Govt sends Khoda’s recommendation as CVC to Governor
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, June 4: The State government has finally sent the recommendation for former Director General of Police (DGP), Kuldeep Khoda, as the first Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) of the State and two Vigilance Commissioners (VCs) to governor N N Vohra for his assent.
Highly placed official sources said here that the panel was sent to Raj Bhawan along with one page note of dissent written by the leader of the Opposition and president of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti.
And now the Governor has to take final call on the selection of Khoda after PDP put a question mark on his selection and a human rights body vowed to move to the apex court of the country against Khoda for his alleged role in Bhaderwah triple murder.
If the Governor follows his own precedent, he will have to return the panel of nomination forwarded by the State Government for the post of CVC and VCs as there was no consensus on the nominations. He had returned the nomination of Justices Y P Nargotra and Bashir Ahmad Kirmani as members of the State Accountability Commission in 2009 as PDP president and leader of Opposition Mehbooba Mufti was not present in the meeting that had recommended their names.
The sources said that Mehbooba has put a question mark on the credibility of the former DGP Khoda in her note of dissent. While putting a question mark on Khoda’s credibility, Mehbooba has also questioned the credibility of the Vigilance Commission.
The sources that after the meeting of the members of the selection committee for the CVC and VCs last month, a detailed note about the minutes of the meeting was prepared by the officials. It was sent to all the members who were present in the meeting, comprising Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Law, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti for their assent.
They said that Mehbooba has written a detailed note of dissent where she has opposed the recommendation of Khoda. In her dissent note she has written: “The appointment of CVC is extremely crucial in the fight against corruption, the exercise, therefore, should be more than mere filling up of vacancies as post retirement rehabilitation.”
The sources said that in her one page note, Mehbooba has raised the issues of Khoda’s alleged involvement in triple murder, cover up of National Conference leader Syed Yusuf’s death in alleged police custody, Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association scam and killing of 200 youth between 2008 to 2010 during his tenure as DGP.
They further said that Mehbooba’s dissenting note said that Khoda’s appointment as CVC will send wrong signal to bureaucracy that they can get away with their wrong doings and get rewarded for that.
Besides recommending Khoda as first CVC, the Government has recommended former Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, Mohammad Sayeed Khan and former Financial Commissioner Revenue, R K Jerath for the posts of Vigilance Commissioners (VCs). Mehbooba has raised questions on the appointment of Khoda only while in case of Khan and Jerath, she has remained silent.
It may be mentioned here that last month, Mehbooba walked out of the meeting held for the selection of panel for the CVC and CVs after Government’s insistence on the name of Khoda. Despite her opposition State Government went ahead with the panel and sent it to the Governor for the assent.
The Khoda’s appointment has become further controversial as a day after the meeting in which panel was recommended; the Jammu and Kashmir High Court dismissed a petition against him for his alleged involvement in triple murder case in Bharwah when he was DIG of Doda-Bhaderwah range.
The petition was seeking Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for Khoda’s alleged role in a triple murder case in Bhaderwah. The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) who were fighting the case for the victims’ families raised questions over the dismissal of the petition. They are moving to Supreme Court against Khoda for seeking justice from the apex court of the country.
It may be mentioned here that four civilians, Fazal Hussain, his son Fareed Hussain, Muhammad Hussain Lone and Talib Hussain, were allegedly kidnapped from their homes in Bhaderwah by one Mohammad Ashraf who was working with police as an SPO in 1996.
While three persons were killed allegedly by Ashraf and his gunmen, Talib Hussain had managed to escape from their clutches and reported the matter to police.
A case was filed with the police after investigations directed by the chief Judicial Magistrate’s court, Bhaderwah. The victims’ families, however, not satisfied with the investigation approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). It directed the police’s crime branch to investigate the case.

NEW DELHI, June 4:
Congress President Sonia Gandhi will decide the party’s nominee for the post of the President, it was announced after a day-long meeting of the party’s top brass who deliberated on the issues facing the Congress-led UPA Government and the party.
Meeting after nearly a year after it was set up, the 20 members of CWC unanimously passed a resolution authorizing Gandhi to name the party candidate for the Presidential election due by the middle of next month.
