daily Vol No. 51 No. 60 JAMMU, MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2015 REGD.NO.JK-71/15-17 12 Pages ` 4.00 ExcelsiorRNI No. 28547/1992 Modi, Advani, Joshi witness oath of first-ever PDP-BJP Govt in J&K Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh pose with Council of Ministers after the oath ceremony in Jammu on Sunday. —Excelsior/Rakesh Mufti, 24 Ministers take oath; Hurriyat, militants, Pak PDP soft on AFSPA, BJP relents PDP walks away with lion’s share allowed peaceful polls: CM on Art 370; both commit to Soon after taking oath, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sanjeev Pargal eight Ministers of State took oath Governor NN Vohra, who Sayeed today stoked a controversy saying Hurriyat Conference, of office and secrecy this morning ruled the State for second time militant outfits and “people from across the border”, an oblique Delimitation, Transparency Comms JAMMU, Mar 1: People’s at Zorawar Singh auditorium for 51 days (his first rule being reference to Pakistan, allowed conducive atmosphere for Democratic Party (PDP) patron amidst tight security arrangements from July 11, 2008 to January 5, Assembly polls. PDP seems to have diluted now agreed on maintaining its On AFSPA, the Agenda of “I want to say this on record and I have told this to the Prime Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today in the presence of top BJP leaders 2009 lasting 178 days) adminis- its stand on controversial status quo. Even during cam- the Alliance said: “while both including Prime Minister tered oath of office and secrecy that we must credit the Hurriyat, militant outfits for the conduct of Armed Forces Special Powers paigning in the Assembly elec- parties have historically held a took oath as new Chief Minister Assembly elections in the State,” Sayeed said during a press conference Narendra Modi, BJP president to the Chief Minister and the Act (AFSPA) whereas BJP has tions, the BJP had generally different view on Armed of Jammu and Kashmir along here after being sworn in as head of the PDP-BJP Government in Jammu Amit Shah, party veterans Lal Ministers. With today’s swear- with 24 Ministers—13 from and Kashmir. taken a U-turn on Article 370, avoided reference to Article 370. Forces Special Powers Act and PDP and 11 from BJP—bring- Krishan Advani and Murli ing-in, the first ever PDP-BJP Flanked by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh of BJP and which grants special status to “While recognizing the dif- need for it in the State at pre- ing to an end the 51 days spell of Manohar Joshi, Minister of State Government in Jammu and newly inducted Cabinet Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu of PDP, Sayeed Jammu and Kashmir, while ferent positions and appreciating sent, as part of the agenda for Governor’s rule in Jammu and in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, Kashmir has exhausted the said: “God forbid if they (militants) would have done something. It both the parties have left open the perception, BJP and PDP governance of this alliance, the Kashmir, which had to be Haryana Chief Minister Manohar maximum limit of 25 Ministers would not have been possible to have smooth conduct of the elec- the issue of rehabilitation of have on the Constitutional status coalition Government will imposed in the State on January Lal Khattar, Shahnawaz Hussain, as per the provisions of the State tions.” West Pakistan and other of J&K, considering the political examine the need for de-noti- 8 after caretaker Chief Minister Ram Lal, Ram Madhav, Avinash Constitution, which means there Sayeed said that he felt proud that the people in the heart of Srinagar refugees while chalking out a and legislative realities, the pre- fying disturbed areas. This, as Omar Abdullah refused to con- Rai Khanna, Jugal Kishore will be no further expansion of city came out in large numbers to vote and thanked the “people from common agenda for the sent position will be maintained a consequence, would enable tinue following fractured man- Sharma and Thupstan Chhewang the Ministry unless some across the border” for the “conducive atmosphere” for the smooth con- alliance. on all the Constitutional provi- the Union Government to take date thrown by the Assembly among others. PDP veterans and Ministers were dropped. duct of the elections. Named as the “Agenda for sions pertaining to J&K, includ- a final view on continuation of results on December 23. Lok Sabha MPs Muzaffar Hussain The Governor issued procla- “People from across the border made the atmosphere conducive. Alliance”, which was released ing the special status in the AFSPA in these areas. Seventy nine years old Mufti Baig and Tariq Hamid Qarra were mation after swearing-in ceremo- They also allowed the democratic process to continue in the State. This by Chief Minister Mufti Constitution,” the document said “In this context, the coalition returns to rule the sensitive