NEW DELHI, May 31:

BJP veteran L K Advani today made a thinly-veiled attack on the party President Nitin Gadkari and called for “introspection” within the party over this current State.
Lending credence to the specualtion that he may have been unhappy with Gadkari, who was recently given a second term in office, that the results of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the manner in which BSP Ministers, removed by the then Chief Minister Mayawati on charges of corruption were welcome to the party, and the handling of the Jharkhand and Karnataka had “undermined” its campaign against corruption.
Advani did not mention Gadkari during whose tenure all these developments have taken place. But he pointedly chose to praise Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley for the party’s “excellent” performance in the two houses of Parliament.
Writing in his blog, the first on organisational affairs after the party’s national executive in Mumbai last week where differences among leaders was in focus, he said the BJP had not risen to the occasion at a time when there was anger against the UPA Government over various scams.
“I had said at the Core Group meeting that if people are today angry with the UPA Government, they are also disappointed with us. The situation, I said, calls for introspection.
“…When these days media-persons attack the UPA Government for its string of scams, at the same time they regret that the BJP led NDA is not rising to the occasion. I, as a former pressman myself, feel they are reflecting public opinion correctly,” Advani said.
Observing that the mood within the party “these days is not upbeat”, he said, “The results in Uttar Pradesh (assembly polls), the manner in which the party welcomed BSP Ministers who were removed by Mayawati ji on charges of corruption, the party’s handling of Jharkhand and Karnataka – all these events have undermined the party’s campaign against corruption.”
The criticism with regard to welcoming of BSP Minister Babu Singh Kushwaha, an accused in NRHM scam, appeared to be a reference to Gadkari who was instrumental in the induction before the controversy forced Kushwaha to distance himself from the party.
He noted that the BJP has a sizable contingent of MPs in Parliament as against the niggardly two seats in 1984, that the party’s performance in the two Houses of Parliament under Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley has been “excellent” and the party is in power in as many as nine states today.
But, he quickened to add that this “is no compensation for the lapses committed”. (PTI)

Avtar Bhat

JAMMU, May 31: The nationwide bandh called by NDA and other political parties to protest against the hike in petrol prices evoked a total response in Jammu region throwing the normal life out of gear as all markets wore a deserted look and public transport remained off the roads today.
The attendance in the offices was thin while the educational institutions remained closed, as there was a spontaneous public response to the bandh call.
In Jammu, shops and business establishments in and around the city remained closed amid protests from BJP, CPI (M), Shiv Senas, Jammu Kashmir Democratic Front (JKDF), Socialist Democratic Party (SDP) and other organizations. But the bandh remained totally peaceful as no untoward incident was reported from anywhere.
The BJP, led by Rajya Sabha MP, J P Nadda, and Avinash Rai Khanna took out a protest march in the city against the hike in fuel prices raising slogans against the Congress-led UPA Government. They demanded immediate roll back of hike in petrol prices.
The BJP and BJYM activists also held demonstrations at Purani Mandi, Maheshpora Chowk, Talab Tillo, Tali More, Kachi Chawni and Muthi. The protestors also torched the effigies of UPA Government at various places.
Talking to reporters later, Mr Nadda said history is witness that whenever there was a non Congress Government at Centre the prices were in control and whenever the Congress came to power the prices touched sky.
Nadda alleged that the Congress-led UPA was working in an anti-democratic fashion and had no respect for the institutions of this country.
“It is very sad that the Parliament is being insulted. The budget session of 2012 is sine-die on May 22 and on the evening of May 23, this anti democratic Government led by UPA raised the prices of petrol, knowing that people are already reeling under the serious inflation,” Nadda pointed.
Earlier, BJP State president Shamsher Singh Manhas carried out a protest rally in the city riding on a horse-cart.
Manhas said if the fuel prices continued to increase like this, the day is not far when people will have to depend upon cycles and other traditional modes of transport.
A protest rally was also taken out by CPI (M) from Press Club here to Indira Chowk against unprecedented hike in petrol prices, which they said will have cascading effect on other consumer items. The rally was led by Sham Kesar, regional secretary CPI (M). The Party alleged that UPA has raised the prices of petroleum products at record 18 times since 2009.
The protestors also expressed concern over the yesterday’s Chenani incident and demanded protection of workers rights.
The activists of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Front (JKDF) led by its president Anil Gupta (Annu) held a sit in dharna at Dogra Chowk here and observed a fast in protest against the price hike. The protestors raising slogans against the UPA Government whose wrong policies were responsible for unprecedented price hike in the country, said that price hike has broken the back of common man and his survival has now become totally difficult.
Shiv Sena Bala Sahib Thakaray and Dogra Front activists led by Ashok Gupta, president Shiv Sena took out a scooter rally in the city and burnt a scooter to register their protest against the hike in prices of petrol. Addressing the protestors at City Chowk Ashok Gupta demanded that the State Government on the pattern of Goa and Delhi Governments should abolish the VAT on petrol.