The resolution was moved by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, widely regarded as a potential candidate for the post. Opinion was divided whether the fact that he moved the resolution was indicative of his prospects one way or the other.
The state of the party in the aftermath of its poll debacle in Uttar Pradesh came up for discussion with Gandhi mincing no words in telling Congressmen that they wasted energy on factionalism and “petty issues”.
Both the Congress President and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who took on Team Anna on the issue of corruption, dubbed the allegations against him and some Central ministers as “canards and falsehood”.
Gandhi saw the attacks by the civil society on the PM and Congress as part of a “conspiracy” and told both the party and the Government to “fiercely fight” such allegations.
Mukherjee, who also spoke at the day-long deliberations, said the “situation may be difficult but we would be able to retrieve. We will retrieve the situation. We have done it in the past”.
The meeting earlier saw a larger number of party leaders, mainly the PCC chiefs and CLP leaders, flagging concerns over rising prices and corruption.
The Finance Minister also chose the occasion to dispel the impression that the economic situation in the country is back to the one that had prevailed during the 1991, which had forced the Government to mortgage the gold reserve to meet the balance of payment problem.
A highlight of the deliberations was the attack on UPA allies Sharad Pawar’s NCP and Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress as also the need for a strategy to fight regional parties.
Party spokesperson Manish Tewari attacked CAG alleging the way the audit body was conducting itself was “detrimental” to the interest of the Government and wondered whether it would be allowing CAG to “behave like a loose canon”.
Tewari as also Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna suggested the Government should give the impression that it was functioning.
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said it is time for a shake-up in the party on the lines of Kamraj Plan and the old leadership should step down to pave way for the takeover by young ones.
Kamraj Plan was effected by Jawaharlal Nehru under which senior ministers had resigned from the Government to make themselves available to work for the organisation.
Recalling the adage that charity should begin at home, Hooda told Gandhi that he was ready to take up any work assigned by her.
Kerala state chief of the party Ramesh Chennithala was critical of the petrol price hike.
“The common man does not understand statistics”, he said adding there is a need for urgent steps to bring down the prices. Chennithala also said the Government should bring back the Administered Price Mechanism to help the common man.
Central ministers also came under attack during the deliberations with several leaders complaining that while the Congress President and the Prime Minister were accessible, it was not the case with “some of our honorable ministers”.
The refrain was that these ministers do not give time to party workers when they visit the non-Congress ruled states and that they praise Chief Ministers of opposition parties.
Asked about the concerns raised in the meeting, Mukherjee merely said that members express their opinion freely in the highest decision making body of the party.
“Various members had various suggestions. Obviously young leaders will have to come. Older people cannot continue for all the time,” he said, adding that Congress has always provided youth leadership to the country and it was visible in the changes in the leadership of the party from 1960 to 2004.
On questions about party leaders raising the issue of coalition pressures, Mukherjee said that it was not a question of value judgement as decisions are taken at a particular point of time keeping in mind the prevailing situation then.
The Finance Minister said that the CWC meeting reviewed the entire political situation.
Asking partymen to shun factionalism, Gandhi said that the organisation would grow doubly if partymen use half the energy that they waste on factionalism and petty issues.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh also underlined the need for the leaders and workers of Congress party to “educate the public about the canards and falsehood spread by those who are opposed to us”.
A total of 115 leaders including those from the front wings of the party, Parliamentary wing and Central Election Committee were invited of which 98 participated. 42 of those participated expressed their views including two Chief Ministers. No AICC general secretary spoke on the occasion.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rejected the charges of Team Anna that the Government had “swindled unbelievable amounts” of money and hit out at yoga guru Ramdev for claiming that “astronomical” sums of black money can be brought back from other countries in one stroke.
Addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting here, he said “canards and falsehood” were being spread by “disparate” and “desparate” elements and asked the party cadres to effectively tackle the “misinformation”.
In an apparent reference to yoga guru Ramdev and Team Anna, Singh said, “Every day one hears of astronomical sums of black money that can be brought back in one stroke. It is alleged that in every area of its activity, our Government has swindled unbelievable amounts of money. Nothing can be farther from the truth.”
