Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 11: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has started a wave against corruption and political parties need to learn from it as corruption has become biggest problem in the country. He said it was high time to check the menace of corruption, which was eating into vitals of the society and listed the steps taken by the State Government to check it.
Addressing a public meeting at Vijaypur in the party’s Assembly segment held by former Minister Surjit Singh Slathia, Omar said it was time for the political parties to take a lesson from AAP as corruption has become biggest problem in the country including Jammu and Kashmir though, he added, the State Government has taken various measures to check the menace.
Acknowledging the effect of Aam Aadmi Party on national politics and praying for change within his party, the Chief Minister claimed that the National Conference had a similar ideology on corruption. He added that the AAP’s ideology has not been rejected by the people and could impact the State.
“The fact is, whether we like or dislike it, a new political atmosphere, a new political wave has started in the country, the name of which is Aam Aadmi Party,” Omar said, adding: “whether AAP will come or not come to Jammu and Kashmir, their ideology has not been ignored or rejected by the people.”
Omar said: “the people want that corruption and bribe-taking should be stamped out. People want that politicians and bureaucrats (should) not fleece the common people. Ours is the same ideology.
“Corruption is eating up into the vitals of the State and common man is worried about corruption. I hope that in a changing (political) situation, people like us should change their ideology.”
While stating that the people were not affected by “big corruption scams”, but by the small bribes paid to get ration card, driving license etc, Omar said his Government had brought in a number of laws to fight the issue.
“I have seen that big scams and corruption cases do not affect you. You get affected when you have to pay a bribe to get the ration card, a license of a vehicle, papers of lands, copy of FIR or NOCs. We have brought a number of anti-corruption laws in Jammu and Kashmir and if they are implemented, the corruption will definitely go down in the State,” he said..
Mentioning legislations like Public Services Guarantee Act, Right to Information Act, re-constitution of Accountability Commission, and the Vigilance Commission, Omar urged the people to utilize them to make the Government transparent and corruption-free, which was his party’s goal.
“Some eighty basic services have been brought under the Public Services Guarantee Act to be delivered in a fixed time-frame,” the Chief Minister said, adding that any official responsible for delay or failure of delivery of these was liable for fine which would be given to the affected citizen.
“If the Government functionary shows any reluctance or demands bribe, report this to the authority. The fine would be imposed on the official and you will be paid compensation,” he told the people, elaborating the provisions of Public Service Guarantee Act.
On militancy, the Chief Minister said it has “nose-dived since we took the reins” and improved the security setup in the State and cited the increase in number of tourists and pilgrims visiting the State.
Supporting talks to resolve issues with Pakistan, he said “better sense prevailed” on them once they realized that nothing was going to come out of firing and shelling.
Omar said that entire Government machinery and the public representatives from Chief Minister to legislators have been brought under the ambit of Accountability Commission and Vigilance Commission where under their conduct and performance could be questioned by any common citizens.
“The Legislature functions for few days in which the representatives of the people ask questions to the Ministers. Now, the common man in view of RTI Act can hold the Government accountable throughout the year,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that addressing employment crises through a comprehensive and multi-faceted strategy also received concentrated attention during the last five years opening wide ranging opportunities for youth to get absorbed in Government service as also in the private sector. He said that his Government would further intensify its endeavour in this regard.
“Youth are the strength of the State and architects of future, my hand holding to them to succeed in all fields of life is above all political motives”, he reiterated and said that he would continue to work for the welfare of youth whether in the government or outside.
Referring to the border trouble witnessed by various villages particularly in Vijaypur and Samba areas during some months ago, Omar expressed satisfaction that peace has prevailed and the normal life has been restored. He expressed the hope that the relations between India and Pakistan will improve further and said that all issues can be addressed and settled only by the meaningful process of dialogue.
“Wars in the past have never solved any problem and will not solve any issue in future”, he said and referred to the three wars fought by India and Pakistan in the past.
The Chief Minister said that certain politicians (PDP leadership) even tried to do politics on border shelling issue as has been their characteristics.
“This party (the PDP) totally forgot the border people when they were braving the burnt of shelling on borders and did not even talk of them during the time of challenge but when peace restored and shelling stopped, the leadership of PDP announced taking out a procession in Srinagar”, he said adding that PDP like parties sell politics while National Conference renders service to people.
“They (PDP) talk and talk too much, we act and act for the welfare of the people and the State only without making any noise. Our actions speak loudly on ground which is evident by the fact that without making any hype Coalition Government registered remarkable achievements in all development sectors particularly in the sectors of public empowerment, employment generation, bijli, pani, sadak, taleem and sehat during the last five years”, the Chief Minister said and assured the people that their development demands will receive continuous attention and thrust of the Government in the year 2014.
Mr Abdullah said that PDP is fond of double speak to divide people. “The leadership of this party attempts at lead astraying people by saying one thing in Jammu, another in Srinagar and third in Delhi”, he mentioned and said that people are wiser enough to get carried away by emotional blackmailing and tactical politics exercised by PDP.
“Now-a-days PDP tries to give an impression as if it is coming to power in 2014 Assembly Elections. Gone are the days when they used to fool people by exploitation and political jugglery”, he said and predicted tough times ahead of PDP as this party is fully exposed before the people who are well-versed with the deceptive and divisive political trait of PDP and handover them severe punishment in the coming elections.
Omar also cautioned the people against those elements who thrive on creating hatred and wedging apart the society in the name of religion, region, caste and colour. “They will come to you during the elections and divide you for their vested interests”, Omar said and asked them to beware of these elements. “Reject them categorically by exhibiting your amity, brotherhood and mutual understanding”, he said.
The Chief Minister appreciated the role of S S Slathia as the legislators of the area and erstwhile Minister in his Cabinet and said that Slathia in his all capacities has rendered commendable service to the people. Speaking on the occasion, the Provincial President, National Conference, Jammu and MLC, Devender Singh Rana predicted extinction of divisive politicians in 2014 elections and said that people will give them befitting reply by showing everlasting faith in National Conference and Omar Abdullah who lives in the hearts and minds of people in all the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Mr Rana listed the achievements registered by the Omar led Government and said that the year 2014 is the year of National Conference and Omar Abdullah. He also mentioned the tremendous work rendered by Surjit Singh Slathia in Vijaypur and other parts of the State as a Legislator and as the Minister.
The former Minister and the Legislator from Vijaypur constituency, S S Slathia expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for showing his keen interest in mitigating the difficulties of border people and addressing development demands of Vijaypur and other areas of the State comprehensively and with commitment.
Senior Vice President, NC, Rattan Lal Gupta was also present on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 11: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today handed over one of the biggest scandal in the State running into at least Rs 100 crores in the Government owned JK Cements Limited to the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) for an in-depth inquiry and taking action against the accused involved in the irregularities.
The irregularities have been detected in purchase of machinery, upgradation of old plant, raw material and maintenance of the equipments. About Rs 16 crores worth shortfall has also been detected in raw material and cement.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Minister for Industries and Commerce Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo took up the major fraud committed in the Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) by the then officers and officials in connivance with some leading private companies with the Chief Minister after an in-house inquiry ordered by Mr Kitchloo confirmed that irregularities running into several crores have been committed in the PSU.
The Chief Minister went through the files and saw massive fraud committed in the PSU. He immediately directed that the case should be handed over to the Vigilance Organisation for registration of First Information Report (FIR) and taking action against the officials/officers involved in committing the fraud.
Mr Kitchloo confirmed to the Excelsior that the irregularities have been detected in both plants of JK Cements Limited at Bari Barahamana in Jammu and Khrew in Pulwama district. He said the Chief Minister decided to handover the case to the Vigilance Organisation after going through the in-house inquiry conducted by the officials of JK Cements Limited.
Sources said there has been shortfall of cement and raw material worth Rs 9 crores tentatively in the two plants of the PSU. The figure of shortfall was tentative and it was likely to go up to Rs 16 crores, they added.
“Very high cost has been shown in the purchase of new machinery, upgradation of plants, and taking raw material. The total irregularities in the purchases and shortfall etc have been estimated around Rs 100 crores at present and might go up when full-fledged investigations are taken up by the Vigilance Organisation,’’ sources said.
