Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 28: Resuming debate on demands for grants for the departments under the charge of Chief Minister on second consecutive day in LA today, Harsh Dev Singh enjoined upon the Government to retrospect its performance during the past three years and see that how many targets have been achieved. He said people have high hopes from the Government and it should fulfill the aspirations the people.
He stressed the need for implementation of all Central schemes in letter and spirit so that benefits of these schemes reach to the needy. He also called for upgradation of road/education and PDD sectors in the rural areas. He demanded that the officers be made more accountable to the people.
Kafeel-ur-Rehman appreciated the performance of the Government during the past three years, adding that the Government has taken several people friendly decisions to make the administration more accountable and accessible to the people. He called for collective efforts for the development of the State and mitigating the problems of people cutting across the party lines. He demanded adequate funds for development of rural and far flung areas of Karnah.
Mohammad Sharif Niaz sought adequate relief to the snow/wind storm victims in the State. He demanded construction of shelters for floating population of Gujjar and Bakerwals at different places to protect their cattles. He stressed the for setting up of State’s own power projects to improve the power scenario. He also expressed gratitude to the Central leadership for providing liberal funding to accomplish various ongoing projects in the State.
Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta sought rationalization in distribution of government advertisement. said all categories of newspapers should get their due share of government advertisements.
He sought more steps for good governance and improving delivery service on ground. He stressed the need for upgradation of power infrastructure to improve overall scenario of electricity in Jammu city. He also called for judicious use of secret funds by the Government.
Mr. Yashpal Kundal demanded additional funds for improving power sector and road network in constituency. He demanded maintenance of reservation roaster in promotions and allotting reservation slot in the engagement of ReT and ReZ.
He drew the attention of the government towards gutted Utterbehni Bridge alleging that the bridge was washed away within one year of its construction. He suggested written test for recruitments by the PSC and SSRB. He also demanded enhancement in the housing loan for legislators.
G A Mir hailed the Chief Minister for taking bold and people-friendly decisions for all round development of the state. He suggested that private investors should be invited to invest in core sectors, which he said not only provide better infrastructure but employment to the educated un-employed youth.
Mir said holding of panchayat elections was a historical success of coalition government, which not only prove beneficial upgrading basic amenities in rural areas but add employment generation to ruralties.
Saying Right to Information Act, an effective tool, he said that it will improve the functioning of the government departments and curb the menace of corruption.
Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal called for collective effort to fight against the menace of corruption, adding that RTI and other Commissions helping the state to come out from this evil. He said that no tendering approach will be adopted to withdraw AFSPA from the state.
He hailed the Chief Minister for announcing recent wind storm as natural calamity and called special relief package from the Centre. He demanded enhancement of funds repair of legislators’ houses, and risk allowance for the Traffic police personnel. He demanded conferment of State Sports Awards to outstanding sport personnel pending since 2006.
Ashwani Kumar Sharma saluted the security personnel for sacrificing precious lives for maintaining law and order and normalcy in the state. He demanded rehabilitation of militancy affected families of Jammu province and compensation to the kith and kins who died during Amar Nath land row in and mine blasts, the mines implanted in the border belt of his Constituency. He appreciated the government for commissioning the Grid Station Pratap Singh Pura and improving road network in rural areas.
Prof. Gharu Ram Bhagat Called for special recruitment drive for border Tehsil of R S Pura, repair and renovation of existing roads and special power line for SDH R. S.. Pura. He also demanded proper implementation of reservation roaster in promotion and recruitment.
Aijaz Jan hailed the government for initiating mega projects for the development of far-off areas, adding that more funds need to be allocated to accelerate the developmental tempo. He demanded enhancement of honorarium of SPOs and regularization of daily wagers engaged in various departments.
Balwant Singh Mankotia also participated in the discussion and demanded enhancement of wages of Homeguard jawans who are on protest for last six years. He also went to well in protest in their support. However on the directives of speaker to Government MLA went to his seat.