The assertive statement by the Prime Minister came a day after Ramdev and Anna Hazare held a day-long protest here, with the yoga guru attacking the government over black money.
The Team Anna has been alleging that thousands of crores had been misappropriated by various departments and ministers.
“The truth is that our Government is fully committed to tackle the menace of corruption in public life and bring about transparency and accountability in the work of Government authorities. And we have proved this by taking action on multiple fronts,” Singh said.
“The legislative and administrative action we have taken in this area speaks for itself,” he added.
The Prime Minister said, “the misinformation being spread by disparate, desperate elements, unified only by their opposition to our Government, needs to be tackled effectively.”
Singh underlined the need for the leaders and workers of Congress party to “educate the public about the canards and falsehood spread by those who are opposed to us”.
He maintained that the Congress is a party whose policies, programmes and promises are focussed on the “well-being” of the common man.
“It is only the Congress party that can take the country forward on a path of progress in which each and every citizen shares the fruits of development. It is only the Congress party which can carry with it all sections of our society,” the Prime Minister said.
“We have an onerous responsibility on our shoulders and we must not fail this responsibility,” he said, adding “I have no doubt that we will emerge stronger from these testing times.”
Singh said the UPA Government had made every effort to fulfill the promises made to the ‘aam aadmi’ (common man) by delivering high growth rate, implementing programmes for social and economic inclusion on “a scale never seen before” and taking “unprecedented” steps to empower the citizens.
Listing out various achievements of the Government, he said poverty is declining faster than it did before UPA took charge, real wages are increasing, agricultural growth has accelerated and economic security has been ensured.
He also cited developments in other fields like internal security, defence, telecom, education, social and health sectors.
At the same time, he acknowledged that naxal-affected districts “remain a problem area”. (PTI)

Omar directs bureaucrats for exhaustive presentation
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4: For the first time, the State Government would be sending a strong delegation of over 25 bureaucrats to the Planning Commission of India for a high level meeting on sector wise presentation before the Commission on June 12 to secure the highest ever annual plan of Rs 7300 crore for current financial year of 2012-13.
‘‘All Administrative Secretaries along with Heads of Departments of Finance and Planning Departments would be visiting New Delhi for a detailed meeting with senior Planning Commission member B K Chaturvedi on June 12’’, official sources said.
The delegation would comprise more than 25 bureaucrats, who would be headed by Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal.
Principal Secretary, Planning BB Vyas, who also happened to be Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Principal Secretary, Finance, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary, Power, Sudhanshu Pandey besides Administrative Secretaries of Health, Works, Public Health Engineering, Education, Tourism, Housing and Urban Development, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Agriculture, Social Welfare etc would be part of the delegation.
In addition to Administrative Secretaries of all Departments, some Heads of Departments in Planning and Finance Departments would also be part of the delegation.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who holds charge of the Planning Department, has asked Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, Administrative Secretaries and HoDs of Planning and Finance to make exhaustive presentation before PCI member B K Chaturvedi during day long meeting on June 12 seeking highest ever annual plan of Rs 7300 crore from the Planning Commission.
Sources said the Administrative Secretaries and HoDs of Planning and Finance would make detailed presentation before the Finance Commission on needs and requirements of their Departments and the projects and schemes to be undertaken in hands during current financial year of 2012-13.
‘‘The presentation would matter a lot though the State Government was confident of 10 per cent step-up in annual plan for the current fiscal year as compared to last financial year of 2011-12 when the State had been allocated Rs 6600 crore worth plan’’, sources said.
June 12 meeting would be followed by ‘‘resources meeting’’ between Planning and Finance Department bureaucrats of the State and Planning Commission Members at a later date in which the State officials would explain resources on funding of the plan.
After the ‘‘resources meeting’’, a final meeting would be held between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather in which annual plan of the State would be finalized, sources said, adding the final meeting was expected by the end of this month.
The State has already urged the Planning Commission to expedite its plan finalisation as it has ‘‘limited working season’’ in most of the hilly areas, which become remain snow bound for four to five months. The Planning Commission has already finalized annual plan of many States including neighbouring Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
The plan finalisation would be followed by District Development Board (DDB) meetings in which new works to be undertaken in the districts would be identified by representatives of the people and execution started by the District Development Commissioners.
