NEW DELHI, Jan 25:
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who faced flak for his protest in the heart of the capital, today said the Constitution does not prevent the Chief Minister from holding a dharna.
“I read the Constitution, couldn’t find anywhere that a Chief Minister cannot hold ‘dharna’,” he said on criticism to his two-day dharna outside Rail Bhavan.
He also charged that “the media is getting paid to do negative stories on AAP.”
Kejriwal’s role in leading a protest while holding constitutional office has come under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court which yesterday slammed law enforcing agencies for allowing unlawful assembly of supporters of the Chief Minister in the heart of national capital.
In his Republic Day address at Chhatrasal Stadium here, the Delhi Chief Minister said the Jan Lokpal Bill is almost ready and will be passed at a special session in Ramlila Maidan in February.
Holding that security of women in the national capital is “highly compromised”, he said the government has formed a committee under the Chief Secretary for the formation of ‘Mahila Suraksha Dal’ in the city.
“Security of women in the national capital is highly compromised. It is our utmost duty and priority to provide security to women. We have formed a committee under the Chief Secretary for formation of Mahila Suraksha Dal,” he said.
He said that it may not have powers like the police but the force will work like security guards stationed outside buildings and housing societies.
“They will provide security to women. We will have retired army personnel, police and home guards as members of suraksha dal,” he said.
Kejriwal also said the committee under the chief secretary will make provisions to ensure that rapists are sent to jail within 3 to 6 months. (PTI)
Constitution does not stop CM from protesting: Kejriwal
State awards announced
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: The State Government today released the list of names for grant of State Awards on Republic Day in various fields.
Ghulam Rasool Tak (posthumously), Akhil Singh (posthumously) have been accorded State award for bravery.
G. N. Gauhar (Writer) has been accorded with State Award for achievement in the field of literature.
Rashid Haafiz (Folk singer) and Suraj Singh (singer) have been accorded State Award for performing Arts.
Majid Ahmad Mir, (Kani Shawl Art) has been awarded for excellence in Arts and Crafts.
Dr. Mohammad Ishaq Wani, Director General Budget, Finance Department, Shahzada Bilal, Director, Perspective and Manpower Planning, Planning and Development Department, Dr. Shakti Gupta, Professor and Medical Superintendent AIIMS, New Delhi and Dr. Anil Gupta Professor and Head-cum-Medical Superintendent, Department of Hospital Administration, PGIMER, Chandigarh have been accorded State Award for meritorious public service.
Dr Anil Gupta has been Head of PGI Hospital for the last 19 years and is longest service MS. He is also WHO consultant.
Ms Padma Sachdev (Writer) has been accorded State life time achievement award.
Dr Riaz suspended
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: The Government has ordered suspension of Deputy Superintendent of Super-Specialty Hospital Jammu, Dr Riaz for allegedly committing financial irregularities in the hospital affairs.
Besides, the Government has also constituted a two-member inquiry committee to look into the complaints of financial irregularities by Dr Riaz. The inquiry committee, comprising Special Secretary Health and Chief Accounts Officer, GMC Jammu, will submit report to the Government for further action in this regard.
It may be recalled that the Minister for Medical Education Taj Mohi-ud-Din had recently ordered attachment of Dr Riaz but the order in this regard was stayed after the latter approached the court.
Nandni village plunges into darkness
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: The inhabitants of Nandni village near Gole Gujral, Talab Tillo are facing total blackout for last three days after the local transformer developed a snag.
The residents alleged that despite making the repeated pleas to concerned authorities no steps were taken to restore the power supply in the area which has added to the problems of the people especially the school and college going students whose examinations are drawing near.
The residents in an appeal to Chief Engineer M&RE, have sought her immediate intervention in the matter so that the power supply is restored to the area.
Powerlifting Championship on Feb 5
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: To select the players for the forthcoming National Deadlift and Federation Cup Championship to be held in Jamshedpur in the month of March, the J&K Sports Powerlifting Association is organizing State Deadlift & Powerlifting Championship on February 5, 2014 at BJD Friends Health Club Paloura, here.
The decision in this regard was taken in a meeting of the Association in presence of its general secretary Rajan Jain, Narinder Singh, Surinder Singh Gilli, Parveen Singh Charak and Hardeep Singh.
The Association has advised the players interested to take part in the Championship to report the venue at 10 am sharp on the said date.
However, the weighing of the players will be held on February 4, 2014 at the office of the Association at 3-A/C Gandhi Nagar in Jammu.
Jats protest for OBC status
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: Jat Kalyan Sabha held a protest demonstration at Khour, here today in support of its demand of OBC status to the community in Jammu and Kashmir.
The protest demonstration was organized under the leadership of Kamal Singh who threatened to further intensify the struggle for getting their genuine demand conceded by the Government.
Highlighting the plights of Jats, majority of whom in J&K are refugees from PoK and still have been suffering due to their migration and denied their fundamental rights, Kamal Singh said that OBC status to the community would help these hapless people to get their share.
