NEW DELHI, Jan 2: The minority Aam Aadmi Party Government today crossed the first hurdle in the Delhi Assembly when its confidence motion sailed through easily with the backing of the members of Congress, JD(U) and an independent.
The motion moved by PWD Minister Manish Sisodia was carried after a four-and-a-half-hour debate at the end of which Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the members to decide “on which side they are”.
“I want to present three issues. Delhi’s aam aadmi (common man) has taken the lead in telling the country as to which direction the national politics should go.
“They should also decide as to which side they are in the fight between truth and honesty in politics and whether they want to participate in it,” the Chief Minister said, in his 25-minute speech winding up the debate.
Promising to take stringent action against anyone corrupt whether in the previous Congress Government, MCDs controlled by the BJP and his Government, he said he was not seeking support of the members for his party or the Government but for the issues facing Delhi.
At the end of the debate, pro-tem Speaker Matin Ahmad asked those in favour to stand up followed by those against.
Later, he declared the motion as passed and congratulated the Chief Minister before adjourning the house.
28 AAP members along with seven of Congress, a lone JD(U) member and an independent stood in support while 31 members of BJP and one member of its ally Akali Dal stood against it.
The fate of the motion was a foregone conclusion after Congress leader Arvinder Lovely declared that his party’s seven members would support the Government and said the backing would continue as long as the regime works in the interest of the people, even for five years.
However, the BJP opposed the confidence motion and accused Kejriwal of compromising with the “corrupt” Congress for power and becoming silent on the corruption of the previous Congress Government.
Replying to the taunts by the BJP that he has stopped talking of the corruption of the Congress after taking support from it, Kejriwal said, “I want to assure the House that anyone found corrupt whether those in the last 15 years of the Congress Government or MCDs or our own Government, we will take stringent action against them.”
Giving a definition of who is an aam aadmi, he said that it was one who wanted to live honestly and by truth whether he is rich or poor.
“All of them can be called aam aadmi. Who were we, we were all outsiders, we were small people without any capability,” Kejriwal said, adding the country’s politics is corrupt, it has been spoiled and abducted.
The politics has become corrupt because of criminalisation. Education, health and roads are in bad State because of corrupt politics, he said.
“We need to get together to cleanse the politics. We were challenged to enter politics, contest elections and make your own laws. The fight was impossible and there was zero possibility of victory and then we decided to take the plunge and cleanse politics.
“The leaders of big parties made the biggest mistake thinking where was the common man going to contest elections. Then we decided to contest elections. People used to make fun of us. Fourth and Eighth of December, a miracle happened. I was an atheist but now I realise there is God. People of Delhi proved truth can’t be defeated,” he said.
Kejriwal said that the people of Delhi took the first step of showing the nation the direction in which the nation can be liberated from corrupt politics.
Listing 17 issues as priority of his Government, Kejriwal said ending the VIP culture in the capital and even the whole country and adoption of Janlokpal bill will figure among top of them.
The corrupt should be jailed at the earliest and get the strongest possible punishment within the framework of law. The Janlokpal should also have a Citizens’ Charter under which services should be provided in a time frame.
The third priority will be to bring a legislation which will give the right to people to decide on development in their area and not officials and MLAs.
The next priority would be to realise full statehood for Delhi on which even the BJP agrees with AAP, he said.
Among the other things the Government will concentrate on audit of power companies, checking the meters, supply of water, conferring right on the people of unauthorised colonies, problem of slums, opposition to FDI in retail, subsidy for farmers, improvement of Government schools, regulation of fees and eradication of donations in private schools and improvement of hospitals.
On women’s security, the Chief Minister said that his Government would work for creation of ‘Special Women’s Protection Force’.
Referring to the quick trial in the December 16 rape case, he said trials in such cases should be completed in three to six months and deterrent punishment should be given to those found guilty.
Referring to the need for improving the justice system, he said that the number of courts and judges should be increased.
Earlier moving the motion, Sisodia urged members to rise above political affiliations and support the Government in the interest of a new governance for the people of Delhi.
“We are not a party. We are representatives of people and urge the MLAs of all parties to rise above party lines and support alternative governance for the people of Delhi,” he said.