The Planning Department held by the Chief Minister himself has already issued an order authorizing 25 per cent plan allocation to all Departments pending finalisation of annual plan to meet their emergency requirements and ensure that ongoing development works didn’t suffer.
One-fourth of total plan authorization for the financial year of 2012-13 has been made in favour of all Government Departments—whether they were connected with the incurring of capital expenditure or not. The Planning Department has issued authorization certificates to all Departments.
They added that this has been done to ensure functioning of all Departments including those connected with development notwithstanding delay in finalisation of annual plan of the State by the Planning Commission of India.
As reported, the Government had already authorized the District Development Commissioners to go ahead with development works, which were already under execution without waiting for the plan finalisation. However, the Government had asked the DDCs not to undertake any new development works till finalisation of the plan and holding of DDB meetings.
It may be mentioned here that the State had projected Rs 7300 crore worth annual plan and Rs 700 crore Prime Minister’s Re-construction Plan (PMRP) for 2012-13. The projected plan was 10 per cent over and above the previous year’s plan of Rs 6600 crore.
However, the PMRP amount, which was Rs 1200 crore during last financial year, has been pegged at Rs 700 crore this year as some of the schemes undertaken under the PMRP have been completed.
Sources said the Planning Commission in its first meeting with the State bureaucrats had sought the details of targets of Own Tax Revenue in the State, reforms in different sectors and expenditure of current financial year’s plan. The Planning Commission had expressed satisfaction over all three issues.
The delegation had apprised the Planning Commission that the State’s power revenue was also increasing but a big gap remained between power bill and revenue as it can’t initiate all reforms in one go.
‘‘It was in view of this that the State Government had batted for annual power reforms grant to the tune of Rs 2000 crore for few years till the State managed to bring reforms and improve its revenue’’, sources said, adding that the Planning Department assured to give a thought to the State’s demand.
Worthwhile to mention here that J&K Government was given Rs 1300 crore worth annual power reforms grant for three years in 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09. The grant was later stopped as the Government didn’t take significant power reforms then.

Files pertaining to scam tampered with
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4: In a major breach of official discipline, attached Managing Director of JAKFED, Ravinder Gupta today entered into the office, gathered some sensitive files pertaining to irregularities committed by him in cement and transportation scam and then escaped with his liquor baron friend in media and Editor States Times, Raj Daluja alias Raji in latter’s vehicle from JAKFED office at Ambphalla this afternoon.
High drama unfolded in JAKFED office this afternoon when Ravinder Gupta, who happened to be husband of IAS officer and Excise Commissioner, Vineeta Gupta, reached JAKFED office at Ambphalla after failing to get any relief from the High Court, and started collecting files pertaining to the irregularities committed by him for which he had been attached by the Government and an inquiry ordered against him on May 30.
Gupta had sought stay on the Government order on his attachment from the High Court. Justice JP Singh, before whom the case was listed today, issued notices to the Government and sought response till next week. However, the Government order on attachment of Gupta was not stayed.
Alert staff of JAKFED immediately raised an alarm and sounded the Enquiry Committee members as soon as Gupta entered the office after failure to get relief from the court for his acts of omissions and commissions and started tampering with files pertaining to the scam.
Minister for Cooperatives Dr Manohar Lal Sharma said one of the Enquiry Committee members, Udham Dass, Deputy Registrar Cooperative Societies, Jammu, immediately rushed to the JAKFED office. He approached Rehari police post with a written complaint seeking protection for seizure of the files from the MD’s office before he could run away from the spot.
Sources said the JAKFED staff, which was deadly against Ravinder Gupta for the irregularities committed by him, gheroed Gupta in the office.
Mr Sharma said Udham Dass along with police reached the JAKFED office.
Finding himself trapped by the Enquiry Committee member, police and JAKFED staff, Gupta utilized the services of liquor baron, Raj Daluja alias Raji, who reached the spot in his car.
“Both Gupta and Daluja fled away in the car reportedly with some of the files pertaining to the scam’’, Mr Sharma added.
