO-43, inclusion of 5-years of service in their service for promotion benefits, no transfer policy for regularized ReT teachers and implementation order number 115 on ReT’s regularized on 01/01/2010,” the statement said.
USTA holds demonstration
Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Jan 28: Demanding immediate release of pending salaries of teachers working SSA, United School Teachers Association (USTA) held a demonstration here at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Park today.
The protestors also demanded issuance of orders of regularization in favour of education volunteers converted Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers after seven years, release of 10 percent Dareness Allowance installment due form July 2013, release of Selection grade in favour of undergraduate teachers, filling up of all vacant posts of teachers in the School, supply of mid day meal rice to schools through CAPD stores, repartition of all masters who have completed their stay in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts and debarring of teachers from non academic dues.
Addressing the teachers provincial president of USTA Hari Singh stated that in spite of highlighting the teachers issues time and again USTA is compelled to protest against the authorities and it is committed to take the struggle to its logical conclusion.
Govt committed to welfare of youth: Tanvir
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 28: Political Secretary to Chief Minister, Tanveer Sadiq today said that youth of the State have great potential and there is dire need to explore their talent by way of providing them self employment opportunities through various schemes, launched by the Government from time to time.
Mr. Sadiq was interacting with a group of youth belonging to different parts of the Valley, at Private Office of Chief Minister.
He said that Government is fully aware of the problems, confronting youth and several concrete measures are being taken to redress their grievances by the Government so that youth of the State can earn livelihood with honour and dignity.
Appealing youth to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood, amity and peace in the State, Mr. Sadiq said that youth can play a pivotal role in socio-economic development of the State.
He assured the deputation that Government will leave no stone unturned in taking up more significant steps for assuring their bright future.
BJP Cells gear up for 2014 polls
Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Jan 28: Setting the objective of achieving large number of seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from the State, a meeting of all State Convenors of all Cells was convened at BJP headquarters here today. The meeting was conducted under the leadership of State Incharge of BJP Cells Sat Sharma (CA), State General Secretary (Org.) Ashok Koul was also present. Strategies and working of all working cells of the party were discussed in order to build an effective road map for elections in 2014.
Speaking to the participants, Ashok Koul said that the main agenda of forming cells was to cater 20 percent vote of the party which it was unable to achieve due to some unavoidable circumstances, but the working of Cells in the State has shown that the percent of voters will definitely increase in these polls and this will help in winning major seats of Parliament this year. He also added that BJP, under the leadership of Gujarat chief Minister and BJP Prime Ministerial Candidate Narendra Modi will definitely form the Government at the Centre and for this, the party has started a programme where workers of the party will reach out to each and every nook of the State under the slogan “One Note Five Vote” and will collect single notes from each family where people will whole heartedly donate for BJP for fighting elections in 2014 which will inturn help in making Government of masses at the Centre.
Addressing the Convenors, Sat Sharma (CA) said that the Cells under the banner of the party in the upcoming days will organize mass programmes on a large scale in order to make public aware of the Development Mantra of BJP. Sharma also asked the State Convenors of various Cells to report their workings of past few months to General Secretary (Org.).
Surinder Singh Sarpanch was announced as District Convenor for Panchayati Raj Cell for Akhnoor in the meeting.
Harsh demands CBI probe into electrification works
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Jan 28: Alleging irregularities in the execution of electrification works under RGGVY Scheme in the district, National Panthers Party (NPP) chairman and MLA Ramnagar, Harshdev Singh, demanded to hold a CBI probe into the matter.
He maintained that sub-standard materials were used in the process due to which more than hundred electric transformers installed under RGGVY in the district got damaged, resulting in power crisis in the affected areas and large scale resentment brewing amongst the general masses.
He pointed out that out of 252 electric transformers installed in the district under the scheme, around 124 transformers have got damaged and the most disgusting feature of the whole gamut was that there was no scope for their repairs.
Singh said that the issue of inferior quality of electrification work and poor quality transformers was agitated in the Assembly as well as other forums but regretfully the Government had yet to respond.
Seeking a high level probe into the highly irregular and fraudulent execution of electrification works, Singh said that no less than a CBI enquiry into the matter would meet the ends of justice.
Tarigami for white paper on delay in CIS
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 28: CPI (M) State Secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has taken a strong exception to the unwarranted delay in introduction and implementation of Crop Insurance Scheme (CIS) in the State.
The communist leader has urged the Government to come out with a white paper including details on the status of assessing the losses of fruit growers, farmers and compensation paid to them on account of losses they suffered due to torrential rains and hailstorm during the recent kharief season.
Tarigami has said the scheme will save the fruit growers, agriculturists in the event of losses suffered due to natural calamities.
The CPI (M) leader said that not only the calamities affect crops but the CIS would have covered the crops which rot due to various diseases by virtue of which the farmers in the state experience extensive financial damages every year.
He asked the Government that it should also come up with details on steps taken to waive off the interest on the agricultural/horticultural loans in view of the damages caused to these sectors due to heavy rains and hail storm.
He demanded that the Government should provide details about steps taken to impose ban on the import and sale of sub-standard chemical fertilizers and pesticides; the use of which has proved very harmful to the fruit and crops.
Info Dept, GCW Gandhi Nagar organise cultural show
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 28: The Department of Information and Public Relations in collaboration with Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar today organized a cultural extravaganza in the auditorium of the college.
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu was the chief guest while Director Tourism, Jammu, Soujanya Sharma was the guest of honour on the occasion.
Director Information Tasaduq Jeelani, Principal, GCW, Gandhi Nagar, Prof (Dr.) Kiran Bakshi, Joint Director Information Smita Sethi, besides senior officers of different departments including staff members, faculty members of GCW Gandhi Nagar and prominent members of civil society and students of different educational institutions were present on the occasion and witnessed the Mega cultural programme.
The cultural program showcased composite cultural heritage of the State which left the jam-packed audience spell bound.
Mr. Shantmanu lauded the efforts of the Information Department for presenting great show and for its extraordinary contribution in disseminating information at various levels.
Appreciating the department for organising a wonderful programme, Divisional Commissioner said such type of programmes not only provide a platform to the students and artists to show their hidden talent but also educate them about the culture and heritage of the State.
Lauding multi-faceted role being played by the Information Department, Mr. Shantmanu said that besides making people acquaint with the developmental and welfare policies of the Government, the department was also working towards promotion of art, culture and literature by organising debates, mushairas and cultural shows.
Speaking on the occasion, Soujanya Sharma said that Information Department is the backbone of Government. He said the department has played vital role in highlighting day-to-day activities of the other departments.
The Director Tourism informed that Information Department has provided full support to Tourism Department in making the recently organised Navratra Festival, Jammu Festival and Lohri Festival by giving wide publicity to the organised events during festival days.
Earlier Director Information, Tasaduq Jeelani presented a brief resume of the activities of the department.
Later the Divisional Commissioner along with Director Information and Joint Director Information presented mementos and certificates to the participant students.