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Finally , it is official: Cabinet expansion, reshuffle on Jan 15,Oath ceremony at 4 PM We will not ask our Ministers to resign : Soz 1/14/2013 1:21:13 AM SAROJ RAzdan Jammu, Jan 13: It is now official. After deferring the move for over two years, the J&K Government would effect reshuffle and expansion of its Cabinet on January 15. The oath taking ceremony of Min-isters has been scheduled in Rajbhawan at 4 PM. Congress, major ally in ruling coalition will induct at least two new Min-isters against the berths that have been lying vacant and get back its two vital portfolios in the exercise. In order to give final shape to things including the names before reconstituting the cabinet, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and J&K PCC chief Prof Saif-u-Din Soz held a detailed meeting this evening at Om-ar's official residence in the winter capital. Sources said Prof Soz soon after his arrival to winter capital rushed to CM's residence where the duo discussed in detail about reconstitution of the Cabinet, a step which is being taken first time after present coalition came to power in 2008. Sources said JKPCC chief, who has been mandated by the High Command on behalf of Congress to take final call and decision with regard to names and portfolio...   READ MORE

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Now Kamaal contradicts Sheikh Nazir 'Accord had the tacit blessings of Sheikh Abdullah' 1/14/2013 1:20:43 AM Bashir Assad Jammu, Jan 13: Contradicting his Uncle and Party General Secretary, Sheikh Nazir Ahmad on his assertions on 1975 Beg-Parthasarthy accord, additional general secretary and chief spokesperson of National Conference, Dr. Mustafa Kamaal today said the accord was in writing between two heads of the governments who never met to ink this accord but was signed by their respective representatives. It merits a mention here that ailing NC General Secretary, Sheikh Nazir Ahmad had said in an interview to a local daily that before leveling allegations against the Sheikh Abdullah, people should read history and check the facts. The 1975 accord doesn't have the signature of Sheikh Sahib;...   READ MORE   Kamaal revives diatribe against Congress 1/14/2013 1:19:46 AM Bashir Assad Jammu, Jan 13: National Conference-Congress alliance in Jammu and Kashmir has proved to be incompatible beca-use track record of Congress has proved it, be it 1977 withdrawal of support or present day partisan politics of Congress. This was stated by additional General Secretary NC Dr. Sheikh Mu-stafa Kamaal while talking to Early Times on Monday. "despite best efforts to strengthen the coalition the Congress is playing spoil spot by playing regional politics including the resettlement issue of west Pakistani refugees" Kamal said while referring to the latest statements of some Congress leaders over the resettlement of WP refugees. "raising such issues now when they could h...   READ MORE   Terror strikes Panchs, Sarpanchs; 20 resign State in expansion fervor forgets all 1/14/2013 1:18:21 AM Javaid naikoo srinagar, Jan 13: In the wake of the fresh militant attacks on Panchayat members in Jammu and Kashmir, around 20 panches and sarpanches of the Baramulla district today tendered their resignations here citing "threats to their lives". Addressing media persons the panches/sarpanches annou-nced, "today we are tendering our resignations in front of you, but we will officially send our resignation letters to the concerned Block Development Officers and Deputy Commissioner Baramulla tomorrow. They said fresh attacks on Panchayat members in the area have created a sense of fear among the members who are now opting for resignations, and have accused the government of not taking ad...   READ MORE   I will never sit with Congress Ministers: Kamaal 1/14/2013 1:18:41 AM early times report Jammu, Jan 13: Putting all the speculations about his induction into the Council of Ministers to rest, National Confe-rence Additional Gene-ral Secretary, Dr. Mustafa Kamaal today said that he will never be a part of government under the given scenario. "I have my reservations regarding induction in the Council of Ministers which have been conveyed to the party President Dr. Farooq Abdu-llah and General secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmad" said Kamal. Apparently referring to the Congress ministers and Agriculture minister, GH. Hassan Mir, Kamal said, "it will not be in the fitness of the things to be sitting with the people with whom I will not be able to get on well becaus...   READ MORE   Injured woman panch's family turns down security offer early times report 1/14/2013 1:18:06 AM Srinagar, Jan 13: Amidst growing demand for providing security to panchayat members in Jammu and Kashmir, the family of a woman panch injured in a shooting said they did not want security as that could invite more trouble. "We do not want security... That could lead to more trouble for the family. If we have (security) forces to guard our home, that could make them (suspected militants) target us again," Mohammad Ramzan, husband of Zoona Begum, told. Zoona was shot yesterday evening in the neck by suspected militants inside her house at Hardshiva Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, 52 kms from here. She is undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit of a hospital. Thi...   READ MORE   Home Deptt ignored warning of security threat to Panchs, Sarpanchs MLA holds Govt responsible, says 'Minister gave false assurance' 1/14/2013 1:16:54 AM early times report Srinagar, Jan 13: What has turned out to be a serious security lapse on part of the Omar Abdullah government which cost lives of at least 2 sarpanchs in north Kashmir's Sopore area and resulted in critical injuries to another, it has come to light that the state's Home department had ignored a specific warning of threat to the lives of panchayat members from a legislator of the area. Holding the state government responsible for deaths of panchayat members, People’s Democratic Party MLA from Sangrama constituency in Bar-amulla district, Syed Basharat Bukhari, said that the government had ignored his specific warning over risk to the lives of panchs and sarpanchs in n...   READ MORE   Jammu's super specialty 'Maternity Hospital' dies a political death 1/14/2013 1:15:57 AM Early Times Report Jammu, Jan 13: The construction of 200 bed super specialty 'Maternity Hospital' at an estimated cost of Rs 55 crores at Gandhi Nagar has come under slew of controversies due to its location, which the experts say does not fulfill the standard guidelines necessary for such a mega and important project. "Not any Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared before the start of the construction, besides no administrative or technical approval was taken from planning department of the State" sources claimed. They further said that two maternity hospitals were sanctioned for the State, one each for Jammu and Srinagar. "At Srinagar, work on said hospital is going on, in 45...   READ MORE   If honesty and integrity are yardsticks MLA Poonch could get Ministerial berth 1/13/2013 11:41:29 PM Early TImes report Jammu, Jan 13-Now that the State Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has finally decided to reshuffle his council of ministers it is reasonable to expect some new faces in the cabinet who have a proven record of honesty and integrity besides a reputation for addressing the problems of the common man. One example of honesty and integrity besides proven capability and a track record of hard work is MLA Poonch, Ajaz Jan. While allegations of nepotism and corruption have been leveled against some ministers and elected representatives during the last four years, Ajaz Jan stands out as somebody upon whom the electorate of Poonch has complete faith. During the last four years J...   READ MORE   J&K Babus prevail over Supreme Court ban; 1.5 KM radius area demarcated as Patnitop, rest available for construction activity Threat to Ecology 1/14/2013 1:11:31 AM Syed Junaid Hashmi JAMMU, Jan 13: In breach of Supreme Court order putting a blanket ban on the construction activity in and around ecologically sensitive Patnitop area, state government got area of 1.5 kilometers in radius demarcated as territorial jurisdiction of Patnitop to ensure builders wreak havoc outside this limit. Within months of getting the demarcation done, Buildings Operations and Controlling Authority (BO-CA) of Patnitop Develo-pment Authority (PDA) stepped in and gave 13 building permissions. If the sources are to be believed, state government got area falling under ecologically sensitive Patnitop demarcated in the wake of silent lobbying by politically well-connected Bure...   READ MORE   Govt sits over roads, tunnels to connect Doda with Kashmir 1/14/2013 1:15:11 AM Early Times Report Jammu, Jan 13: The Jammu and Kashmir government has failed to take up the issue of construction of roads and tunnels connecting Doda and Kisht-war districts with Kashmir valley despite getting all the information of estimation of funds to be utilized. Tunnels connecting Des-sa in Doda to Kapran in Anantnag districts and Singhpora in Kishtwar and Vialoo in Anantnag districts would provide alternate route to people of erstwhile district Doda to valley, but the government is not taking up this issue with central government for funds. This is the long pending demand of people of erstwhile district Doda, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar to give them an easy and short access to Kashm...   READ MORE   Union Govt's Job placement project "Himayat" fails to take off in J&K Out of targeted one lakh jobs, only 610 placed, Chenab valley ignored 1/14/2013 1:12:21 AM Asif Iqbal Naik Kishtwar, Jan 13: Much hyped central government job placement scheme (Himayat) for unemployed youths of trouble hit state of Jammu and Kashmir has failed to take off even after nearly one and a half year since it was announced in Septe-mber 2011 followed by a valedictory function at Srinagar on December 17, 2011 in which Union Minister Jai Ram Ramesh along with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah annou-nced this project. Both made tall claims and pro-mises with the unemployed youths of the state by promising them job through this central sponsored scheme. But as per sources , only 610 youths gets job placement under this scheme so far out of 1662 youths who completed various cou...   READ MORE   Why discriminate between molestation by Constable, Inspector? 1/14/2013 1:12:38 AM early times report Jammu, Jan 13: The hypocrisy of state police came to the fore after a constable was booked at Bari Brahmana police station recently for molesting a girl in moving bus. The cop identified as Rajinder Singh was under the influence of liquor when he committed crime and was booked under section 294 of the RPC, totally shutting their eyes to similar crime by an Inspector. Ironically, while the poor constable was booked, the inspector in question was awarded promotions and accolades. Rafiq Manhas, the former SHO police station Gandhi Nagar, who was accused by a young girl of molesting her when the former rounded her up from the university cafeteria, was not only granted p...   READ MORE   Pall of gloom descends on acting Ministers, aspirants all smiles Omar's resignation salvo! 