Most of the JAKFED officials and police personnel present at the spot confirmed that the MD fled from the office along with Daluja, who had reached the office to help his friend, who happened to be husband of Excise Commissioner, Vineeta Gupta. It may be mentioned that Raji had been resorting to various illegal practices in the Excise business with the blessings of some bureaucrats.
Sources said despite being attached, Gupta had used official vehicle bearing No. 6263.
Later, Enquiry Committee member Udham Dass seized some files from the office of JAKFED MD for investigations.
Mr Sharma said the Enquiry Committee would also probe Gupta’s illegal act of tampering with the files.
It may be mentioned here that the Government had constituted a three members Enquiry Committee to probe irregularities by Ravinder Gupta and ordered his attachment to the office of Registrar Cooperative Societies, Srinagar.
The Inquiry Committee comprised Rayaz Ahmad Mir, Joint Registrar, Banking and Finance, Udham Dass, Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Jammu and Accounts Officer, Registrar Office, Srinagar.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 4: Union Special Secretary, Internal Security, Ajay Chadha chaired a high level meeting of senior police, para-military, Army, intelligence and civil officers at Police Headquarters here this afternoon and took stock of the arrangements made for ensuing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.
Mr. Chadha was here on his 2-day visit to the State.
Addressing the meeting, Mr. Chadha stressed for greater synergy among all security agencies to ensure smooth and peaceful yatra. He asked the officers present in the meeting to mobilize their field agencies for maintaining close coordination and intelligence gathering so that appropriate steps are taken well in advance to ensure safety of the pilgrims.
He said that safety of the yatris should be prime concern of the authorities and proper registration should be strictly adhered. No yatri should be permitted to proceed without registration. Taking the benefit of previous experiences, there should be more improvement this year in the arrangements for the convenience of pilgrims, he added.
Director General of Police (DGP), K. Rajendra Kumar apprised the meeting about the police deployment and other related efforts made for smooth conduct of the yatra. Detailed power point presentations were given by IGP Kashmir S M Sahai and other security agencies about the arrangement put in place by them.
DGP informed the meeting that a communication network from Lakhanpur to holy cave would be established well in advance to facilitate communication and information sharing among various agencies involved with the yatra. He said that joint control rooms would be setup at all important places on both routes of the holy cave and frequent joint meetings of different security agencies would be arranged frequently to discuss various issues regarding smooth conduct of yatra.
The meeting, besides the security arrangements also discussed deployment of manpower, control mechanism, availability of telecommunication equipment and facilities at helipads, medical camps and availability of essentials, traffic management, disaster management and services of SDRF volunteers.
Expressing his satisfaction over the arrangements put in place by JKP and other agencies, Mr. Chadha said that in view of the changing scenario, new initiatives should be adopted to bring more improvement in the arrangements. Additional requirements should be worked out and necessary arrangements made well in advance. He assured the meeting that all assistance would be extended to meet the requirements and make the yatra successful.
Among others, the high level meeting was attended by Principal Secretary (Home), B. R. Sharma, Special DG CRPF Anirudh Uppal, GOC Victor Force, Maj. Gen. R. R. Nimbhorkar, Joint Secretary (K), K. Skandan, ADGPs, Dr. Ram Lubhaya, Dr. S. P. Vaid and D. R. Doley, Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir), Asgar Samoon IGPs, S. M. Sahai, Owais Ahmed, S. S. Tomar, B. N. Ramesh, Sudhir Paratab Singh, P. K. Patiel, B. Srinivas, A. K. Chowdhary, Rauf-ul-Hassan, M. Sulaiman Salaria, K. K. Saini, Muneer Ahmed Khan and A. Q. Manhas, Deputy Director IB, Mahesh Dixit, DIGs A. S. Bali, Vijay Kumar, Shakeel Ahmed Beig, Ahfadaul Mujtaba and Rajinder Gupta, AIGPs Ghulam Hassan Bhat, A. A. Kakroo and Shabir Ahmed and other police officers.

‘BJP, Cong not bothered about Jammu’s grievances’
Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, June 4: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti today questioned the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government’s stoic silence on the glaring incidents of corruption and bad governance in Jammu and Kashmir and said that alienation among the people would increase if the misdeeds of the National Conference-led Government were further ignored.