Mankotia protests in support of Homeguards Harsh for upgradation of road, edu, PDD sector
Hanging of Rajoana stayed
NEW DELHI, Mar 28:
The hanging of Balwant Singh Rajoana, assassin of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, was today stayed by the Centre following a mercy petition.
Sources in the Government said that the hanging, which was scheduled to be carried out on March 31, has been stayed following a petition filed by SGPC, the Sikh religious body.
The sources said the decision to keep the hanging in abeyance was taken since a petition was filed in line with the guidelines followed in such cases.
The scheduled hanging of Rajoana had got the politics of Punjab in a turmoil with the ruling Akali Dal campaigning against his execution while its coalition partner BJP disfavouring such a course.
The state Congress leaders at a personal level had been favouring clemency.
Rajoana, a police constable and a close friend of another assassin Dilawar Singh Babbar, was the second human bomb to be used in case the first one failed to kill Beant Singh on August 31, 1995.
Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal today called on President Pratibha Patil and handed over a mercy petition on behalf of Punjab government seeking clemency for Rajoana.
The President’s office later sent his petition to the Union Home Ministry, which will also be decided in due course of time.
Under normal circumstances, the petition would be sent to the Law Minsitry and Punjab government for comments after which it would be forwarded to the President with a view of the Home Ministry.
The President’s office already has 18 mercy petitions to decide on.
Pending the procedural handling of the mercy petition, the Centre has stayed the carrying out of the hanging of Rajoana.
The court order giving the go-ahead to the execution of Rajoana on March 31, a terrorist of Babbar Khalsa International, has heated up the Akali politics in Punjab.
A bandh called by Sikh outfits, including hardliners, in protest against the death sentence of Rajoana’s crippled normal life in much of Punjab today.
The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, and SGPC managing key Sikh shrines in Punjab, want celemency for Rajoana. (PTI)
Shri Chandi Mata SB bill introduced
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 28: A Bill for the constitution of a Board on the pattern of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board, for the better management of Shri Chandi Mata Machail Dham ( Machail Yatra), for up-gradation of facilities for the holy pilgrimage and matter connected there with right from Bhaderwah enroute Machail via Pul Doda, Premnagar, Thathri, Kishtwar and Gulabgarh (Paddar) was introduced today in the Upper House of the Legislature despite opposition by the Government.
The Bill in the Legislative Council was introduced by the Congress member from Bhaderwah, Naresh Kumar Gupta. While introducing, LC Private Members’ Bill No. 3 of 2012, seeking constitution of Shrine Board for Machail Mata Shrine, Mr Gupta said that area is very remote, having tough terrain and pilgrims face lot of hardships in view of very limited facilities. Majority of the yatris have to remain dependent on the local population and in view of the hardships of the pilgrims, the constitution of the Board was must. He proposed that this Act may be called Jammu and Kashmir Shri Chandi Mata Machail Shrine Board Act and 30 % of the members of the Board shall be from Sarv Shakti Sevak Sanstha Machail Yatra Management which will be nominated by founder patron-in-chief Th Kulbir Singh Jamwal and rest 70 % by way of nomination by the Government/ Governor.
The Bill was supported by another Congress legislator Jugal Kishore Sharma who pointed out that after constitution of Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board, tremendous improvement has been witnessed in the facilities to the pilgrims at Katra. He grave credit to Dr Farooq Abdullah for it. He said then Shri Amarnath Shrine Board was constituted and things have started showing good results. He said thousands of pilgrims go to Machail Yatra in Paddar every year and the area lacks lot of facilities. Therefore, the constitution of a Board was must. Even a few NC members also appeared supportive and even asked to admit and send to the select committee.
Minister of State for Tourism, Housing and Urban Development N A Wani while opposing the Bill said that Government was seized of the matter. Several steps have been taken to enhance facilities at Paddar, Gulabgarh Atholi for the pilgrims. He said that a project worth Rs 5 crore under tourism has been taken up and moreover constitution of Board was not viable for this yatra. The Bill was put to vote by the Dy Chairman M Y Taing and was not opposed by NC or the PDP members and stood introduced in the House despite being opposed by the minister.