They added that anti-pollution devices purchased by the JK Cements Limited were such that even the Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama was forced to issue notices to the PSU to check pollution at its Khrew plant.
“The JK Cements Limited was one of the rare PSU, which had been running into profits, which have started dwindling as quality of the cement has been compromised due to purchase of inferior raw material and sub standard machinery,’’ sources said, adding the Government has taken serious note of the purchase especially after the departmental inquiry confirmed the irregularities and handed over the case to the Vigilance Organisation for a thorough probe, registration of FIR and initiating action against former and incumbent officers and officials of the PSU whosoever are found guilty during the Vigilance probe.
Sources said the accused officers and officials of JK Cements Limited had entered into criminal conspiracy with some private companies and purchased inferior equipments and raw material from them and, in turn, gained huge monetary benefits not only for themselves but also extended the undue benefits to the private companies from whom the machinery was purchased.
Confirming that the fraud could run into at least Rs 100 crores or even beyond, sources said the Chief Minister and the Industries and Commerce Minister have asked the Vigilance Organisation to ensure that the guilty officials and officers, whatever positions they presently hold or were previously holding, shouldn’t go scot free.
Sources said the Chief Minister’s Office has also sent a written complaint along with copies of in-house report of the PSU and other available material to the Vigilance Organisation for initiating further probe into the multi-crore scandal.

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 11: Though the voices of discrimination have become louder ever since the initiation of exercise for creation of new administrative units, no serious thought has so far been given to the recommendations of the State Finance Commission, which was otherwise constituted with the sole objective of providing equitable treatment to all the regions and sub-regions of the State in the allocation of funds, and State Government continued to remain undecided on considering the report of this vital Commission.
The State Finance Commission came into being in 2007 to look into regional imbalance or discrimination in the allotment of funds with any region or sub-region of the State and suggest corrective measures for equitable development.
The Commission, which had to accomplish the task to address the voices of discrimination within a period of one year, took more than three years to finalize its recommendations and the report was submitted to the Government in November 2010.
The vigor shown in the framing of Finance Commission faded on the submission of the report as from November 2010 till April 2012 none from those running the affairs of the Government bothered to utter single word about initiating further exercise. However, following massive criticism from the public and opposition parties, the Government in April 2012 engaged two experts to work out the road-map for the implementation of the recommendations.
Thereafter, on May 25, 2012, the General Administration Department issued an Order No. 578 regarding constitution of Group of Ministers for considering the report of the concerned Administrative Departments, on the recommendations of the J&K State Finance Commission, pertaining to various departments.
The Group of Ministers headed by Minister for Finance had to make recommendations to the Cabinet or set up an expert group for in-depth examination of the proposals emanating from various Administrative Departments.
According to the official sources, neither majority of the Administrative Departments bothered to submit reports on the recommendations of the Finance Commission nor the Group of Ministers ever tried to pass on necessary directions to the Administrative Departments.
“What to talk of Administrative Departments even the Ministers concerned and the members of the Group of Ministers never found it appropriate to ensure submission of report by the officers of the departments under their charge”, sources further said while disclosing that ever since its formation the Group of Ministers has not convened even one meeting till date despite the fact that voices of discrimination have become louder.
Sources asked, “what was the fun of constituting the Finance Commission and spending huge money on it for three years when there was no seriousness behind addressing the discrimination”, adding “the fate of the recommendations of Finance Commission has substantiated the general observations that the commissions and committees are constituted to bury the important issues and divert the attention of the people”.
It is pertinent to mention here that State Finance Commission has made admission, in its report, about the inter-district variation in the level of development and mentioned that developmental graph in some districts is very poor.
“Given the non-serious approach of the Government, it seems that the exercise carried out by the Commission was a futility that too at the cost of tax payers’ money”, sources said while disclosing that none of the Coalition partners has so far raised the issue of considering the recommendations of the State Finance Commission.
When contacted, a member of the Group of Ministers, on the condition of anonymity said, “it is a fact that the recommendations of the Finance Commission are gathering dust in the official files and there are hardly any chances of the same receiving the serious thought in near future”.

Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Jan 11: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway that was closed for fresh traffic last evening will be re-opened for one-way traffic from tomorrow with traffic police clearing around 1700 stranded vehicles today.
Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan, told Excelsior that around 1700 stranded vehicles were cleared from the highway. He said that around 500 trucks and 80 Light Mortor Vehicles (LMV) including passenger vehicles that were stranded between Ramsu and Banihal were cleared today.
The IGP said that around 500 passenger vehicles and 600 trucks that were stranded at Qazigund and Ladura were cleared for Jammu this evening. All these vehicles crossed the Jawahar Tunnel and are on way to Jammu.
Last evening Traffic police closed the highway for any fresh traffic as large numbers of vehicles were stranded on either side of Jawahar Tunnel due to snowfall in Banihal and Patnitop areas.
In the meantime, most parts of the Kashmir valley experienced fresh snowfall last night even as minimum temperatures at many places went further down the freezing point.
A MeT Department official said that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 0.3 degree Celsius compared to the previous night’s low of minus 0.7 degree Celsius while the maximum day temperature of the place settled at 6.8 degree Celsius.
The mercury in Pahalgam, South Kashmir plummeted by over 7 degrees from the previous night’s low of minus 6.8 degree Celsius to settle at a low of minus 14.3 degree Celsius while maximum day temperature of the place settled at minus 4 degree Celsius.
Gulmarg registered a low of minus 11.2 degree Celsius last night after recording a low of minus 10.8 degree Celsius the previous night.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 3.0 degree Celsius and the maximum day temperature of the place settled at 6.7 degree Celsius.
The mercury in Kupwara in North Kashmir settled at a low of minus 4.5 degree Celsius, down by almost four degrees as compared to the previous night’s minus 0.7 degree Celsius while the maximum day temperature of the place settled at 7.7 degree Celsius.
The night temperature in South Kashmir’s Kokernag settled at a low of minus 4.0 degree Celsius, same as the previous night while maximum day temperature of the place settled at 3.4 degree Celsius.
Leh was the coldest place in the State with a low of minus 17.2 degree Celsius while maximum day temperature of the place settled at minus 2.6 degree Celsius.
Kargil, registered a minimum of minus 9.0 degree Celsius against minus 8.6 degree Celsius the previous night while the maximum day temperature of the place settled at minus 3.2 degree Celsius.
The MeT official said that weather will remain mostly dry in the State.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Jan 11:  Army today launched massive search operation in several villages near North Kashmir’s Sopore forests after apprehensions that some of the militants might have fled to nearby villages after their hideout was busted yesterday.
The operation that was launched by Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police and 27-Rashtriya Rifles yesterday after they received information about a group of militants hiding in the Cherhar forests of Sopore. The operation was extended to nearby villages of Marbel, Chirhar, Hard Shiva, Yemberzal, Rishipora, Rampur and Rajpur of Cherhar forests.
The movement of the people from and to these villages was not allowed by the security forces as they have reports that some of the militants might have fled to these villages after their forest hideout was busted yesterday.
Sources said that Army reinforcement belonging to 14, 22 and 30 RR was rushed to the area to assist the troops who had initially cordoned off the area. Army commandos of 5 PARA were also part of the operation.
The area is sound bound and security forces are battling snow and sub-zero temperatures during the operation.
Army and SOG also fired in Harbang Nallah of Hard Shiva forest area after they found some movement there, but sources say that there was no return fire from militant. Sources, however, said that the security forces believe that at least two militants are hiding in the Nallah.
Security forces during the searches busted a militant hideout and recovered large quantity of eatables, utensils and blankets yesterday and they believe after the busting of the hideout militants might have shifted to nearby villages.
In the meantime, security forces today averted a major tragedy as they detected an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by militants by the roadside in Baramulla district of Kashmir.
Police said a foot patrol of security forces detected a tin canister containing an IED at Janbazpora in Baramulla district this morning.
A bomb disposal squad was called in which detonated the IED without causing any damage. The IED was planted by militants by the roadside to target the security forces vehicles passing through the area.