State of also present. ny ending the spell of Governor’s gives us a hope,” he said in a reference to Pakistan. Mohammed Sayeed, Deputy without directly naming Article Government will thoroughly Jammu and Kashmir after over Of 17 Cabinet Ministers, the rule in the State. He also issued Sayeed also voiced hope that the induction of separatist turned Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh 370. review the security situation in nine years following sudden exit in PDP got away with lion’s share of another order designating Dr mainstream politician Sajjad Gani Lone in the Ministry would open and Cabinet Minister Dr Haseeb The PDP and BJP have the State with a view to examine avenues for others to follow the suit. “Sajjad Gani Lone has given an November 2005 when Congress 11 including the Chief Minister Nirmal Singh as the Deputy Chief Drabu at a press conference, the decided to constitute a steering the need for desirability of all the while BJP got five and one Cabinet Minister. opening, an avenue for others (separatists) to follow,” he said. Agenda spoke about many committee comprising presi- special laws being applied to the had appointed Ghulam Nabi Azad He said peace is a pre-requisite of governance. Ministry went to BJP’s pre-poll The Ministers, who took oath things including political and dents of PDP and BJP State in view of the situation, as the new Chief Minister on the “They (referring to Pakistan) also have assets Hurriyat, other ally Sajjad Lone, a separatist as Cabinet Ministers included completion of three years term of militants, if they had done something (during the election) such a developmental issues. (Mehbooba Mufti and Jugal which is improving.’’ Sayeed as the head of PDP-BJP turned mainstream politician of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (Chief participation of people was not possible. I am proud that heart of the On the Article 370, which Kishore Sharma) and four mem- While the PDP had main- coalition Government. People’s Conference. Of eight Minister), Abdul Rehman Bhat Valley Srinagar also came forward and participated in the elec- gives special status to the state, bers from each party for over- tained in its manifesto that it will A total of 17 Cabinet Ministers Ministers of State, BJP got five and Veeri, Javed Mustafa Mir, Abdul the BJP, which has been seeing implementation of the review the Disturbed Areas Act, including the Chief Minister and PDP three. (Contd on page 7 Col 3) (Contd on page 7 Col 3) demanding its abrogation, has Agenda. (Contd on page 9 Col 1) Historic opportunity: Modi Omar takes pot-shots at BJP, quizzes Mufti to hold Ministers, Cabinet meetings today NEW DELHI, Mar 1: Excelsior Correspondent Terming the BJP-PDP Government a “historic opportunity” to fulfil aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Prime JAMMU, Mar 1: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Minister Narendra Modi today wished the new Government under on Mufti's remark, Mukherjee's stand will have a meeting with entire Council of Ministers followed by the Cabinet tomorrow, his first day in the Civil Secretariat, the seat Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed saying it will take the Excelsior Correspondent embarrass the Saffron party by administered oath of secrecy, here microblogging site Twitter, Omar of the Government, which is presently in winter capital of Jammu. (Contd on page 7 Col 1) also seeking explanation on the today. further attempted to make BJP JAMMU, Mar 1: Taking incumbent CM Mufti Sayeed's It may be recalled that BJP more uncomfortable by seeking (Contd on page 9 Col 3) Credit goes to people, forces: Azad pot-shots at BJP Ministers for remark that Pakistan allowed ideologue and Jan Sangh the saffron part's explanation on swearing allegiance to the same elections in J&K. founder, Shyama Prasad role of security forces and polling Oath ceremony—Sidelights Excelsior Correspondent Constitution of the State, which "BJP Ministers swearing alle- Mukherjee had died under deten- staff in light of Mufti Mohd *The oath ceremony started at 11.10 am immediately after the JAMMU, Mar 1: Taking a dig at Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed their ideologue Shyama Prasad giance to the same Constitution of tion at Lakhanpur jail on June 23, Sayeed's controversial remark that arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and lasted 54 minutes. for his comments crediting forces across the border for smooth Mukherjee died trying to get J&K that Shyama Prasad 1953 while opposing special sta- Pakistan, Hurriyat and militants *In a first, some of the BJP Ministers also shouted ‘Bharat conduct of 2014 Assembly polls, Leader of Opposition in Rajya rid off, the former Chief Mukherjee died trying to get rid tus for J&K State and demanding allowed peaceful conduct of elec- Minister and National of," Omar said in a tweet soon its full integration with the Indian tions in J&K.