Rejecting the charge of compromise, he said the people of Delhi gave AAP the “moral mandate” to form Government though not the numbers. The ‘referendum’ conducted by the party after the elections enhanced this mandate.
“We are here for development. We stand here to clean the politics of the country. We want to ensure that people in Delhi get clean water to drink and cheap electricity. We are here for the traders, farmers and youth of Delhi. We will improve the facilities for the people of Delhi,” he said.
Opposing the motion, Harsh Vardhan attacked Kejriwal and his party for taking Congress support to form the Government.
“A party which Kejriwal used to refer as the most corrupt party, the party against which he contested elections, the party against which he said that if elected to power he will send corrupt Ministers to jail, and will unearth all unfair trades of that Government, he has taken support of that party.
“Today the country wants to know what was his compulsion to form a coalition with the same party,” said Vardhan.
Attacking AAP’s decisions on water and electricity soon after coming to power, Vardhan said the urgency shown by AAP in implementing populist measures is not reflected in taking on the corrupt.
Extending full support to the AAP Government, Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said his party could even continue to back the current dispensation even for five years if it worked in the interest of the people.
“Kejriwal ji, you keep making statements frequently that the Government could go in 48 hours. I assure you today that as long as you keep taking decisions in the interest of people of Delhi, there is no threat to your Government.
“And should the need arise, we will support you for full five years so that you can give a good Government. As long as we feel that decisions that you take will not halt development and there is no sense of injustice to the state, we will keep supporting you,” Lovely said.
“Our party’s support will be there for you in whatever decision you take for development and in the interest of people,” he said.
The Congress leader said that his party supported the Government to avoid forcing another election on the people of Delhi.
Lovely, however, at the same time attacked the Government over its recent decisions on enlarging the subsidy on power and free supply of water saying it was the House that can decide on shifting subsidy from one head to another and not the Government.
“You are new to the government. The officials should have briefed you properly. The earlier budget had approved certain subsidies and that cannot be changed now. The House should have been involved. You have to fix accountability on the officials who misled you,” Lovely told the Chief Minister.
He also wondered what promises the Government will put on hold if it decides to give subsidy worth Rs 1300 crore.
Though caveating his response by saying that Congress does not want to begin its support to AAP on a negative note, Loverly said that even the free water decision of Government will not reach the intended beneficiaries and alleged that “water has become costlier” for Delhiites on the contrary.
He also told Kejriwal that his Government should take “tough measures” against corruption irrespective of persons and departments concerned and that Kejriwal could definitely stumble upon it if MCDs ruled by the BJP are probed.
“When Kejriwal had talked about corruption of Delhi Government, he had talked about MCDs as well. Something will be found out in Delhi Government or not, it will definitely be found out in the MCDS,” Lovely said. (PTI)

Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Jan 2: Northern Army Command chief Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra today held a high level review of security scenario in the Kashmir Valley including the Line of Control (LoC) with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State. Lt Gen Chachra accompanied by General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps Lt Gen Gurmit Singh also visited the LoC in Kupwara district for on spot assessment of the situation in the wake of reports of infiltration attempts from across the LoC.
Lt Gen Chachra, GOC-in-C Northern Command and Lt Gen Gurmit Singh were with the Chief Minister for more than an hour during which counter terrorist operations, security scenario in the Valley including the LoC and just concluded talks between Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) came up for a high level review.
The two top Army Commanders gave their assessment of the situation to Mr Abdullah in entire Jammu and Kashmir especially the Kashmir Valley including presence of the militants in hinterland and across the LoC, who could make attempts to infiltrate into the State ahead of this year’s Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
Lt Gen Chachra reiterated the Army’s commitment to zero tolerance towards human rights violations in the State. He told the Chief Minister that the cases of misdemeanor, if any, would be dealt with severely. He cited the example of Machhal encounter in Kupwara district in which Army had ordered action against its six personnel including officers.
The Northern Army Command chief assured the Chief Minister that the Army would continue with people friendly operations and no inconvenience would be caused to the ‘Awaam’ (the people) during conduct of counter terrorist operations. He said all efforts would be made by the Army to avoid collateral damage during operations targeted against the militants.
The Chief Minister appreciated the successful operations conducted by the Army recently and commended the restraint exercised by the troops during conduct of these operations ensuring that there was no collateral damage.
Omar hoped that the Army would continue to maintain restraint during the search and cordon operations against the militants
Lt Gen Chachra, who reached Srinagar this morning on a three days visit to the Kashmir Valley, apprised the Chief Minister about the details of DGMO level talks between India and Pakistan held after 14 years at Wagah border in Amritsar district of Punjab in which the two sides committed themselves to 2003 ceasefire agreements.
He also gave Omar a detailed account about Army’s perception of security scenario in the State and attempts the militants could make to breach the LoC to sneak into this side with a view to disturb Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the State, both of which were due next year.
The Army Commander apprised the Chief Minister about preparedness of his troops along the LoC bordering Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir especially during the winter when most parts of the LoC remained snow bound.
Lt Gen Chachra and Lt Gen Gurmit Singh later visited forward posts along the LoC in Kupwara district to review winter preparedness and strategy of the troops for counter infiltration and counter terrorism operations. They visited several snow bound areas along the LoC in Kupwara district.
The Northern Army Commander along with Lt Gen Gurmit Singh, Chinar Corps Commander also visited Hajipir Brigade where he was briefed on the counter infiltration grid. The operational preparedness of the formation for the coming months was also discussed.
Lt Gen Chachra carried out the aerial reconnaissance of forward areas to get the view of the snow levels and how the troops deployed in the snow bound areas were bravely operating. He commended the troops for recent operational successes resulting into recovery of huge cache of arms and ammunition in Farkiyan Gali area along the LoC and expressed his satisfaction over the preparedness and synergy between the security forces for ensuring sustained peace in the Valley.

Fayaz Bukhari/
Gopal Sharma

SRINAGAR/JAMMU, Jan 2:  The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway which was closed on Tuesday for traffic after heavy snowfall, was re-opened for one-way traffic on the third day today after the Border Roads Organization (BRO) cleared snow in Banihal and Jawahar Tunnel area this morning while many areas in Kashmir and  Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Poonch besides other parts of Jammu region are without electricity.
The Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan, told Excelsior that the BRO cleared snow from the highway around Jawahar Tunnel areas early in the morning but snow blizzards and slippery road conditions between Nowgam in Banihal to Jawahar Tunnel created problems for the movement of traffic.
Mr Khan said that around 250 vehicles including 165 Light Mortor Vehicles, stranded between Ramban to Banihal on the highway due to closure of the highway,  were cleared today. He said that these vehicles were cleared between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and the highway was closed for the night due to slippery road conditions caused by the freezing of snow on the highway.
The IGP said that highway has been re-opened for one way traffic and vehicles form Jammu will ply towards Srinagar tomorrow. He said that there is avalanche threat in Jawahar Tunnel area and authorities are maintaining utmost caution.
The train-service was resumed in the Kashmir valley after two days. However, train service has remained suspended between Anantnag and Qazigund and Banihal because of heavy accumulation of snow on the track. A Railway official said that train services resumed between Baramulla and Anantnag today. He said that with the improvement in weather, train services were allowed. The official said that as a precautionary measure train services between

Anantnag and Banihal remained suspended and efforts are being made to resume it.
Meanwhile, there has been some relief to the people of the Valley from sub-zero temperatures for two days due to snowfall, the mercury across the Valley again dipped several degrees last night.
A MeT Department official said that the minimum temperature in Pahalgam, in South Kashmir, dipped by nearly eight degrees to settle at minus 12.2 degrees Celsius compared to minus 4.6 degrees Celsius the previous night. It was the coldest night of the season so far in the tourist resort.
The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg registered a low of minus 11.0 degrees Celsius. The mercury in Srinagar settled at minus 2.1 degrees Celsius, down from the previous night’s 1.3 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperature in Qazigund was minus 2.8 degrees Celsius, while the mercury fell to a low of minus 6.4 degrees Celsius in Kokernag and minus 4.4 degrees Celsius in Kupwara.
Leh, recorded a low of minus 15.3 degrees Celsius, more than eight degrees down from the previous night’s minus 7.2 degrees Celsius. Kargil recorded a low of minus 11.6 degrees Celsius.
Amid subzero temperatures, people in different areas of Kashmir valley protested against Power Development Department (PDD) over the worsening power scenario in Valley following snowfall. People in Central Kashmir district of Budgam blocked Chadoora road at Gopalpora and Wathoora for hours to protest against the power crisis. The protestors alleged that Government failed to restore power to the area after snowfall. The protesters refused to disperse despite assurance by district administration and Police that power will be restored to these villages.
Protests against the PPD over non-availability of power were also held at Mehjoor Nagar area of Srinagar. The protestors alleged that the area is reeling under darkness for past three days. Protests against non-availability of power were reported from South Kashmir’s Kadipora, Tahab, Central Kashmir’s Pakharpora and Zainakote area.
Meanwhile, the Government has decided to provide helicopter service in Marwah, Dachhan and Wadwan area of  Kishtwar and Doda to airlift the stranded passengers and  patients while several Ministers along with Divisional Commissioner and IGP Jammu had aerial survey to many snowbound areas and also established contact with local administration in  Banihal, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar areas. Due to road blockade many areas are facing shortage of kerosene oil, vegetables and other food items.
DIG Traffic Jammu S A Watali told the Excelsior that traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was partially restored today and hardly around 250 vehicles  were cleared for Srinagar. He said the road was slippery at many places including Patnitop, Batote and Banihal area besides Jawahar Tunnel and the vehicular movement was again stopped due to slippery conditions in the evening. He said many vehicles, mostly trucks were stranded at Udhampur, Falata, Jakheni, Dhar Road,  Manwal, Nud in Samba, Narota and Dayala Chak area. If the weather condition improves these vehicles will be cleared for Srinagar tomorrow. But no vehicle will be allowed beyond Udhampur after 10.30 am, he added.
He said the traffic has also been restored to Poonch and Mendhar besides Doda-Kishtwar and Bhaderwah while many link roads were still closed due to heavy snowfall. Traffic on Basohli-Bani road has been restored besides Rajouri and Budhal but Ramnagar-Dudu-Basantgarh, Loran-Mandi, Thannamandi-Dera Gali-Surankote roads were still closed. Mughal road was also blocked due to heavy snow at Pir ki Gali. The GREF and PWD authorities were busy in clearing snow from these closed roads.
Reports from various areas revealed that there was shortage of eatables, fresh vegetables, food rains and kerosene oil in the rural and remote areas.  The electricity to many areas could not be restored as due to heavy snowfall, the poles have broken and cables damaged. In Bani sub-division alone, out of   279 units of  electric transformers, hardly 15 are functioning while all others are non-function at present. In  Bani town, the power could be restored partially last evening while over 90 % area was still cut off. Similar is the position in Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Gool-Mahore, Dudu-Basantgarh, Rajour and Poonch districts. The PDD officials claimed that with snow many poles have broken and even transformers damaged due to over loading. The restoration work has been launched on war footing.
From Jammu airport several Srinagar bound flights were delayed due to non-clearance of snow at Srinagar airport. Several morning flights were late by one to two hours today. However almost all the flights from Delhi operated today.  The trains service has also been hit due to bad weather in the region.
At Jammu bus stand many passengers have been stranded. They also held protest demonstration and demanded their airlifting to Kashmir and parts of Doda and Kishtwar. The police had to resort to mild cane- charge after they tried to block highway near B C Road during this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Minister for R&B Abdul Majid Wani and Minister of State for Home and Industries Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo along with Divisional Commissioner Jammu Shantmanu and IGP Rajesh Kumar, visited Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Banihal on the directions of Chief Minister and reviewed the situation. They said that passengers and patients stranded in snow bound areas of Marwah, Dachhan and Wadwan  would be airlifted by providing chopper service.