In an exclusive interview to EXCELSIOR, Ms Mufti said, “be it National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam in Uttar Pradesh or any other corruption related scandal in any part of the country, the UPA Government is very prompt to get enquiries conducted but when it comes to corrupt practices and bad governance of National Conference-led Government in Jammu and Kashmir it becomes a mute spectator”.
“Prime Minister is totally silent…why it is so”? she asked, adding “it seems that nobody in the Central Government is bothered about looking into the glaring incidents of corruption in this State”. “Why UPA Government is so much insensitive towards rising corruption in Jammu and Kashmir only because the party which is heading the Central Government is in alliance with the National Conference here”? she further asked.
“Being in alliance with the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress-led UPA Government has the added responsibility to check corrupt practices in the State. But it is unfortunate that Centre is doing nothing to check corruption and malpractices here”, Ms Mufti regretted, adding “even the misuse of the funds under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes is getting un-noticed and all this is leading to alienation among the people, who have started cursing not only the State but also the Central Government”.
“The allegations of cash for MLC seats or ministerial berths and Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association scam involving the president of the ruling National Conference were the fit cases for the Central Government’s intervention but unfortunately the same were not given due attention only because Dr Farooq Abdullah is the Minister in UPA-led Government”, she said, adding “in the JKCA scam some persons were made scapegoats but Farooq Abdullah who gave authority to open accounts has been allowed to go scot free”.
“What to talk of other issues, even the deaths of hundreds of children in the G B Pant Hospital have not been taken seriously and Union Government doesn’t find it necessary to enquire into these unfortunate incidents”, she further regretted.
Pointing towards the statement of Union Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad regarding State Government’s failure to establish Nursing Colleges, the PDP president said, “the NC-led Government seems to be looking for their favorite contractors so that they can mint money out of these projects also”.
Accusing the Omar Abdullah-led Government of surpassing all the records of bad governance, Ms Mufti said, “having tasted the good governance during Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s short tenure, the people were of the view that young Chief Minister would start a new era of development but I am sorry to say that the present regime has failed to provide even basic amenities like power, water and sanitation to people”, adding “at a time when people in other States of the country are demanding metros, the people in Jammu and Kashmir are still crying for better electricity and water supply”.
“What to talk of villages and towns, even the capital cities, which are the face of State for lakhs of pilgrims and tourists, are in miserable condition”, she said.
Terming National Conference and corruption as two sides of the same coin, the PDP president asked, “how can a person, who gets a car worth one crore rupees soon after becoming Chief Minister, prevent his ministers from indulging in corrupt practices”, adding “the seriousness of Chief Minister to check corruption and malpractices can be gauged from the fact that instead of strengthening the State Accountability Commission, which was set-up by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, he rendered it defunct by allowing his ministers and advisors to challenge the SAC’s jurisdiction in the High Court”.
“Same approach is being adopted toward the Vigilance Commission by recommending the name of that person who played key role in covering up misdeeds of the Omar-led Government”, she said, adding “instead of expanding the ambit of selection, Omar Government has given an impression that post of Chief Vigilance Commissioner is only meant for Kuldeep Khoda. In this way he has demoralized the men of integrity”.
In response to a question whether she would prefer consensus after convening another meeting on the issue, Ms Mufti, who has already put dissenting note on the recommendation of the Government for CVC’s post, said “now the ball is in the court of Governor”.
About the democratic institutions like Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies, Mehbooba said, “notwithstanding the tall claims of the present regime, Panchs and Sarpanchs are disillusioned because even after the lapse of nearly one year they have not been empowered”, adding “the Government has only created huge army of public representatives but is not serious to utilize their services for the development of the State and redressing the grievances of the people”.
“Given the approach towards other two tiers of the Panchayati Raj system, I don’t think that this Government has any plan to set up Block Development Councils and District Development and Planning Boards”, she said, adding “the entire focus of the Government is now on using Panchs and Sarpanchs to get some persons elected as MLCs”.
“Opposition, which is vital part of the democratic system, was never allowed to grow in the State by the successive NC-led regimes. This was done just to cover up misdeeds of ruling party. They (NC leadership) is happy with out of mainstream opposition but not with mainstream opposition. But PDP with the active support of people and visionary approach of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has emerged as an effective mainstream opposition”, she said.
