TOP STORY OF THE DAY |
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| 'Illegal' search committee ignored professionals over personal friends | | Appointment of Secretary JKAACL | | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 20: Illegally constituted search committee for finding Secretary for Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) has seemingly given precedence to personal relationships over professional capability.
Headed by Prof. Rehman Rahi of Kashmir University, the committee which included Prof. Nilambhar Dev Sharma alongwith Commissioner/Secretary Tourism Shailender Kumar and Secretary GAD Mohammad Asharaf Bukhari zeroed in five government officials of the Central as well as state governments both retired and serving. These included ex-Director Radio Kashmir Basheer Arif, ex-History Professor of Kashmir University (KU) Farooq Fayaz, Assistant Professor in Kashmir University Aziz Hajini, low-profile and little known TV Producer Ayash Arif and IFS officer O.P. Vidhyarthi.
Rahi, according to sources had kept Basheer Arif at number 1 in the list of individuals recommended for appointment as Secretary to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Basheer retired as Director of Radio Kashmir and if the newspaper reports are to be believed... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| Seek adjustment of favourite in Dogri deptt | | Student leaders intimidate JU authorities | | | Arun Singh
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 20: Instead of advocating the cause of student community, some self styled student leaders have reportedly been intimidating Jammu University authorities, to get their personal benefits fulfilled including jobs for kith and kin and to secure various types of contracts in the varsity.
Sources informed Early Times that since new Vice Chancellor RD Sharma has taken over the charge of the varsity, a group of self styled student leaders, very close to former VC Prof. MPS Isher have been raising various types of issues, only to intimidate new VC, who is reportedly very honest and has refused to knelt down before these vested interest leaders, who ha... | |
| | | | Another sarpanch falls on last phase of polling | | | | Syed Tahir Bukhari
Early Times Report
BARAMULLA, Dec 20: On the fifth and last phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, another Sarpanch was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Bomai area of Sopore town of District Baramulla in North Kashmir on Saturday.
According to sources that, Ghulam Ahmad Bhat 65, Sarpanch was shot dead from very close range by unidentified gunmen in Bomai area of Sopore town on Saturday morning..
"Bhat had won during Panchayat elections on the ticket of National Conference, however he had supported Congress party during the ongoing assembly elections, he said.
"Bhat was shot at near his residence,while being shifted to hospital he succumbed to his bul... | |
| | | | With counting round the corner political potpourri takes centre stage | | | | Mudasir Tariq
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Dec 20: With only few days left for the counting of votes in the state speculations about formation of the next government are rife. It is generally predicted that no party will be able to get 44 seats.
The main competition, according to the poll pundits, is between BJP and PDP, as opinion polls have also suggested a competition between them.
All eyes are on post poll alliance and the discussions are going on in streets and inside households.
Post poll alliance gossips have come out of the political party offices and reached to roads. Masses are busy in discussing the voting trend. Different views are being shared on post poll alliance a... | |
| | | | Valley based tourism players chip in to make Kashmir smoke free tourist destination | | | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Dec 20: Valley based tourism bodies have decided to make the tourist places free from smoking so that Kashmir comes up as a smoke free tourist destination. This step has also been taken in order to curtail the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products among general masses. