TOP STORY OF THE DAY |
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| Govt may order Crime Branch probe into Rs 30 cr JKEDA scam established by CAG | | Minister Ruhullah cancelled supply order but officers still purchased solar lights worth Rs 11.24 crore from blacklisted firm | | | Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 26: The State Finance Ministry, now operating under Dr Haseeb Drabu, is understood to be considering Crime Branch investigation into the Rs 30 crore solar lights scandal involving top officials of the Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency [JKEDA].
Well-placed sources in Finance Department revealed to this writer on Thursday that over the last one year, auditors of the State Accountant General's office have investigated a major embezzlement of the funds provided by the Centre for setting up solar light units in the villages not covered by the Power Development Department. It has been established during the investigation that almost all these units, installed with the financial support of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, have been provided to the people of the electrified villages on the recommendation of different politicians and officers.
Comptroller and Auditor General of India [CAG] has compiled a detailed report on this investigation which is likely to figure in the CAG report being tabled in both Houses of J... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| Supported Kavinder Gupta for Mayor post, called him 'Hindu' in House | | NC is a strange party! | | | Fazal Khan
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 26: National Conference is a strange party! It can oppose or support anyone. National Conference behaving strangely was once again evident earlier this week in the Legislative Assembly when one of its legislators Javed Rana abused the speaker and BJP leader Kavinder Gupta and called him "Hindu Speaker."
Someone needs to remind the National Conference that it supported Gupta when he contested the elections for Mayorship of the Jammu Municipal Corporation. It's an open secret that a senior NC leader from Jammu region was instrumental in ensuring Gupta's win. At that point of time NC found no harm in supporting the BJP candidate whom one of its ... | |
| | | | Why not the status of shehr-e-khas to Jammu city? | | White paper on Dogra heritage | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 26: The Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS), which was founded in Jammu in 1904 by public-spirited citizens with the maharaja of the state as its patron, on Wednesday raised an important issue. It urged the PDP-BJP coalition government to come out with "White Paper" containing details on the condition of Dogra heritage sites, including the historical Mubarak Mandi complex, the seat of Dogra power.
It appears it was the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) devised by the PDP and the BJP for running the administration that motivated the DSS leadership to demand white paper on the Dogra heritage sites, which are in a very bad shape.
The CMP says that the coalition government wou... | |
| | | | WP Refugees and Nirmal committee | | Exercise in futility | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 26: West Pakistan refugees, who have been struggling since 1947 to obtain citizenship rights in Jammu and Kashmir, should not expect that the BJP would do all that is required to be done in this regard. They are destined to lead a miserable life for many more years. It is true that patron of PDP and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has set up a committee under senior BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh to look into the issue of their "sustenance and livelihood". But it is also a fact that the committee is toothless; it has no mandate to consider their age-old genuine democratic demand seeking rehabilitation in the state ... | |
| | | | Soft policy against terror could prove counter productive | | Separatists attend Pak day amid BJP silence | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 26: Separatists attending Pakistan day celebrations in Delhi earlier this week has not evoked any reaction from the Baharatiya Janta Party (BJP). No fingers were raised this time around nor were any noises made. Mostly separatists from Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani to Javed Mir rushed to Delhi to attend the dinner hosted by the Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit.
An analyst while talking to Early Times said, "Surprisingly, none of the BJP leaders reacted to Pakistan High Commission hosting separatists. Nor did they term the move as anti-India. It passed off as a routine practice."
Pertinently, last year Pakistan High Commission was reprimanded b... | |
| | | | Old toilet complexes painted to project as newly constructed | | RDD officials attempt to mislead Minister | | | Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 26: The officials of Rural Development Department (RDD) were caught on the wrong foot, when the Minister during a visit to RS Pura, raised serious objections over the status of beneficiaries of Individual Household Latrine Scheme (IHLS) scheme under Swatch Bharat Mission Grameen (SBMG).
Sources informed Early Times that the Minister of Rural Development Department (RDD) got infuriated during an inspection at RS Pura nearly ten days back, when he found that old toilet complexes were again painted and shown as newly constructed under IHLS scheme.
"As per scheme, an amount of Rs. 12,000 is given to the individual, who builds toilet, on his own but ... | |
| | | | BJP leadership not happy with performance of party ministers, MLAs in Assembly | | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 26: Notwithstanding symbolic ruckus created by party MLAs after National Conference MLA Javed Rana passed derogatory religious remarks against Speaker of the Assembly, BJP leadership is not happy the way party legislators and ministers have handled the issue. Party leadership wanted to intensify this issue to expose National Conference in Jammu region but BJP MLAs failed to rake up this issue effectively.
Credible sources in the BJP said that after yesterday's "Hindu Speaker" remarks appeared in today's news papers, BJP leadership took party MLAs to task for their failure to effectively take up this issue on the floor of the House. Party leadership spoke to... | |
| | | | Govt denies compensation to Chamail's family | | After dying in a Pak prison | | 
Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 26: The government of Jammu and Kashmir today ruled out any compensation to the family of deceased Indian prisoner Chamail Singh who died in Kotlakhpath jail in Pakistan on January 15,2013.
In reply to AQ.Q. No. 755 of Sat Pal Sharma (MLA Jammu West), Chief Minister Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Mohammad Sayed who also hold the charge of Home Minister J&K in his reply through under secretary to Government Home Department stated that no compensat... | |
| | | | One contractual teacher teaches 310 students in a school in Doda | | | | Bijay Charak
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 26: While Omar government harped upon assigning top priority to the education sector in the state, Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Topneel, Doda where one contractual teacher of English taught more than 300 students of 12th standard in one classroom exposed its tall claims. Sources informed Early Times that the Higher Secondary School Topneel of district Doda has only one contractual English teacher for more than 300 students in one class. English subject is not an isolated case which has only one contractual teacher, other subjects of Science stream including Physics, Chemistry and Biology also have one contractual teacher in each.... | |
| | | | Centre sets norms of expenditure for states under NFSA | | State's Central tax share hiked from 32% to 42 % | | | Javaid Naikoo
Srinagar, Mar 26: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has set norms of the expenditure and pattern of central sharing on Central assistance to States including Jammu and Kashmir under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), an assistance used for meeting expenditure on intra-state movement and handling of food grains and Fair Price Shop dealers margin. The norms of expenditure and pattern of central sharing has been divided as per category of States and special category States/UTs are the seven States of North East including Sikkim, the Hill States of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand and Island UTs o... | |
| | | | Congress under attack for its good work | | Erosion of State's status | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 26: The Congress on Wednesday came under sharp attack in the Legislative Assembly for al the good work it did in the past to bring the state closer to India and defeat the evil designs of the votaries of greater autonomy and Pakistan. The Congress had between August 1953 and 1994 brought the state under the purview of several central laws and institutions and brought it at par with other states of the Union. The successive Congress governments at the centre had, for example, extended 260 out of 395 Articles of the Indian Constitution, 94 out of 97 entries in the Union List and 26 out of 47 entries in the Concurrent List extended to Jammu and Kashmir. All the... | |
| | | | Renovation of state's historic theatres hangs in balance for four years | | | | G S Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 26: Four years since Union government had approved funds for renovation of two historic centers of state's performing arts, no amount has been released leaving the much needed renovation of these complexes in quandary.
Sources informed Early Times that two prestigious Theater complexes of Jammu and Kashmir including Abhinav Theatre in Jammu and Tagore Theatre in Kashmir, were in dilapidated condition, and four years back, a proposal was approved by Union Government to renovate these Theatres.
According to the proposal approved by Union government, sources said, 40 percent of project cost for both theaters was to be born by state government w... | |
| | | | Double humped camel, Zanskari horse almost extinct | | 33% illiteracy in JK | | |
Bivek Mathur
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 26: Notwithstanding the fact, that there has been an improvement in the literacy ratio of the state during the last decade, but still it is a matter of great concern that out of 100 people 33 are still plagued by illiteracy.
Literacy rate among males in the state as per census 2011 is 76.75% which is below the literacy rate of 80.9% among men at the national level. Literacy rate among females in the state as per census 2011 is 56.43% which is much below the female literacy rate of 64.6% at the national level. Gender gap is wider in J&K as compared to India. The astounding figures have come to fore from Economic Survey, Jammu and Kashmi... | |
| | | | Coordination Committee to serve as 'political cabinet' for BJP, PDP govt | | To discuss 'contentious' matters before going public | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 26: In what can be seen as both the alliance partners PDP and BJP having taken a step forward to ensure ties are on a firm pedestal in future, the government today announced a high level Coordination committee with veteran leaders from the two parties on board . The Committee is being seen as a political cabinet of the alliance government which will discuss and take final call on all political matters and also stand as a forum to tone down controversies on contentious issues which may erupt between the two ideologically divided parties in coming times. Even as first meeting of the Coordination Committee has been fixed tomorrow, it may not see any serious... | |
| | | | KEA-Khan accuses Director Geology & Mining of stopping mining arbitrarily | | Apprehends loss of revenue to state ex-chequer | | |
Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Mar 26: At a time when the state government has announced to act against the inefficient officials, a premier association of businessmen in Kashmir has alleged that the head of a particular department is indulging in malpractices in his own backyard.
Kashmir Economic Alliance-Khan (KEA-K) headed by Mohammad Yasin Khan said that Director Geology and Mining has been showing inimical attitude towards all the miners/lease holders. Khan said that the officer was once sidelined for his arrogant and corrupt nature, but managed a comeback.
"The return has made Director Geology and Mining more aggressive and mean. He minces no words in saying th... | |
| | | | One doctor for 2114 patients in NC regime | | JK's ailing health sector | | |
Arun Singh
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 26: Even though Jammu and Kashmir State has won the best state award in health sector two times during National Conference led coalition government but the facts on the ground is totally different which paints the murky picture of previous dispensation. According to Economic Survey report 2014-15 of Jammu and Kashmir, there is only one doctor over 2114 patient which is insufficient against the recommended norm of World Health Organization (WHO) of one doctor over 1000 patients. "However the number of medical institutions has increased considerably over the years from 124 to 5532 (1950-2014) but still there huge dearth of doctors across ... | |
| | | | Rana fails to bring anything startling regarding Er Rashid | | NC provincial president had given similar threats to BJP MLAs last year | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 26: Outspoken provincial president of National Conference and MLA from Nagrota assembly segment, Devender Singh Rana had warned to expose MLA Langate Engineer Rashid on Wednesday but today he failed to bring anything startling regarding Engineer Rashid.
NC members and Engineer Rashid had entered into verbal dual when later was protesting over non-listing of his resolution of bringing back mortal remains of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. When Engineer Rashid was attacking some Kashmir based NC MLAs, Devender Rana, as per his habit, intervened and asked to expose Rashid. Rana said that he know many things about Rashid and would expose him. Although ord... | |
| | | | Advani, Swami disapprove BJP's Kashmir, Pak policy | | Fissures within | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 26: People across the country are unhappy with the manner in which it compromised its ideology to come to power in Jammu and Kashmir, as also in which the BJP-led NDA Government forced Minister of State for External affairs and former Chief of Army Staff General VK Singh to participate in the Pakistan Day party in new Delhi on March 23 in which seven Kashmiri traitors were also present.
The manner in which the BJP gave up its agenda and barter the interests of Jammu region to share power in the state has led the people to believe that "the BJP has cheated them" and that "it is worse then even the Congress which left no opportunity after 1947 to harm Jammu's... | |
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