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Vol No. 53 No. 48 JAMMU, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2017 REGD.NO.JK-71/15-17 16 Pages ` 4.00 ExcelsiorRNI No. 28547/65 Resentment among party Legislators, who fail to get Ministry CM sheds Horticulture, takes Culture from Drabu Guv writes to CM on SVC reports Excelsior Correspondent Revolt in PDP as two senior Cabinet Altaf inducted, gets Education; Naeem JAMMU, Feb 17: Governor N N Vohra in a letter to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, has noted with regret that for the past several years there has been continuing failure in timely action shifted to PWD, Veeri Revenue being taken on the reports furnished by the State Vigilance Ministers resign hours after reshuffle Commission (SVC). Bhavan here at 12.30 pm in sim- after including Altaf Bukhari in Bukhari, who is an MLA from Basharat had held the portfo- Sanjeev Pargal He has also observed that no action has so far been taken on the Neeraj Rohmetra ple and brief ceremony that just the Cabinet. His inclusion has Sangrama, when contacted told lio of Law, Justice and recommendations made by the SVC regarding amendments to the JAMMU, Feb 17: Chief lasted three minutes. Bukhari, taken the strength of Council of JAMMU, Feb 17: EXCELSIOR, "I have sent a Parliamentary Affairs, when provisions of the Vigilance Commission Act, 2011. Minister Mehbooba Mufti who was later assigned the Ministry to 24---13 from the Governor has suggested an urgent review meeting at the Chief Revolting openly against party detailed two page statement to was today expanded her ten and charge of Education PDP including the Chief Minister's level and directions being issued to all Ministers and leadership, two senior PDP the Chief Minister, while elabo- heading the Government in 2015 half month old Cabinet by Department, staged comeback in Minister, nine Cabinet Ministers Administrative Secretaries to ensure that all reports/recommenda- Ministers today resigned from rating on the reasons for submit- and had been re-inducted as inducting PDP MLA from the PDP-BJP coalition and three Ministers of State, one tions of SVC are dealt without any delay whatsoever. Cabinet hours after Minister for Revenue, of them with Independent Chief Minister, Relief and Rehabilitation He noted that the SVC was established with the essential objec- Charge while BJP has 11 berths Mehbooba Mufti con- when Mehbooba Mufti tive of promoting honest functioning of the administrative appara- ducted a significant took over the reins of in the Ministry including eight tus and it is of vital importance to ensure transparency and reshuffle among port- Government on April 4, * Watch video on accountability in the functioning of the Governmental machinery folios of her Cabinet 2016. www.excelsiornews.com and to promptly bring to book all those who indulge in dishonest colleagues. Sources in PDP while (Contd on page 6 Col 3) Minister for clarifying on reasons of in the rank of Cabinet and three Revenue, Relief and Basharat's resignation Ministers of State, one of them HC seeks appearance of CEO Gulmarg Rehabilitation, Basharat said, "though several sig- with the Independent Charge. Excelsior Correspondent Bukhari and Minister for nificant portfolios had The Chief Minister left one Information Technology, been held by him earlier vacancy in the Council of , Feb 17: The State High Court today sought per- Ministry, which belonged to the sonal appearance of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gulmarg Technical Education and ting resignation". in view of his performance, he PDP as BJP has exhausted its Development Authority (GDA) before the Court regarding illegal Youth Services and Sports, "For me, my conscience had been stripped off several Governor N N Vohra administering oath of office and secre- quota of 11 as per the power constructions in Gulmarg. Imran Raza Ansari have both and self-esteem is supreme important Departments in cy to PDP leader Syed Altaf Bukhari at Raj Bhavan, Jammu on sharing agreement between the The Division Bench of Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and tendered their resignations to the and with all my sincerity, I today's reshuffle and had been Friday. -Excelsior/ Rakesh two coalition partners. BJP's Chief Minister. had performed whatever left with only Horticulture". Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey in Public Interest Litigation about Reliable sources in PDP said, responsibility was entrusted to Shia religious cleric Imran Amirakadal, Syed Altaf Government after he was tally of 11 included Social protection of famous tourist resort directed the GDA officer to be "immediately after the Chief me by the Chief Minister. Raza Ansari, who won elec- Bukhari as the Cabinet dropped by Mehbooba when she Welfare Minister Sajjad Ghani present before the court on next date of hearing "List on 1st March Minister conducted a reshuffle People of the State can judge tions from constituen- Minister and subsequently took over affairs of the State on Lone, a People's Conference along with all connected MPs enabling the respondents to file their of portfolios of the PDP Cabinet my performance on the basis cy, told EXCELSIOR, "I had carrying out reshuffle of the April 4, 2016 after the death of leader and an ally of the BJP. reply/objections as the case may be. Minister, both the leaders of several important reforms some personal grievances, portfolios involving five her father Mufti Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, who was Meanwhile, concerned /senior officer of Gulmarg booked their tickets to Srinagar initiated by me during this which I have mentioned in a Cabinet Ministers of her Sayeed. Altaf was Works Works Minister in Mufti Development Authority shall remain present on that date to assist on the same flight GO Air 697 tenure", he said in a choked detailed letter to the Chief party, leaving the coalition Minister in Mufti Sayeed dis- Mohammad Sayeed led PDP- the court", DB directed. and subsequently, sent their res- voice and added, "I have sub- Minister and my resignation partners, the BJP, untouched. pensation. BJP coalition Government but The main issues which are being dealt by the Court in the PIL ignations respectively to the mitted a detailed letter to my has nothing to do with today's Governor NN Vohra admin- Mehbooba, carried out was dropped by Mehbooba are encroachments in and around the tourist resort, pollutants emit- ted by the hotels, illegal constructions in and around the tourist Chief Minister". leader and she only can tell the Cabinet reshuffle". istered oath of office and secre- reshuffle in the portfolios of five Mufti along with three others, Senior PDP leader, Basharat reasons". (Contd on page 6 Col 1) cy to Bukhari in the lawns of Raj Cabinet Ministers of the PDP (Contd on page 6 Col 5) (Contd on page 6 Col 3) SEC holds All Party Meeting on elections Cong speaking separatists’ language: Dr Jitendra Govt sanctions prosecution of 6 Excelsior Correspondent Oppn for delimitation of Panchayats Excelsior Correspondent Gandhi to make his stand clear suffer collateral damage (in security forces in Jammu and on the comments of his party anti-terrorist operation). He is were facing higher JAMMU, Feb 17: The State Government has in the last two NEW DELHI, Feb 17: colleagues. therefore appealing that don't casualties due to the manner weeks issued orders sanctioning prosecution in respect of six pub- by independent Agency, not RDD Accusing the Congress of "It is appalling and a matter come in the line of fire," Singh in which the locals were pre- lic servants namely Abdul Qayoom, the then Junior Assistant/ speaking the language of sepa- of worry that the Congress said. venting them from conducting Incharge Establishment in the office of Sub-District Hospital Excelsior Correspondent three regional, attended the ratists and politicising the party,seeing its political future He also targeted the the operations and "at times Surankote Poonch, Mohammad Ramzan, the then ASI of Police meeting and expressed their Army for "lowly political JAMMU, Feb 17: Chief bleak, is falling to the tempta- National Conference, the main even supporting the terrorists Station, Zakura, Srinagar, Dr Bhushan Anand, the then Assistant views on delimitation process gains", the BJP today defend- Electoral Officer (CEO) tion of politicising the Army opposition party in Kashmir, to escape". Accounts Officer, Directorate of Health Services Jammu, Dr and other issues pertaining to the ed Army chief Gen Bipin Shantmanu, who has been des- chief's statement... This party saying, once out of power, it Deepak Kapoor, the then Medical Officer, Department of Panchayat elections. Rawat's statement on tough * Watch video on ignated as State Election can go to any extent for political adopted the jargon of separatist Epidemiology, Jammu, Mohammad Shafi, the then Cashier, "We have taken the view action against locals hamper- www.excelsiornews.com Commission (SEC) by the benefits. It is speaking in the parties, something the Congress Accounts and Treasuries in Treasury Dharmari and Zahoor Ahmad point of all political parties and ing counter-militancy opera- State Government for conduct voice of separatists for lowly was also doing. The Union Minister claimed Sheikh, the then Cashier (Fireman), Fire & Emergency Services will consider them,'' he said, tions in Kashmir. of Panchayat elections, today adding that the political parties political gains," he said. Yesterday, NC spokesman that Kashmiri youth had begun Command, Kulgam for commission of offences, punishable under called All Party Meeting to Addressing a press confer- Citing statements of the Section 5(2) of the Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of were briefed on the conduct of ence at BJP headquarters Junaid Azim Mattu dubbed the realising that they were misled discuss delimitation of Wards Congress leaders like Ghulam Corruption Act. Panchayat elections including here,Union Minister Dr Jitendra statement of the Army chief as by separatists and now wanted and related issues in which the Nabi Azad and Sandeep preparations being made by the Singh, who hails from Jammu & "tragic" and said the govern- to be part of Prime Minister Diskhit, Singh said these were Opposition parties reportedly State Election Commission and Kashmir, attacked Congress ment, instead, should approach Narendra Modi's developmental Protests, clashes in Srinagar, Sopore called for independent delimi- quite unbecoming of a nation- and engage with the youth of agenda. related issues. leaders for criticising General Excelsior Correspondent tation of Wards and not by the Reports said that major Rawat's statement. He said, al party. the militancy-hit Valley. Asked what action the Rural Development Depar- Opposition parties including what the Army chief has stated Defending General Rawat, The Army chief's warning Centre had taken against sepa- SRINAGAR, Feb 17: Protesters clashed with security forces in tment (RDD). National Conference, Congress, was not a "warning" but "con- the Union Minister said, "What had come after four soldiers, ratist parties and their leaders, Srinagar and Sopore today after youth pelted stones on them post Shantmanu told the National Panthers Party etc were cern" expressed by him over the Army chief has said is not a including a Major, were killed Singh said it had been taking Friday prayers. Excelsior that all nine recog- opposed to conduct of delimita- civilians' safety. warning but an expression of in two separate encounters in action from time to time but After the culmination of congregational Friday prayers at Jamia nized political parties in Jammu tion of the Panchayat constituen- Dr Jitendra Singh asked concern. He is worried that Kashmir. "everything could not be Masjid in Nowhatta area of the city, locals took to the streets to and Kashmir, six national and (Contd on page 6 Col 1) Congress vice president Rahul innocent people may be hit and General Rawat had said divulged publicly". protest against the civilian killings in Kashmir. They pelted stones on the security forces, who were deployed there. Allocation reduced from Rs 223 cr to Rs 17 cr during past 4 yrs Police and CRPF intercepted the protesters, triggering clashes. Militant arrested, 2 cops Security forces fired several rounds of tear-gas canisters to dis- perse the protesters. Meager financial resources create hurdles Clashes erupted between protesters and security forces in North hurt in grenade attack Kashmir's Sopore town after Friday prayers. Fayaz Bukhari defying hartal call by playing Groups of protesters tried to march from Jamia Masjid area but cards. "Both the person had were stopped by the security forces already deployed in strength in SRINAGAR, Feb 17: received gunshot wounds but in afforestation of nude forests in J&K the area. Security forces today arrested survived after immediate hospi- Security forces fired teargas to disperse the protesters, who a militant, who was involved talization", he said. *Concern for green gold remains confined to official statements were pelting stones. in a murder and recovered He was also involved in mur- arms and ammunition from der case of 25 year old Zakir Mohinder Verma ty diversion of forest land for (CAMPA) etc. to which only 8015 hectares of his possession. Two police men Ahmad of Mehmoodpora, non-forest purposes is contin- As per the document, the area could be taken up for were injured in a grenade JAMMU, Feb 17: Though uously taking place that too at financial resources for the afforestation. Pattan. "On 09/11/2016 dead afforestation is imperative to attack in Nowgam area of body of one Zakir Hussain a large scale in Jammu and afforestation have been reduced The intensity of continuous Srinagar this evening. mitigate the negative impact of Kashmir during the past sev- considerably during the past decline in financial assistance Badoo aged about 25 years S/o forest land diversion, which is Senior Superintendent of Ghulam Ahmad Badoo R/o eral years. However, pace of four years thereby leaving for the afforestation purpose Police (SSP) Baramulla, Imtiaz taking place at a large scale in afforestation is not up to the adverse impact on this vital can be gauged from the fact Mehmoodpora, Pattan was Jammu and Kashmir because Hussain, said that the militant, found lying on roadside in the mark only because of meager exercise, which otherwise is that during the current finan- of varied reasons including imperative in the maintenance of cial year (up to ending Irshad Ahmad Bhat son of Fayaz outskirts of the village", he said. financial resources despite the development activities, yet ecological balance and environ- December 2016) an amount of Ahmad Bhat of Wailoo, Pattan The SSP said that the dead tall claims of the present dis- meager financial resources are mental stability. only Rs 17.56 crore was made in North Kashmir, was arrested body bore gunshot wounds on pensation about conservation creating hurdles in re-estab- During the financial year available for this vital exercise in a joint operation by Police, chest and prima facie of green gold wealth of the lishment of forest cover there- 2013-14, an amount of Rs 223 as a result of which only 3126 Army and CRPF. appeared to be the case of State. by making it clear that con- crore was made available from hectares of area could be taken "One AK series rifle, 2 AK murder. "Case FIR No This can be gauged from the cern for green gold remains all the resources for afforesta- up and only 8.23 lakh plants magazines, one Chinese pistol, 207/2016 under Sections of 307 official document, the copy of confined to the official state- tion of nude forest areas and were planted. one pistol magazine, four hand RPC and 7/27 Arms Act was which is available with EXCEL- ments of the PDP-BJP by utilizing this amount Forest Since National Afforestation grenades and other ammunition registered in Police Station SIOR. Even in this document, Coalition Government. the Forest Department has Department treated 13603 Programme (NAP) is funded by were recovered from the posses- Pattan.After medico-legal for- The forests are considered admitted that it is administering hectares of area by planting the Government of India, work sion of the militant", he said. malities investigation into the very important as they render forest area of 20.23 lakh 93.05 lakh plants. programme for an amount of Rs The SSP said that the mili- matter was taken up. During ecological services that cannot hectares with meager financial However, during the finan- 1335.45 lakh was submitted by tant was also found involved in the course of investigation it be quantified. Moreover, healthy resources. cial year 2014-15, the allocation the State Government for the firing incident in village surfaced that the deceased was forests add to the wealth and The afforestation is carried was reduced to Rs 80.60 crore as year 2016-17 but the funds are killed by pistol fire by one of Gundari Pora Pattan on August health of a nation but at the same out by the Forest Department a result of which only 8447.53 still awaited from the Centre. his acquaintances having mili- 11, 2016 wherein the accused time there are certain develop- with funds made available under hectares of forest area could be “All this indicates that con- tant affiliations", he added. had fired upon two persons, ment imperatives that necessi- State Sector, District Sector, covered under afforestation cern for the conservation of Evidence-both oral and cir- Abdul Rehman Wani son of tate that forests be cut for a proj- National Afforestation drive by planning merely 55.87 green gold and ensuring fast cumstantial pointed towards the Mahda Wani and Aftab Ahmad ect that is considered as essential Programme and Compensatory lakh plants. In 2015-16, the pace afforestation to mitigate the involvement of one Irshad Bhat son of Abdul Rashid Bhat for large good of the society. Afforestation Fund Management financial resources were negative impact of forest land of same village accusing them of (Contd on page 6 Col 3) It is because of this necessi- and Planning Authority squeezed to Rs 58.47 crore due (Contd on page 6 Col 3)