Tension escalates between Gen, Govt
NEW DELHI, Mar 28:
Tensions between Army Chief Gen V K Singh and the Government escalated today over the leak of his letter to the Prime Minister on national security, trigerring demands for his removal as Defence Minister A K Antony promised “appropriate action”.
For the second day, Rajya Sabha was thrown into a tumult after a media report on the purported contents of the letter in which Gen Singh had reportedly said the country’s security may be at stake forcing the top leadership of the government to go into a huddle with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Today’s development came on top of an acrimony between the Army Chief and the government in the last two days over his media interview in which he had claimed that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore by a retired Lt Gen for swinging a sub-standard defence deal.
“I have made serious note of the observations. After consulting the Prime Minister and colleagues, we will take appropriate action,” Antony said after members expressed serious concerns over issues of national security, a confidential matter, being being brought to public domain through media leaks.
JD (U) member Shivanand Tiwari demanded the Army Chief’s removal while Pyari Mohan Mohanpatra said “people who are to be sacked should be sacked immediately”.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said those responsible for the leak should be held accountable irrespective of the position held by them.
Though the Congress party steered clear of the controversy, Union Minister Vyalar Ravi attacked Gen Singh saying his actions reflected “frustrations” of an individual who had to withdraw his petition on the age row in the Supreme Court.
Gen Singh was away from the capital on an official visit to Jammu and Kashmir and paid obeisance at the Vaishnao Devi temple.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, the Army Chief has reportedly contended that the entire tank fleet is “devoid of critical ammunition to defeat enemy tanks”, the air defence is “97 per cent obsolete” and the infantry is crippled with “deficiencies of crew served weapon” and lacks “night fighting” capabilities.
Gen Singh has also alleged that there is “hollowness” in the procedures and processing time for procurements as well as legal impediments by vendors.
The BJP attacked Gen Singh for writing a letter to the Prime Minister directly on the state of affairs in the Army, which is a breach of discipline.
The issue of the contents of the letter appearing in the media rocked Rajya Sabha with members terming it as “disturbing” and “serious” and demanding that the government should take action against those responsible “whatever position he holds”.
In his reply, Antony confirmed that the Army Chief had written to the Prime Minister on March 12 drawing his “attention to issues related to national defence and security.”
He said “these issues are under the consideration of the Ministry of Defence. By very nature of these issues, they cannot be a matter of public debate.
Assuring members, Antony said, “Government is committed to do all that is necessary for the security of the nation. Government will do everything possible to ensure that our defence forces become the best fighting forces in the world.”
“Publishing the contents of secret communications within the government cannot serve our national security,” he said about the report over the leaked letter in the media.
Antony said successive governments have attached the highest priority to the defence preparedness of the nation.
“Our defence preparedness has always been strong and I can assure the House and the nation that it is our intention to keep it strong.
“The government has spared no effort and will do everything necessary to ensure that our defence forces are provided, equipped and trained to be amongst the best fighting forces in the world,” he said.
Assuring the members that the government is continuously taking steps to tighten the loose ends in the procurement process, Antony said procurements are being undertaken under the integrity pact put in place three years ago, which covers a contract of even Rs 100 crore.
He said if there is any violation, actions like blacklisting and cancellation of contracts are taken.
Antony said the Government will not leave any room for anybody to makes compromise over integrity and transparency.
“If some such thing comes to our notice, whoever it may be, Government will take strong action. I can assure the House of that.
“On the other hand, while doing that, we equally take care to speed up the modernisation of Armed Forces, because only by doing that we can be assured of our national security and we can protect every inch of our motherland. On that too, we would not compromise,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitely said while he agreed with the Defence Minister that utmost restraint has to be exercised but felt that too many pieces of disturbing information were coming in the media relating to the integrity of the procurement process.
