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Anti-defection amendment Bill gets Governor’s assent
Two top Hizbul militants killed
Azad lampoons Musharraf’s self-rule suggestion
Orphanage for children
hit by terrorism
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Anti-defection amendment Bill gets Governor’s assent
Jammu, January 10 With the bill having received assent of the Governor, it has now become a law in the state. The Governor has also give his assent to a significant bill that arms the vigilance organisation to seize the movable and immovable property of any official involved in corruption. Highly placed sources told the Tribune here today that the assent of the Governor had been received from Dubai where he was holidaying. Although the Governor is scheduled to return today, yet looking at the urgency of the bill, his assent was sought during his stay at Dubai. The two houses of the legislature had unanimously passed the bill during a recent special session. The new law aims at checking the menace of defection by having made the existing one more stringent. It provides that a member disqualified under the law shall also be disqualified for being a minister or holding a remunerative political post for the remaining part of his membership. The law of defection shall also apply in the case of a split. A proviso has been incorporated which leaves it to the Chairman or the Speaker, as the case may be, to decide whether the leader of the legislature party has incurred disqualification under the Seventh Schedule. A proviso has been added to Section 38 in terms of which the total strength of the council of ministers cannot exceed 20 per cent of the total membership of the state legislature. It is worth mentioning that while elsewhere in the country the size of the ministry has been fixed at 15 per cent of the strength of the Assembly, the new law in Jammu and Kashmir provides more room for the induction of ministers as it not only restricts the size of the ministry at 20 per cent but also provides that the size would be based on the total strength of the two Houses of the legislature. Sources said that the governor had also granted assent to the Bill seeking to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Accountability Commission Act, 2002. The other bills, including an amendment to VAT and fixing of market value of land to curb the practice of undervaluing the property for its registration, have also received the assent of the Governor |
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Two top Hizbul militants killed
Srinagar, January 10 An official spokesman said security forces shot dead a militant in an encounter at Chowgam in south Kashmir district of Anantnag last night. Militants shot at and wounded one Junaid Ahmad Shah at Jama Masjid at Shopian in south Kashmir today. Shah was admitted to hospital. Mr Prithvi Raj Manhas, SSP of Doda district, said acting on a tip-off about the presence of two Hizbul militants in a house at Batogra Tanta, the police along with 26 Rashtriya Rifles personnel rushed to the village late last night. He said when the troops neared the house, the militants opened fire and in the ensuing exchange of fire lasting over two hours, the troops shot dead area commander Atta Mohammad and Mukhtiar Ahmad. An AK rifle, its two magazines, one SLR and a large quantity of ammunition were seized from
them. Mr Manhas said during search in the area this morning a silver pitcher containing nearly 70 kg of RDX was also found from near the encounter site. The search was on in the area when reports last came in, he added. The petrol tank of a parked scooter caught fire and exploded in the crowded Eidgah area this afternoon causing widespread panic. However, no casualties were reported and the vehicle has been seized, a senior police officer
said. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses told UNI that the blast in the scooter took place as two security force vehicles approached the spot. People, who were busy purchasing things on the eve of Id-ul-Azha, ran for safety.
— UNI |
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Azad lampoons Musharraf’s self-rule suggestion
Jammu, January 10 In a statement, Mr Azad said the Centre must pursue a dialogue with Pakistan to settle the vexed issue. This, he said, would be in line with the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the divide and was also necessary for the state to return to the path of development in an environment free of violence. Mr Azad said a solution to the issue could not be based on sentiments alone. “We must take cognisance of the history of both armed conflicts with Pakistan and past agreements between the two sides, which had failed to resolve the issue. Our approach must take into account both aspirations of the people of the state as well as the existing ground realities”. Mr Azad’s statement on the eve of Id expressed satisfaction over the progress so far in the India-Pakistan dialogue over the past two years. He expressed confidence that it would create conducive atmosphere for peace and development in the state. The Chief Minister said, “It is imperative for Pakistan to fully honour its commitment of not to allow any territory under its control to be used for terrorist acts against India”. He said the leaders of both countries had agreed to work together to overcome the challenge of terrorism, which they recognised as a threat to people of both countries. Mr Azad said, “We look forward to the day when people of the entire state, whether it is PoK or Gilgit or Baltistan, Jammu, Ladakh or the valley, can freely travel across the state, mingle with each other, trade with each other and together celebrate their shared cultural and spiritual legacy”. While talking to mediapersons at Reasi, Mr Azad wondered what Gen Pervez Musharraf meant by self-rule and demilitarisation of Jammu and Kashmir as the state was being ruled by those belonging to the state, those duly elected in a free and fair Assembly election in 2002. The Chief Minister, while replying to questions, said the people on this side of Kashmir were enjoying democracy but the urgent need for demilitarisation was in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) where the army ruled over people. On the other hand, while talking to mediapersons here this afternoon, Mr Peerzada Sayeed, PCC president and a minister, strongly rejected the suggestion of Pakistan for self-rule in the state. He wondered what Pakistan meant by self-rule. President Musharraf should first put his house in order before making such proposals to India. Mr Peerzada Sayeed said while the people of the PoK were denied democratic rights, General Musharraf had no business asking India to impose self-rule in Jammy and Kashmir. He, however, favoured that the dialogue should continue. On the other hand, the state president of the BJP, Dr Nirmal Singh, hailed the rejection by the Centre of the Pakistan’s “dubious” proposals. Dr Nirmal Singh hoped that the Centre’s action would send a right signal to those in Kashmir who were involved in militant and separatist activities. |
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Orphanage for children
hit by terrorism
Jammu, January 10 As many as 40 children orphaned by terrorists have been lodged in the children home built on eight kanals of land. It has modern gadgets, amenities and a children park. These children were left alone with no one to take care of them. The Army under its Operation Sadbhavana built the children home that has been named “Ankur”. Devoid of safety of the family, a child’s life gets devastated and causes traumatic instability and insecurity. Children orphaned due to militants’ actions are often left at the mercy of God to face the world with no source of solace. It is for such underprivileged children that “Ankur” has been conceptualised by the army. The project for which the foundation stone was laid in August last has been completed in a record time of four
months. |
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