Among others who addressed the protest included Subedar Sat Pal Matto, Dr Sudesh, Subedar Om Parkash, Ch Daljit, Ch Roshan, Ch Tarsem, Ch Hoshank, Ch Romesh and Ch Surinder.
Anti Personnel Mine recovered near border
Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Jan 25: An Anti Personnel mine was recovered in a field at village Regal near border in Rajpora area of Samba district.
The mine was found by a former Ashok Singh, son of Krishan Singh while grazing his cattle in the field. He informed the BSF Zero Line Battalion which took the mine into its custody.
Sting operation row: Court to consider AAP’s plea on March 19
NEW DELHI, Jan 25:
A Delhi court today fixed March 19 for recording statements of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members on a criminal defamation complaint against the CEO of a news portal for releasing a “doctored” video allegedly showing some party candidates accepting funds through illegal means before the recently concluded assembly polls.
Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain fixed the matter for pre-summoning evidence on request of the complainants, AAP and its member Dinesh Mohania, who sought more time to prove their allegations that accused had defamed them by making a false and forged video.
“Complainant and his counsel request for giving a date for leading pre-summoning evidence (PSE) in the present matter in order to prove his allegations against the accused persons. On request, fix the matter for PSE on March 19, 2014,” the court said.
Advocate V K Ohri, who appeared for complainants, alleged that the video of sting operation against the party has been forged and tampered with due to which charges under sections 464 (making a false document) and 469 (forgery for purpose of harming reputation) of the IPC are also made out.
On November 27, 2013 the magistrate had said that he would go through the plea first before proceeding ahead with the complaint case.
Ohri, on that day, had alleged that the doctored CD was shown on TV to defame the party and its candidates prior to the Delhi assembly polls.
He had also alleged that Congress and BJP does not want AAP to “gain momentum” before the upcoming polls and the media portal circulated the CD containing defamatory allegations against the party and its candidates.
The counsel had also said they have got the raw footage of the alleged sting operation from the Election Commission and the court should go through it as it would make it clear that editing was done in the footage which was shown on TV.
Besides Anuranjan Jha, CEO of news portal Media Sarkar, AAP has also named two officials of a private news channel as accused in its complaint, saying they constantly carried the story based on alleged sting operation without verifying its “veracity”.
The plea was filed by AAP and Mohania, who successfully contested the Delhi assembly polls from Sangam Vihar constituency on AAP’s ticket.
In its plea, AAP has claimed that Jha had released the “edited CD” which “appears to be doctored” and it was damaging for the party as it lowers their image in the eyes of general public.
The sting operation alleged that several AAP leaders, who were contacted for helping recover money from some individuals and getting through some controversial land deals, readily agreed to extend their support in return for donations in cash to the party.
The charges have been dismissed as baseless by AAP. (PTI)
776 security personnel awarded on eve of Republic day
NEW DELHI, Jan 25:
776 police, paramilitary and other security personnel have been awarded service medals on the eve of 65th Republic day.
The President’s Police Medal for Gallantry has been awarded to four security personnel, 44 policemen have been decorated with the Police Medal for Gallantry.
A maximum of 15 medals for bravery have been bagged by the country’s largest paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Out of these, seven troopers have been awarded posthumously for their daredevilry in anti-Naxal operations.
According to an official release issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the President’s police medal for distinguished service has been given to 94 personnel, while the police medal for meritorious service has been given to 624 personnel this time.
“The President has also approved 41 Correctional Service Medals on this occasion. The Correctional Service medal for distinguished service has been given to two officers while Correctional Service medal for meritorious service to 39 officers have been awarded from 15 states and Union Territories on the occasion of Republic Day, 2014,” the release said.
Amongst the other awardees in the PMG category are 10 police personnel from Jharkhand, eight from Jammu and Kashmir, four from Uttar Pradesh, three from Madhya Pradesh and one officer each from Assam, Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan police departments. (PTI)
JKEEGA takes up issues with Principal Secretary PDD
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: J&K Electrical Engineering Graduates Association (JKEEGA) delegation led by its general secretary Javed held a meeting with Principal Secretary, Power Development Department (PDD) and discussed various problems being faced by JEs.
While speaking, Javed said that the illegal mass promotion of diploma holder engineers to the level of AE by the Government has created an unprecedented situation.
He said that the department is in the process of finalization of list of promotions of JEs but in this list the Government is accommodating the diploma holders also thus, adding to the already existing strength of 165 which will result that the diploma holders at AE level will exceed even by 50 per cent instead of maintaining them at 20 per cent.
“While making promotions from JE to AE, imbalance existing favour of diploma engineers be set right in the right spirit of upholding the essence of J&K Gazetted Service Rules”, he said.
“Any further discrepancies created will create havoc in the functioning of the Engineering Department causing continuous disgrace to higher qualified graduate engineers and will be opposed”, he said, adding that the issue will be raised at all forums in the interest of upholding very logic of value for higher qualification and for overall effective functioning.