I would urge him to once again attach utmost priority to the fact that there are no malpractices in this.
“The second question is with regard to the preparedness. Once contents of letters, which are otherwise intended to be secret and must be kept secret, find their place into the media, then there is an alarmist situation which is created because some of the facts which have been mentioned in those news-reports are extremely disturbing with regard to defence preparedness.
“I am sure, the Defence Minister would look into all those facts, and, therefore, wherever there are any shortcomings, he would make sure that those are plugged and the procurement process because of other collateral controversies does not suffer at all,” he said.
Yechury said the fact that a sensitive issue like a letter containing facts about nation’s security and written by Army Chief to the Prime Minister gets leaked, is a matter of “utmost concern” and something that needs to be inquired.
Mahapatra of the BJD said the government should take immediate action.
“There is no scope for inquiry. It can take years. Whatever has to be done, it has to be done in hours not days,” he said adding “people who are to be sacked should be sacked” immediately under Article 311 B and C of Constitution.
Maintaining that Indian forces have never indulged in politics, JD-U leader Shivanand Tiwari said it would set a wrong precedent if such things are allowed and the Government will have to take some tough steps in this regard.
Earlier during Question Hour, Tiwari said the Army chief should be dismissed.
RJD and Samajwadi Party sought the dismissal of Army Chief for the leak of his letter to the Prime Minister.
“He (General) should be sacked immediately. Why he was silent all these days if there was shortage of ammunition,” RJD supremo Lalu Prasad asked while talking to reporters outside Parliament.
Describing the Army Chief as a “frustrated” man, he said, “It seems the General wants to fight elections. If there are any issues concerning the forces then he should have taken the Defence Minister into confidence. There is a huge investment on defence forces.”
The RJD chief further said, “He should remain within his limits.”
Terming the development as very “serious and sensitive”, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav also demanded sacking of the Army Chief.
“People always have faith in our forces. It is a very serious and sensitive issue as far as letter is concerned which states that 97 per cent of our ammunition is not good, SP leader said.
He said the responsibility should be fixed for the leakage of the letter and whoever is responsible, action should be taken against him.
“If Army Chief is responsible for it which prima facie suggests… He should be sacked immediately. If this kind of indiscipline grows in Army then it will be a dangerous trend for the country.”
However, Yadav said the development is a also a sign of weak leadership.
Expressing concern, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said, “It has never happened in the last 63 years. We are very concerned over the development. This is a very serious issue and whatever is happening is not good.” (PTI)
Azad approves 3 more MDS courses
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 28: Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad has approved three more MDS Courses (Post Graduate Course) for the Government Dental College & Hospital, Srinagar. The new disciplines approved are Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics, Oral Medicine & Radiology & Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge with two seats each from the academic session 2012-13.
The approval has been conveyed to the College authorities. The College authorities had earlier taken up the matter with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir and University of Kashmir. Affiliation by the University of Kashmir was accorded and the matter was taken up with the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Dental Council of India.
The teams from Dental Council of India conducted various inspections and forwarded the recommendations to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, which were finally approved by Mr Azad.
Govt. Dental College & Hospital, Srinagar was already running two recognized Post Graduate Courses (MDS) with two seats annually in the speciality of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.
The College is running another MDS Course in the speciality of Periodontics and the necessary approval from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India has also been accorded to admit the next batch of students during the current academic year in the speciality of Periodontics. With this the total number of intake capacity in various branches of Dentistry has increased from 6 to 12, giving more opportunities for the residents of State of Jammu & Kashmir to pursue their studies further who otherwise have very limited options to do the same outside the State.
The authorities have accordingly taken-up the matter with the Board of Professional Entrance Examination to send the necessary list of students to be admitted against the above courses during the current academic year from the merit list which have already been issued.
LeT district commander among 5 militants killed
From Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Mar 28: In a fierce encounter with the security forces, five militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) including district commander of the outfit were killed in Rajwar forests of Handwara, in the frontier district of Kupwara today.