They also reviewed the situation with the top civil, police and traffic officers and took stock of  over all situation prevailing post snowfall . They also met the local administration and issued direction to the officers to ensure restoration of  power, water supply, connectivity and essentials supplies. They stressed for speedy clearance of all the roads. They took review of the stock and supply position of essentials  and restoration of essential public service in snow bound areas. The Ministers also asked the officers not to allow movement of vehicles during night hours and impose strict discipline on  the highway
The officers of the CAPD Department were directed to ensure smooth distribution and availability of ration in far flung and snowbound areas. It was apprised     that 6075 qtls of wheat was available in the stores in Doda area and adequate dumping has been made at various stores n the area. Adequate kerosene was also available in these districts.
All the DCs were asked to remain at their headquarters and ensure speedy restoration of all the services.
The Traffic officers told that traffic movement on National Highways connecting erstwhile Doda district , border districts of Poonch and Rajouri would be fully restored by tomorrow. They disclosed that clearance of landslides near Thathri which caused blockade of this road section of Batote- Kishtwar National Highway would be completed by tomorrow.

*Tpt Deptt to amend rules to check ‘undue privilege’

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 2: State Government today directed all the Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners to ensure strict implementation of Supreme Court directions on use of red flasher lights on the vehicles. Moreover, the Transport Department as well as Traffic Wing of the State Police have been asked to amend the existing Rules/enforcement provisions of law to check ‘undue privilege’ to certain people.
In a communiqué, Secretary to Government, General Administration Department, M A Bukhari, while drawing the attention towards the directions of the Apex Court of India passed in a case titled Abhay Singh Versus State of UP and Others, has directed all the Administrative Secretaries, both the Divisional Commissioners, all the Heads of the Departments and Deputy Commissioners to strictly ensure that the directions of the Supreme Court on the use of red flasher lights on vehicles are implemented in letter and spirit.
In order to leave no scope for any sort of excuse in getting the Apex Court directions implemented in totality, the General Administration Department has also furnished the main highlights of the landmark judgment to these officers.
The Transport Department and the Traffic Wing of the Police Department, which have a key role to play in keeping check on the use of red flasher lights by the un-authorized persons, have also been directed to ensure that the timelines fixed by the Supreme Court for making necessary amendments in the existing Rules/enforcement of provisions of law are adhered to.
“This is imperative as by way of SROs issued by the Transport Department from time to time in the past the scope of the persons entitled to use red lights with or without flashers was extended in order to provide undue privilege to certain persons both within the administration or outside the administration”, sources said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Supreme Court has made it clear that State Governments cannot enlarge the scope of the term “high dignitaries” beyond what is prescribed in the notifications dated January 11, 2002 and July 28, 2005 issued by the Central Government.
Stating that the existing rules have to be amended by or before March 10, 2014, sources said, “as per the Supreme Court directions only Governor, Chief Minister, former Chief Ministers, Chief Justice, Judges of the High Courts, Chairman of Legislative Council, Speaker of Legislative Assembly and Cabinet Ministers etc are entitled for the use of red flasher light”.
According to the directions, the men in uniform and  operational agencies which require un-hindered access to the roads for performance of their duty, those engaged in emergency duties such as ambulance services, fire services, emergency maintenance etc and police vehicles used as escorts or pilots or for law and order duties are not entitled to have red lights but lights of other colours like blue, white, multi-coloured etc.
Moreover, the Transport Department and Traffic Wing of the State Police are also required to check that no motor vehicle except those specified in Rule 119(3) of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 use multi-toned horns giving a succession of different notes or with any other sound producing device giving an unduly harsh, shrill, loud or alarming noise.
Such horns can be used on the ambulance or for fire-fighting or salvage purposes or on construction equipment vehicles during the course of duties. However, the sound should be strictly as approved by the registering authority.
When contacted, Transport Commissioner, Sourab Bhagat said that Chief Secretary, Mohd Iqbal Khandey has already passed necessary directions vis-à-vis issuing fresh SRO notifying the persons entitled for use of red flasher lights. “No sitting or former legislator, Ministers of State, members and heads of various Commissions and any bureaucrat is entitled for use of red flasher light”, he said while disclosing that list of high dignitaries has been re-drafted in the light of Supreme Court directions.
In response to a question, the Transport Commissioner said, “we are also going to amend the relevant rules. Even we are going to issue the list of dignitaries who are entitled to use State or other flags on their vehicles”.