Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 13: Governor N. N. Vohra today called upon corporate and business houses, philanthropic organizations and affluent sections of the society to contribute generously for enlarging the resource base to give greater fillip to the Red Cross activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Governor was speaking after felicitating the supporters and sponsors for encouraging support extended by them during the Red Cross Mela and the Raffle Draw organized by the Regional Red Cross Society, Jammu, in October last year, at a felicitation function held at Raj Bhawan here this evening.

Referring to his long association with the Red Cross movement, the Governor observed that this organization has a very rich history of doing valuable missionary work in our country, particularly during natural calamities and other emergent situations, by providing the required support and succour to the needy. He added that there is no dearth of affluent people in Jammu and Kashmir and emphasized upon one and all to come forward in a big way and contribute for this noble cause to expand the orbit of Red Cross activities.

The Governor was presented a painting by Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, who is the Chairman, Regional Red Cross Society, Jammu, as a memento. The painting is the work of Subash Langeh, a known artist from Jammu.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, said that over ` 10.3 lakh were raised by organizing the Red Cross Mela and Raffle Draw in October last year. He said that since 2008, Red Cross Melas are being organized regularly with a view to raise funds for the needy and the sponsors and supporters have been helping the organization in securing this objective. He threw light on the activities to be carried out during the Red Cross Mela to be organized this year.

Anil Padha, Hony Secretary, Regional Red Cross Society, Jammu, presented a vote of thanks.

Navin Kumar Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor, was present on the occasion.

The awardees include Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone; Inspector BSF, Jammu; IG CRPF, Jammu; Deputy Commissioners of Kathua, Samba, Rajouri and Udhampur; Chairman, J&K Bank; Director School Education, Jammu; Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B), Jammu; Chief Education Officers of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda and Jammu; Deputy Commissioner, KV Sangathan, Jammu; Principal Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, and Principal Government College Women, Parade Ground, Jammu.

Other awardees were Managing Director, Saraswati Plastotech India Ltd, Bari Brahamana, Jammu; President, J&K Kabaddi Association; Managing Director Jamkash Vehicleades, Jammu; Managing Director, K. C. Motors, Jammu; President, Bari-Brahmana Industries Association; Cluster Head, Big 92.7 FM, Jammu; and Principal, Shangrilla Public School, Sarwal, Jammu.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 13: Government today ordered transfers and postings of three officers including two KAS with immediate effect. Syed Iktikhar-ul-Hassnain, awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been posted as Special Secretary to Government, Rural Development Department. Charandeep Singh, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Jammu Municipal Corporation has been transferred and posted as Deputy Secretary, School Education Department

LUCKNOW, Mar 13: Outgoing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP president Mayawati today filed her nomination for the Rajya Sabha. After the BSP’s defeat at the hustings, speculation had been rife about Mayawati entering the Upper House from the State. She had earlier held meetings of party leaders to discuss the coming biennial polls to the Upper House

DEHRADUN/NEW DELHI, Mar 13: Congress MP Vijay Bahuguna was today sworn in as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand after the Congress overruled a revolt by another MP Harish Rawat, who is said to have offered to resign from the Union Government. 65-year-old Bahuguna, son of late Congress leader Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna, was the lone Minister to take the oath of office and secrecy at a brief ceremony at the Parade Ground here. Before his swearing in, Bahuguna told reporters that six more Ministers will be inducted in three or four days after consultations with the High Command. Governor Margaret Alva administered the oath at the function which was attended by former Chief Minister N D Tiwari, Central Congress observers Ghulam Nabi Azad, Birender Singh, party MP Satpal Maharaj, PCC chief Yashpal Arya, and Bahuguna’s sister Rita Bahuguna Joshi.

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Mar 12: A certificate scandal has surfaced in the Technical Education department where the fake Industrial Training Institute (ITI) certificates are being issued to the candidates for getting Government jobs. Such types of fake certificates are mostly being issued from the ITIs of North Kashmir allegedly on huge payments to facilitate them Government jobs.  One of candidates who was not even student of the ITI, Uri managed to figure in the result gazette of 2008 and got a certificate issued from the department.  The result of the State trade test held under State Council for Vocational Training (SCVT) in July 2007 in various ITI’s of the State was declared under Notification No. 03 of 2008 dated 12-02-2008 in which two candidates with same name and parentage figured in ITI Uri

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 13: Speaker Legislative Assembly, Mohammed Akbar Lone, has sought the comments from leader of Opposition Mehbooba Mufti on the Privilege Motion moved against her and some of her other party members by Saif-Ullah Mir, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi, T Namgyal, Sajad Ahmed Kitchloo and Ch. Mohammed Ramzan in the House yesterday.  The other members of PDP against whom the Privilege Motion has also been moved included Abdul Gafar Sofi, Abdul Haq Khan, Syed Bashir Ahmed, Mansoor Hussain and Javed Mustafa Mir. The issue was raised by Mir Saifullah of NC during the debate on grants of CAPD and Transport Ministry during second sitting of the House today. Saifullah stood up from his seat and wanted to know from the Speaker that what fate their Privilege Motion had met which they had moved against some members of the House

DHAKA, Mar 13: Over 40 years after he played a significant role in Bangladesh’s independence, Indian politician-diplomat D P Dhar is being honoured posthumously by the Bangladesh Government in recognition of his contribution. The honours would be bestowed by Bangladesh President Zilur Rahman at a special function on March 26 here. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will felicitate the recipients the next day. The Bangladesh Government has conveyed this to D P Dhar’s son Vijay Dhar who will be travelling here to receive the honour.  “… The Government of Bangladesh has decided to formally recognise your father, late D P Dhar’s contribution and to express gratitude on behalf of the people of Bangladesh,” said a letter written by Foreign Minister Dipu Moni to Vijay Dhar. She informed Vijay Dhar that his father had been selected for the honour by the National Committee to Honour Foreign Friends of the Bangladesh Liberation War of which she is the Convenor

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Mar 13: Without naming any party, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar, today said that platform of Legislature should be used for healthy discussion instead of settling political scores and indulging in mud-slinging, which according to him puts the public issues in the back burner. Replying to the debate on the grants of the Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Rural Development Departments in the Lower House, Sagar said, “Government is not averse to its healthy criticism on any issue and all the MLAs either from the Treasury Benches or from the Opposition must ensure positive discussions”. “We can fight politically on a different forum but the platform of Legislature must only be utilized for constructive discussions and criticism so that the outcome of the same provides benefit to the common masses, who have sent us to the legislature”, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said, adding “indulging in mud-slinging and creating uproar every time is not a good sign”

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 13: Former Deputy Chief Minister and PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig said today that Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) with the authorization of its president, Dr Farooq Abdullah, the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and National Conference president had opened a fraudulent bank account No. 11554 at Air Cargo branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank in which all “fraudulent transactions” had taken place. Addressing a press conference here this evening along with PDP leaders Nayeem Akhter and Murtaza Khan, Mr Baig said this account hadn’t been reflected deliberately in the balance sheets of JKCA for 2009-10 and 2010-11 by the cricket body’s president, Farooq Abdullah and chairman, Aslam Goni, who had signed the balance sheets