This is the major success for the security forces in Kashmir this year against the LeT outfit. Last time in February this year, 3 LeT militants were killed in Pulwama district of South Kashmir.
The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Police, North Kashmir, Munir Khan, told Excelsior that 5 militants of LeT were killed in two encounters which took place in Panwani forests and Laribal in Rajwar forest area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district this morning.
DIG Khan said that 5 AK rifles, 17 magazines and 3 live grenades were recovered from their possession. He said that all of them were foreign militants and the dairies recovered from them suggest that three of them are Abu Bakar, Ali Bhai and Hanza Bhai.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Handwara, Choudery Aslam, said here that the searches were started in the forests early in the morning at around 7 a.m. He said that during the searches encounter took place at two places one, in Panjwani forests and second in a nearby Laribal village.
SP Choudery said that two militants were hiding in the house of widow of Mohammad Yusuf Geelani. He said that the security forces were fired upon from inside the house during searches resulting in the encounter during which two militants were killed.
The SP said that three militants were killed in Panjwani forests during the encounter. He said that they were two groups of militants and all of them belong to LeT.
The SP said that these militants were operating in the area for last two years and security forces were after them. He said that they were responsible for killings in the area.
The encounter is over, however, the search operations in the area are going on, the SP said.
Sources said that for the past few weeks security forces were after these militants and had laid ambush for them at several places. They said that these militants were trying to shift to built-up areas after the melting of snow in the forests. They said that Abu Bakar who is one among the dead was district commander of the outfit.
Srinagar based Defence Spokesperson Lt Col JS Brar said here this evening that based on specific information about presence of militants in Laribal Peer Mohalla in Rajwar forest, of Handwara, in the frontier district of Kupwara, a joint operation was launched by the 21 Rashtriya Rifles of army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police at around 10 a.m.
The spokesman said that the militants were surrounded by the security forces and were asked to surrender. They, however, opened fire resulting in an intense fire fight that lasted for several hours.
He said that five militants were killed in the encounter. “Most of the militants are likely to be foreigners and belong to the LeT outfit”, he said adding that Police are ascertaining the facts.
This is the first major operation of the security forces in the Kashmir this year in which 5 militants were killed. Three militants of the LeT were killed in a Pulwama village in February this year.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, S M Sahai, termed the killings as major success for the security forces. He said that these militants were involved in the killing one Ghulam Rasool Mir and his son Manzoor Ahmad Mir of Rajwar and Saleema wife of Rashid Paswal in Pidoo Behak. They were also involved in the killing of an army jawan in Bangas valley and injuring three army personnel in Wudar, Handwara, he added. These militants were wanted in FIRs 133/2011, 226/2011, 204/2011 and 241/2011 in Police Station Handwara.
MLAs from erstwhile Doda rue delay in action Speaker directs Health Minister to implement decisions taken by Azad
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 28: Speaker of Legislative Assembly, Mohd Akbar Lone, today directed the Minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma, to implement the decisions taken by then Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, regarding the opening of the health centers in the erstwhile Doda district.
The directions from the chair came after the former Ministers and MLAs from Inderwal and Doda, G M Saroori and Abdul Majid Wani rued that despite lapse of several years, the decisions taken in the District Development Board-cum-Cabinet meeting chaired by then Chief Minister, Ghulam Nab Azad, regarding the opening of 10 sub-centres and one Primary Health Centre in each constituency of erstwhile Doda district have not been implemented so far.
Then Chief Minister and presently Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad, took this decision keeping in view the difficulties being faced by the people of erstwhile Doda district in getting the health care facilities, they said, adding despite repeated assurances on the floor of the House regarding implementation of decisions, nothing has been done so far to open sub-centres and PHCs.