The activists of Socialist Democratic Party (SDP) led by its general secretary Ajay Kumar Sharma held a demonstration at Canal road in protest against the price hike. The another demonstration was held at Baribrahmana by the activists of the organization. They also torched the effigies of the UPA Government.
Rashtrawadi Shiv Sena held a demonstration at Raghuanth Ji Mandir Chowk. Led by Kuldeep Luthra and Vipin Hindu raised slogans against UPA Government and accused it of its failure in containing the prices of petrol.
Hindustan Shiv Sena (HSS) staged a demonstration at Karan Market, here. The demonstration was led by Dimpy Kohli president of the organization and its general secretary, G I Singh. The protestors raising slogans against the price hike demanded abolishing of VAT on petrol.
The activists of Jammu West Assembly Movement also held demonstrations at different places and took out a protest rally against the price hike. Addressing the rally president of the Movement Sunil Dimple said the UPA has been exposed for its anti people and anti poor policies.
The bandh also had its effect of the other districts of the region with BJP protestors burning the effigy of UPA Government in Kathua, however, the traffic movement on the National Highway remained unaffected.
Total bandh was observed at Udhampur where the BJP activists led by district president Dina Nath Bhagat, party vice president, Pawan Gupta and other leaders took out a motor cycle rally in the town in protest against the price hike.
The bandh evoked a total response in Kishtwar, Hiranagar, Kathua, Samba and Reasi towns and BJP activists staged protest demonstrations against the price hike while the partial bandh was observed in Rajouri town. At Reasi BJP activists also torched effigies of UPA Government
Reports coming from Srinagar said that CPI (M) workers held a protest rally at Srinagar in support of Bharat bandh against the hike in petrol prices. The protestors who assembled at Partab Park were not allowed by Police to move towards Divisional Commissioner’s Office, which forced them to stage demonstration at Partab Park. Addressing the demonstrators CPI (M) State secretary, M Y Tarigami criticized the UPA Government and said that its wrong policies have already worsened the economic condition of the people. He termed the petrol price hike yet another blow on the livelihood of common man who was already reeling under high inflation and price hike.
Total bandh was observed in Leh while it was partial in Kargil district.

Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 31: The State Government is showing cold shoulder for the appointment of the first Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) of the State after controversy over the recommendation of the Director General of Police (DGP), Kuldeep Khoda, who retired from his services today.
Commissioner Secretary General Administration (GAD) Department, Sheikh Mushtaq, told Excelsior that they have not sent any recommendation for the CVC and Vigilance Commissioners to Governor N N Vohra for his assent. “We are working on it and the process is on but we have not send it for the Governor’s assent so far”, he said.
The Government on Monday recommended former DGP, Kuldeep Khoda, as CVC and former Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, Mohammad Sayeed Khan and former Financial Commissioner Revenue, R K Jerath for the posts of Vigilance Commissioners (VCs).
Leader of the opposition and president of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti had however, walked out of the meeting after what she said Government’s insistence on the name of Khoda as the CVC of the State. She alleged that it seemed to be a reward for “his cover up of the JKCA scam, human rights violations of 2008 and 2010 and the triple murder case of 1998.”
While opposing Khoda’s recommendation, Mehbooba told the meeting that Khoda was allegedly involved in triple murder of three persons from Bhaderwah district of Jammu province and it was established by the Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir police.
The meeting that was held on Monday evening was chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and attended by Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand and Law, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti.
Mehbooba later wrote a dissenting note on the file for the recommendation of Khoda saying: “Being of the view that appointment of Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) is extremely crucial in the fight against corruption, the exercise has, therefore, should be more than mere filling up of vacancies as post retirement rehabilitation.”
In her dissenting note, Mehbooba 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 and Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association scam and killing of 200 youth between 2008 to 2010 during his tenure as DGP. Her 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.
Another hitch that has resulted in the delay in sending the recommendations to Mr Vohra is the timing the dismissal of a petition against Khoda for his alleged involvement in triple murder case in Bharwah when he was DIG of Doda-Bhaderwah range.
State High Court dismissed the petition seeking Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for Khoda’s alleged role in a triple murder case in Bhaderwah a day after his name was recommended by the Government for first CVC of the State.
But the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), who are fighting the case for the victims families said that they will move to Supreme Court against Khoda for seeking justice from the apex court of the country. They are demanding CBI inquiry into triple murder.
Sources said the Government is adopting wait and watch policy over Khoda’s recommendation that has become controversial now.
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, May 31:
Gen Bikram Singh, a veteran infantry officer, today took over as the 25th Chief of the Indian Army succeeding Gen V K Singh whose 26-month tenure was mired by controversies.