1/14/2013 1:16:12 AM Syed Junaid Hashmi JAMMU, Jan 13: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's political salvo of asking his trusted and tested colleagues to resign from their respective positions has brought smiles to aspirants and spelled pale of doom over acting ministers, one of the two political advisors and heads of various statutory bodies. Omar has asked the aspirants not to knock at his door, instead have faith in God and leave the induction as well as portfolio allocation to him. However, Having got addicted to stagnancy and routine leak of expansion-reshuffle talk in the media, this political salvo has re-ignited the issue of NC trying to salvage some pride by bringing in new faces and assigning the job of ...   READ MORE   Instead of taking action against Pak, Congress Government decides to yield Going against national mood 1/14/2013 1:14:13 AM Neha JAMMU, Jan 13: The outraged, shocked and deeply moved Indian nation is up in arms against Pakistan, which on January 8 brutally killed our two soldiers in the Mendhar sector, mutilated their bodies and chopped off the head of one of them. The entire nation wants the Congress government to take action against Pakistan so that the morale of our armed forces is boosted and real tributes paid to the martyred soldiers. The Army is also in a state of shock not because it is incompetent to avenge the killings of its troops but because it is not being allowed to act against the perpetrators of Mendhar, who were congratulated by the Pakistani authorities and promised a reward for the inhuman a...   READ MORE   Fresh firing by Pak troops ahead of flag meeting 1/13/2013 11:42:01 PM JAMMU: Ahead of Monday's Indo-Pak flag meeting to defuse tension along line of control (LoC), Pakistani troops on Sunday evening violated the ceasefire again, targeting Indian posts in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier today, Pakistan agreed to hold a 'brigade commander' level flag meeting along the LoC in Poonch to discuss the recent intrusion and brutal killing of jawans besides continued ceasefire violations by its soldiers that have flared tension in the region. Pakistani troops fired on the Indian posts in Nangitikri forward area along LoC in Poonch district around 4.30pm, after heavy overnight firing in Krishnagati sub-sector in Poonch, a Army officer said. The overnigh...   READ MORE   Coordination Committee meeting today 1/14/2013 1:20:54 AM early times report Jammu, Jan 13: In the fast and hectic political activities ahead of crucial reshuffle, the coalition partners have convened the meeting of Coordination Committee tomorrow. The meeting would be chaired by JKPCC Chief Prof Saif-u-Din Soz and attended by members from both the alliance partners. Though Coordination committee meeting has nothing to discuss about the reshuffle and expansion, which is solely the prerogative of the leaders at the helm of both the parties, it is expected to take up certain key and pending issues and tasks related to governance of the government. ...   READ MORE   Regressive forces support, oppose the Maharaja simultaneously WP refugee issue: Bloody agitation threatened --I 1/14/2013 1:12:58 AM Rustam JAMMU, Jan 13: Regressive forces in Kashmir are opposing and supporting Maharaja Hari Singh simultaneously. They are supporting him because he in 1927 introduced State Subject Definition with a view to preventing the outsiders from settling in Jammu & Kashmir and acquiring jobs under the state government. Maharaja Hari Singh had taken this step in the wake of the Kashmiri leadership's demand asking the state government to "import educated persons from Punjab and other parts of British India to man all important official positions in the state on the ground that the state already had sufficient educated persons. It was the Dogra Sadar Sabha of the time which had persuaded Maharaja H...   READ MORE

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Omar inaugurates Lakhanpur Toll Plaza Kaman Aman Setu, being used for cross LoC trade, gets more facilities NC leader's remarks objectionable: Bazaz Rajouri BJP activists march towards LoC Bhalla launches Rs 25 lakh dev works at Gandhi Nagar Saroori expresses concern over non availability of basic amenities PYC flags off delegation of Sarpanchs, Panchs to study PRIs Avail maximum benefit from Govt schemes: DyCM to people Festivals give message of brotherhood, peace: Malhotra MLA Kathua inaugurates drainage work Sanatan Dharam Sabha organizes prog to celebrate Lohri JKJIF organizes national Jat Intellectuals meet J&K Bank conducts SDP in Kupwara, Pulwama Sham celebrates Lohri with physically challenged 'Kahani Hum Badlenge' a new Hindi Play staged in Natrang's Sunday Theatre Series People living near LoC seek grant for constructing bunkers SIEF pays tributes to Swami Vivekanand AJKPC demands Omar Abdullah's resignation over sarpanch's killing Ex- Director demands inquiry against Chairman 'Jammu Central Co-operative Bank' Pak tasks ultras to plant mines India, Pak trade fire along LoC in Poonch overnight Pakistan's LoC bunkers have 'made by China' stamp 2,500 ultras waiting to cross over into J&K JSM protests Nazir's pro-plebiscite statement 5 years after Kashmir girl's rape-murder, family waits for justice KPC concerned over Hurriyat leaders' meeting with LeT, HM chiefs Kaith Welfare Society organizes programme 'Mulaqat' at Langotian District level talent hunt "Choona Hai Aasman" on Jan 21 Slight relief from cold in Kashmir valley Pathania rues over lack of education facilities in Ramnagar NSUI, IYC hold meeting with General Manager NHPC PYC demands deployment of SRTC buses in Doda Cong asks DGP to probe into Sarpanch's killing Barwal Panchayat forms judiciary committee Narcotic smuggler held, his wife booked for allegedly assaulting police   READ MORE THIS SECTION

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