“For opening of health centers in other areas, there is no financial implication but as far as implementing the decisions of Ghulam Nabi Azad is concerned the Government is dragging its feet”, Saroori said, adding “when I raised this issue in the previous sessions and submitted the copy of the minutes of the DDB-cum-Cabinet meeting in which the decisions were taken, the chair had directed the Health Minister for necessary action but it is unfortunate that no step has so far been initiated to open PHCs and sub-centres in each constituency of erstwhile Doda district”.
The former Minister further said, “it doesn’t look nice that despite being in the Government and having Health Minister from Congress, we have to wait for years together to get our genuine concerns addressed”. He sought to know when the decisions taken in DDB-cum-Cabinet meeting of 2008-09 would be implemented.
Taking note of the concerns of Congress MLAs, Speaker directed the Health Minister, Sham Lal Sharma, to give specific reply to the explicit question of the Congress MLAs.
“I am committed to consolidation as well as expansion and Directorate of Remote Sensing has undertaken a mapping survey of erstwhile Doda district to identify the places where there is a need to set up health institutions keeping in view the norms for setting up of such institutions”, the Minister said, adding “as far as the opening of 10 sub-centres in each constituency of erstwhile Doda district, a proposal has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for approval”.
As the Congress MLAs again stood up to get specific reply, Speaker intervened and directed the Health Minister to implement the decisions taken by then Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Later in the evening, Mr Saroori told EXCELSIOR that all the MLAs from erstwhile Doda district have submitted a memorandum to Speaker as well as Health Minister with the request to translate the decisions taken by Ghulam Nabi Azad into reality.
PDP stages walkout Figures given in budget nothing but figment of imagination: Baig
By Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Mar 28: The Peoples Democratic Party today lambasted the coalition government and termed the figures given in budget as well as allocations made in it nothing except a figment of imagination.
Participating in the two day long discussions on Chief Minister’s grants during the second sitting of the State Assembly this afternoon, PDP MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister, Muzzafar Hussain Baig said that this budget and allocations are based on figment of imagination.
Substantiating his point with some facts, Mr Baig said that the government has not revealed that what is the plan for current year as it has not been got approved from the Centre as yet. Contrary to this during PDP led government in 2002 to 2008 the plan was got approved from Centre prior to presentation of budget in the Assembly. He wanted to know how can the government earmark funds and release money in April when they have not got their plan approved from Planning Commission of India (PCI).
Maintaining that Planning is an important Department, he said it shows which direction the state will move and also presents a map of how the Centre funds are to be spent in a planned way. He while revealing figures and comparing them with the PDP-Congress coalition from 2002 to 2008, said that according to economic survey of 2008-09 states own resources were minus 1976.14 crore which when compared to 2011-12 economic survey is minus 6371.96 crore. This means a shortfall in resources of hundreds of crores.
Mr Baig said the borrowings during that regime was 272.87 crore, which has touched last year to 3979 crore. This way the state resources decreased, he added.
The PDP leader said during PDP regime the Central assistance was 4403.27 crore which increased to 9892.46 crore now.
Maintaining that there was a 24 time short fall in state resources he said, it showed defective planning process in the state. Quoting figures Baig said last year for the Central sponsored schemes Rs 10,000 crore were to be spent but the government has not revealed that how much amount from this was spent.
He said it shows that either the government is not realistic or efficient to achieve the target. The agriculture, horticulture is a priority sector and last year target in this sector was 3621.08 crore but up to September 2011 only 50 percent was achieved.
He said though Bank is also a priority sector and people need its services. For average one bank branch there should be population of 12,000. But in Kishtwar there is a bank for the population of 26000 and in Bandipora and Poonch it is for the population of 23,000, he added.
Baig wanted to know how many bank branches were opened in these backward areas.
He said as per socio economic survey the state is also lagging behind 18 states of country. Stressing on keeping additionalities at the disposal of Chief Minister so that whenever he tours any constituency he can announce funds on demand.
But there should be no discrimination in distribution of the same, he said adding while distributing additonalities during PDP rule no discrimination was made on party politics basis. “We released them in favour of MLAs but now they are being given to defeated candidates of NC and no criteria is followed’’.