59-year-old Gen Bikram Singh will have a tenure of two years and three months in the top post.
Prior to his appointment as Army Chief, Gen Bikram was commanding the Kolkata-based Eastern Army Command.
He has held several important appointments in counter insurgency areas as the Corps Commander of Srinagar-based 15 Corps and Akhnoor-based 10 Division as Major General.
The officer, better known as ‘Bikki’ to his friends, was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry regiment on March 31, 1972 after attending the prestigious Indian Military Academy (IMA).
At the IMA, he held the appointment of battalion cadet adjutant and was awarded the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles gold medal for ‘tactics and leadership’ and the Shriganesh Trophy.
He was awarded the ‘Commando Dagger’ and the ‘Best in Tactics’ trophy during his young officers’ course at Infantry School.
He also served as an instructor at the Commando Wing of the Infantry School in Belgaum.
The officer was the face of the Army during the Kargil war when he was serving in the Military Operations Directorate here and used to brief the media about the progress in operations to drive out enemy troops from Indian territory.
As a brigadier, Singh attended the US Army War College in Pennsylvania and has served in two assignments with the United Nations in Central America and as the deputy force commander and GOC of Eastern Division in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gen Bikram Singh is married to Surjeet Kaur and the couple have two children. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 31: Additional DGP Law and Order and Armed Police, K Rajendera Kumar today took over as interim DGP of the State from Kuldeep Khoda, who relinquished office on his retirement after serving nearly five years as the State police chief.
Mr Rajendera, the senior most IPS officer of 1984 batch in Jammu and Kashmir cadre, took the charge late this evening from Mr Khoda.
The State Cabinet had yesterday appointed Mr Rajendera as interim DGP pending formal appointment of Ashok Prasad, a 1979 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre and presently Additional Director of Intelligence Bureau in Jammu and Kashmir as the DGP in place of Khoda.
Mr Rajendera had served as IGP Kashmir twice, IGP Jammu, IGP CID, IGP Headquarters, DIG Doda-Udhampur, Srinagar-Budgam and Rajouri-Poonch range, SSP Doda, SSP Srinagar and SP South Srinagar. All his postings were in the sensitive areas when the militancy was at its peak.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 31: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who took his Ministers to a remote town near Line of Control (LoC) yesterday, has said the next month’s cabinet meeting will be held at another LoC town of Gurez in Bandipora district.
“Next month a similar cabinet meeting will be held in Gurez,” Omar said on the micro-blogging site Twitter.
The next stop for the cabinet—the Gurez region—has been a hot spot of militancy over the last two decades as the area has witnessed fierce gun battles between soldiers and infiltrating ultras. The beautiful Valley was pounded by Pakistani Army frequently before ceasefire came into effect in November 2003.
The Chief Minister also announced that the cabinet meeting, held on the last Wednesdays of every month, will be held outside the two capital cities of the state.
“Last Wednesday of every month the cabinet will meet outside Srinagar (and) Jammu,” he said.
Following the footsteps of his grandfather Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Omar yesterday chaired a Cabinet meeting at Tangdhar near the Line of Control in frontier Kupwara district as part of the efforts to reach out to the remotest corners of the State.
“Had a very productive visit to Karnah (Tangdhar). Time will tell if we are able to deliver the results of such cabinet meetings to the areas we visit,” he said about his new endeavour.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 31: The Government today ordered transfer and posting of IGP Human Rights Abdul Qayoom Manhas as IGP Railways in place of Z A Chisti, who retired today from the services.
Mr Manhas had recently been elevated as IGP and posted as IGP Human Rights.
Mr Chisti, IGP Railways, retired from the services today. Mr Manhas will take over the charge of IGP Railways from Mr Chisti.
Mr Manhas had been posted as DIG Armed Police before his elevation and posting as IGP few days back.

Top ultra held at Rly Stn
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 31: A Mitsubishi Outlander car bearing Maharashtra’s registration No. MH02AY 7867 might be linked to September 7, 2011 blast outside Delhi High Court, which had been planned and executed by a Kishtwar based module of different militant outfits.
The car, which was seized from heart of Kishtwar town on Tuesday night, has been traced to missing Bollywood and Lollywood actor Laila Khan’s family.
Highly placed sources said police was investigating use of luxurious Outlander valued at Rs 24 lakh in the Delhi High Court blast last September that had taken the toll of 15 persons and left 80 others injured.
“As Parvez Ahmed, who had brought the car from Mumbai to Kishtwar during the days of blast remained untraced, police quizzed his family members and some other suspects to reach to him. As Parvez was evading arrest after seizure of the car, police have intensified searches for him”, they said.
When approached for comments, DIG Doda-Ramban range, Gareeb Dass said: “Parvez was nearly caught by us in Jammu but he managed to slip away and was hiding in Himachal Pradesh. Things would be clear only when Parvez was arrested as he knows all about the Outlander. A hunt was on to nab him in Himachal. At present nothing can be ruled out. We are keeping our fingers crossed”.