Claiming that people of the State were fed-up with mis-governance of the Omar-led Government, Mehbooba said, “everybody knows that within a short span, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed brought radical changes on governance, accountability and developmental fronts”, adding “during 2002 elections, we campaigned for restoration of peace and delivered up to the expectations of the people on this front. We also campaigned for bringing the State back on the track of development and accordingly translated the same into reality within short span of three years”.
“Now, we have unemployment, corruption and price rise issues and if people support we will create such a system where there will be no space for corruption and justice will rule the roost”, she said while claiming that people in every nook and corner of the State including Jammu region have started looking at PDP as an alternative to present corrupt and ineffective regime.
She said, “while NC leadership is busy in spending on lavish life styles, the BJP and Congress too are not associating themselves with the grievances of people even in Jammu region”, adding “people are aware that when the elections approach NC will start raising the autonomy or other misleading slogans, BJP will start playing Jammu card and Congress will raise the issue of providing Chief Minister from Jammu region”.
“People are wise enough and will certainly teach a lesson to those who always try to fool them for the lust of power”, she said.

NEW DELHI, June 4:
Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar today took oath as member of the Rajya Sabha making it clear that his focus would be cricket and hinting at concentrating on Parliament work after he stops playing the game.
However, he hastened to add that he does not want rumours to swirl that he has stopped playing cricket for Parliament.
“…I am here because of my cricketing career. I cannot take any focus away from my cricket. That is where it all started for me. I will focus on my cricket and as and when I stop playing cricket, I don’t know, when I will start attending to other things.
“I don’t want rumours to start that I have stopped playing cricket. I will let everyone know when I will stop playing cricket,” he said when asked how he would assuage people who raise questions whether he would be able to do justice to the job in Parliament when he is still playing cricket.
Earlier, 39-year-old Tendulkar took oath as member of the Rajya Sabha in the presence of Chairman Hamid Ansari and Union Ministers Rajiv Shukla, Harish Rawat and V Narayanasamy.
Tendulkar, along with film actor Rekha and industrialist Anu Aga was nominated as members of the Rajya Sabha by President Pratibha Patil on April 26.
“Cricket comes first,” Tendulkar told reporters as he and wife Anjali were chaperoned by Shukla to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari’s chamber.
There was much excitement in the corridors of Parliament as a large number of officials gathered outside Ansari’s chamber where Tendulkar took oath.
A number of Parliament staffers took out their mobile phones to capture a glimpse of the cricketer.
After taking oath, Tendulkar said it was a great honour for him to be nominated as a Rajya Sabha member by the President.
Tendulkar said the Rajya Sabha nomination has put him in better position to help not only cricket but also other sports in the country.
On apprehensions that he would not be able to devote much time to Parliament, Tendulkar made it clear that he was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha and had not sought to be a member.
“See, I am a nominee. So, I didn’t go to anyone to say that I want to become a Rajya Sabha member. It is an honour which I accept with full respect but I am here because of my cricketing career,” he said.
Asked whether Tendulkar’s oath was special, Ansari said, “All oaths are the same. All members are same.”
Tendulkar said cricket had given him many things in life during the 22 years he has played the game and he had always dreamt of giving something back to cricket in the latter half of his life.
“Whatever I am today is because of cricket and I strongly believe that. Today, with the nomination as Rajya Sabha member, I think I am in a better position not only to help cricket but also other sports in the country which is really important and means a lot to me. And I will try my best to help other sports,” he said.
“But I believe there might be few obstacles along the way and a few challenges along the way. And I need help from my fellow parliamentarians, the administrators, media and our countrymen. I think, together we can make a lot of changes,” Tendulkar said.
The cricketer said he would like to be remembered as someone who contributed to all sports in the country and not just by his cricket statistics.
“I would finally like to say that I will be happy if I am remembered as someone who contributed to all sports in India rather than just my cricket statistics. That would be fantastic,” Tendulkar said. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 4: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said those demanding early start of Amarnath Yatra should accept the State Government’s offer of flying over the yatra route for first hand experience of the extent of snow.