The PDP leader was also critical of the government and accused it of not following the District Development Board decisions. He said among 100 projects to be monitored by CM only seven projects were given to constituencies represented by PDP. Moreover out of Rs 4268 crore sanctioned by NABARD only 204 crore were spent, he added.
He accused the government of fixing the target but not making the achievements.
Mr Baig said the government has claimed to generate 4000 mw of power by 2020 and eight projects were given to NHPC in 2000 by it. Out of them in 12 years project report has been prepared for Barsar Power Project which can generate 1020 mws of power. If this was the pace then the project will not be completed even in 50 years, he added.
Earlier PDP staged walkout when Speaker, Mohammed Akbar Lone did not agree to grant 30 minutes time to Mr Baig.
The PDP chief whip Gaffar Sofi who protested in the House for not granting 30 minutes to party MLA to speak on grants aid that other MLAs who are single party have been given more time and the main opposition is being discriminated. However, the Speaker said that he can’t allow more than 10 minutes to Mr Baig to speak which led to walkout by the party. Later Mr Baig addressed criticised a press conference and criticised the Government for violating Parliamentary procedure.
However the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah intervened and asked Speaker that the Opposition party MLA be allowed to speak for 30 minutes.
Later, the Speaker sent a communique to leader of opposition and the Party MLAs joined the discussion in second session.
Sher Khan among 2 top ultras escape custody, 4 cops held
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 28: Two militants including a dreaded divisional commander of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HuJI) today escaped from police custody at Patnitop-Batote road on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway when they were being taken back to District Jail in Udhampur after their court attendance in Kishtwar.
Sher Khan, a divisional commander of HuJI, who was involved in a number of murder cases and other militant activities and Jameel Abbas alias Abdullah escaped police custody after they took the excuse of attending to the nature’s call at an isolated slope between Patnitop and Batote this evening.
Police have arrested four police personnel, who were incharge security of the two militants, have been arrested and a case registered against them for de-reliction of duty. They have been suspended.
Police said Kishtwar police had brought seven detenues including Sher Khan and Abdullah from Udhampur and other jails, where they had been lodged, to Kishtwar this morning for their appearance in the courts. After court attendance, the detenues were being brought back from Kishtwar to Udhampur when Sher Khan and Abdullah pleaded for attending to the nature’s call.
The cops stopped the police vehicle and allowed the militants to move towards a slope between Patnitop and Batote road. The cops watched for few minutes but the terrorists didn’t return. They moved towards the slope only to find the militants absconding. They sounded an alarm and informed Batote police.
Police parties led by SP Ramban Anil Magotra fanned out in different directions but the militants remained untraced till late tonight.
Mr Magotra said police parties along with para-military personnel have cordoned off all possible routes and were conducting searches in the forest areas leading to Doda to track down the militants. However, they remained untraced.
The SP Ramban said four police personnel of Kishtwar district, who had been assigned the security of Sher Khan and Abdullah, have been arrested and lodged at Batote police station. A case has been registered against them.
Police have ordered an inquiry into escape of the militants.
Police said two cops were escorting two militants with weapons and two with handcuffs. There was one Incharge of all police personnel engaged with the detenues. He was also being quizzed though he has not been arrested.
Sher Khan, a divisional commander of HuJI had surrendered in November 2007 in Kishtwar. He was a resident of village Chatru and was involved in a series of cases of killings and other militant activities.
Abdullah, a resident of Reasi, was also involved in various militant activities.
Diversion of funds meant for Dal lake PDP MLAs stage walk-out after Speaker refuses to frame House Committee * NPP, JSM, BJP allege neglect of Jammu lakes
By Mohinder Verma
The grilling of Government started when the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Nasir Aslam Wani, in reply to the question of PDP MLA, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, regarding diversions made from LAWDA allocations, admitted that funds were diverted to other heads as the LAWDA could not spend the money due to the adverse law and order situation for more than four months from June onwards in 2010.