Sources said the preliminary investigations by police have revealed that the car had been brought to Kishtwar few days before the blast and there was every possibility that it might have been used by the militants.
“Had it not been so, Parvez Ahmad would have come out and disclosed details about the Outlander car”, police said, adding the National Investigating Agency (NIA), which had been conducting investigations in Kishtwar blast, has been sounded about seizure of the car.
While one of the NIA team was already in Kishtwar, another team could reach the town shortly for investigations.
The possibility of the car being connected to “criminal activities” Laila Khan went missing was also not ruled out, sources said.
Worthwhile to mention here that three militants, all hailing from Kishtwar, were arrested by the NIA after the blast. Three more militants were wanted by the NIA and all of them including Junaid Akram Malik were hiding in Kishtwar. The NIA had placed a reward of Rs 10 lakh each on the head of wanted militants.
The three wanted militants included Shakeer Ahmed alias Chotta Haafiz, Aamir Kamal alias Kamran and Junaid Akram Malik, all residents of Kishtwar. Junaid’s brother, Dr Wasim Akram Malik was among three arrested accused, one of whom has agreed to become approver in the court.
Meanwhile, police today arrested a dreaded Hizbul Mujahideen militant from Jammu Railway Station along with his cousin as soon as they boarded off a train this morning from Uttar Pradesh.
Police sources said a team of Sopore police arrested Wasim Ahmad Bhat, a Hizbul Mujahideen militant and his cousin Sajjad Ahmed from Railway Station, Jammu when they reached here in a train from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh.
Wasim was hiding in a `madarsa’ at Azamgarh after fleeing from the Kashmir Valley following an attack on Sopore police station in January this year.
Wasim’s cousin, Sajjad Ahmed, who was accompanying the militant has also been taken into custody for questioning though preliminary reports revealed that he was not involved in militancy.
Bhat was involved in the firing at the Sopore police station on January 7 n in which one civilian was killed and five policemen were injured.
Immediately after this incident, Bhat had vanished from the State following heightened searches launched by the police to nab him.
He was wanted in connection with an FIR (No. 8/2012) registered at Sopore police station under various Sections, including that of murder.
Kashmir police had been tracking movement of Wasim carefully and when he entered into the jurisdiction of Jammu along with his cousin Sajjad Ahmed, Sopore police arrested him.
Sajjad, who is being interrogated, may be released if his involvement was not found in militancy, sources said.
Twenty-three year-old Wasim Bhat is a locally trained militant, who began with Lashkar-e-Toiba terror group and later switched his allegiance to Hizbul Mujahideen.
He is also wanted in connection with the murder of a doctor in Handwara district in North Kashmir, police said.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 31: After pressure from within, the chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, today suspended former Chairman, Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, for his remarks on the irrelevance of the United National Security Council Resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir and his proposal for joint political front of the separatist Hurriyat Conference with pro-India political parties like National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The disciplinary action was announced after senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah protested over silence maintained by Mirwaiz on Bhat’s remarks during executive council meeting of the amalgam at Mirwaiz’s residence at Nigeen this morning. Bhat has been asked to explain his position.
Sources said that Shah had a hot exchange of words with other Hurriyat Conference leaders over Professor Bhat remarks at a Botengo, North Kashmir rally early this month in which he had said that United National Security Council Resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir have no relevance keeping in view the changed geo-political situation of the sub-continent.
Bhat had also put forward his proposal for joint political front of the separatist Hurriyat Conference with pro-India political parties like National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during Botengo rally.
Sources said that as soon as the meeting began today at the residence of Mirwiaz Omar at Nigeen, Shah raised questions about Bhat’s remarks and chairman’s failure to take any action against him. Sources said that he was in the meeting for about half an hour only and left in protest against chairman’s silence over what he told the meeting on a vital issue.
The meeting that was chaired by Mirwaiz Omar, was attended by Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Masroor Abbas Ansari, Aga Syed Hassan Mosvi Alsafvi, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza and Musadiq Aadil.
Mirwaiz has also announced disciplinary action against its two general council members Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Mohammad Azam Inquilabi for “irresponsible statements and un-constitutional activities”. They were also suspended and asked to explain their position.
Mirwaiz said that no member will be allowed to violate the constitution of the amalgam. He also send a letter to Shabir Shah asking him not make the internal issues of Hurriyat Conference public and instead discuss it within the forum.
It may be mentioned here that there were clashes between supporters of Mirwiaz and Bhat with those of Shah and Khan in Hurriyat Conference headquarters twice this month over Bhat’s remarks during this month. Shah, Khan, Iquilabi and other Hurriyat Conference leaders were demanding disciplinary action against Bhat over his remarks.