“I wish the organisers of what is happening in Jammu would take up our offer and fly over the (Amarnath) route in the State chopper to see extent of snow,” he wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.
The Chief Minister said the protesters, however, would not accept the offer as they can’t face the truth.
“But of course they won’t because the truth is inconvenient, as is acceptance of the fact that yatra dates were set by Sri Sri Ravishanker ji,” he tweeted.
Responding to a tweet about State Government stopping the pilgrims from embarking on the religious journey, Omar said weather is favourable so as to start the pilgrimage right now.
“Actually, right now God is stopping you because there is so much snow on the route that it is not possible to move on the route,” he wrote.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4: The State High Court will hear 35 cases challenging the proceedings initiated by State Accountability Commission in the complaints against politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen, on June 6, 2012.
As per the directions of Justice J P Singh passed in the petition filed by Minister for Cooperatives, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, all the SAC matters were listed for hearing in the court of Justice Hasnain Masoodi.
A battery of lawyers representing the politicians/ bureaucrats sought time to assist the Court in all these 35 matters, which are pending for last more than 5 to 7 years rendering the SAC dysfunctional.
With the assistance of the lawyers, Justice Hasnain Masoodi segregated the matters and it was unanimously resolved that since in most of the petitions the power of SAC to initiate suo-moto action has been challenged, it would be appropriate if these petitions are first taken-up for hearing. Accordingly, the matters were posted for June 6, 2012.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the petitions filed by Pt Mangat Ram Sharma, former Deputy Chief Minister, Suman Lata Bhagat, former Health Minister, Peerzada Mohd Syed, former Education Minister, Manohar Lal Sharma, Minister for Cooperatives, Vikas Behal, PRO to former Health Minister Suman Lata Bhagat, Satvir Gupta, former DIG, Atal Dulloo, Commissioner Secretary, Abdul Majid Wani, former Minister and MLA Doda, Sheikh Rafiq Ahmed, former Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Dr Mohd Deen, retired Commissioner Secretary Animal Husbandry Department, Dr Satvir Gupta, former Director Sheep Husbandry Department, Ashok Parmar, then Vice Chairman JDA, Dharmveer Koul, Executive Engineer PWD, Jamrodh Singh, Inspector JKP and Farhat Qureshi, then Secretary J&K Housing Board are pending in the High Court for last more than five years.

NEW DELHI/KANPUR, June 4:
In a major crackdown, CBI today arrested Kanpur’s top income tax officer for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs.30 lakh from a realtor in a tax evasion case.
Besides taking into its custody Kunal Singh, Director Investigations and Commissioner Kanpur range, the agency also arrested three senior Income Tax Department officials besides Managing Director of realty firm Eldeco in connection with the graft case.
Those arrested were Additional Director Investigations Ratan Singh, Assistant Director Uma Kant, Inspector Harish Daundiyal, MD of Eldeco Pankaj Bajaj and Chartered Accountant Anil Jaiswal in connection with the case, CBI sources said.
The agency claimed to have recovered Rs 30 lakh from Kunal Singh’s south Delhi’s Hauz Khas residence, which was allegedly given as bribe by Bajaj to settle a tax evasion case against his firm Eldeco, they said.
Following the recovery, the teams carried out searches at residential premises of Bajaj in Greater Kailash, Ratan Singh and Uma Kant in Ghaziabad, Jaiswal in Kanpur and Daundiyal in Vinod Nagar which led to recovery of huge amount of cash, valuables and incriminating documents, they said.
Searches were also carried out in the Income Tax offices of Kanpur and Noida where the officials were posted.
They were produced before Patiala House Court today which granted them seven days of police remand. The arrests come a day after CBI launched a coordinated search operation in Delhi, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Lucknow and Noida after getting a tip-off that the officials had allegedly entered into a deal with Eldeco to help it in a tax evasion case, they said.
Sources said the matter pertains to survey carried out by IT officials on March 28 this year in connection with complaints of alleged tax evasion by Eldeco.
They said before listing the recoveries from Bajaj’s lockers, the officials allowed him and his family to allegedly take away major portion of cash and gold stored in them in lieu of illegal gratification. (PTI)