The Minister even admitted that no expenditure has yet been incurred on solid waste management projects under UIDSSMT scheme in Anantnag, Sopore, Baramulla, Kupwara and Ganderbal towns despite release of an amount of Rs 6.75 crore against the sanctioned cost of Rs 15 crore. He, however, attributed this to lack of response despite putting the works to tender.
“This is no justification behind diversion of funds meant for Dal lake”, PDP MLA, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, remarked and asked what the Department was doing in rest of the eight months when there was no disturbance in the Valley. “The diversion of funds is a question mark on the performance of the Department and its capacity to spend the money meant for the conservation of Dal lake”, he further said.
Why the Government could not fix the responsibility on the officers, who failed to spend even single penny for the solid waste management projects? he asked. “I salute the officers of the Department, who spent the money in six towns of Jammu”, he said and demanded that a House Committee should be constituted to look into diversion of funds meant for the Dal lake.
As the PDP MLAs were accusing the Government of diverting the funds meant for Dal lake to Jammu, the Minister said, “the funds re-appropriated to other heads were spent in Jammu as well as Srinagar under different schemes”. He even gave break-up of the same to prove the assertions of the PDP MLAs wrong.
Joining the issue, CPM MLA, Mohd Yousaf Tarigami, asked why the Department failed to utilize the money in remaining eight months. The Legislature Party leader of National Panthers Party, Harshdev Singh, said that Government should have kept the money keeping in view the capacity of the Department to expend the same.
“When you cannot spend the money then what is the fun of keeping provisions for the same”, he asked and said that such money could have been spent for other lakes like Surinsar, Mansar and Dalsar in Jammu region. He also sought to know as to why the Government has kept funds for the Dal lake under four heads when the Housing and Urban Development Department has no capacity to spend the same fully even from one head.
Echoing similar views, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Nagrota, Jugal Kishore said that unspent money should have been utilized for the Surinsar and Mansar lakes in Jammu instead of diverting the same for other works. He alleged that Government was neglecting the water bodies of Jammu.
Alleging neglect of Jammu lakes, Jammu State Morcha (JSM) MLA from Bishnah, Ashwani Sharma, said that Government should have brought Mansar and Surinsar lakes under the purview of LAWDA, adding “there is no justification behind keeping Dal lake under LAWDA and other lakes under the Environment and Ecology Ministry”.
PDP MLA, Rafi Ahmad Mir, whose question regarding works under Municipal Committee Aishmuqam had also been listed in the business, said, “the Government should have diverted the money to six proposed works in Aishmuqam area, which according to the Government itself could not be taken up due to non-availability of funds”.
After being cornered by the Opposition, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Nasir Aslam Wani said, “all this happened in 2010 only. Now the utilization of funds for Dal lake has been streamlined”.
However, he was repeatedly interrupted by the agitating PDP MLAs, who started demanding a House Committee to look into the issue of diversion of funds meant for Dal lake. Amidst ruckus, the Speaker, Mohd Akbar Lone, took up the next question on the ground that Opposition was not ready to listen the Minister’s reply.
“You are not interested to listen the Minister that is why I have decided to take up next question”, he said when all the PDP MLAs moved towards the front row in protest. “You have to maintain the decorum of the House. I will not allow you to start shouting every time”, Speaker said.
As the PDP MLAs started raising slogans in support of their demand for setting up of House Committee, the Speaker remarked, “am I dictated by you….you have to make a submission. I reject your request for appointing the House Committee”.
Following this, all the PDP MLAs staged walk-out.
In the meantime, NPP MLA, Harshdev Singh, stood up and sought to know as to why the Government has kept funds under four heads for Dal lake despite the fact that it has no capacity to expend the same even under one head.
As the Speaker didn’t allow the Minister to give reply and instead asked him to furnish information to the MLA in writing, all the NPP MLAs, BJP’s Jugal Kishore and JSM’s Ashwani Sharma staged walk-out alleging neglect of Jammu lakes.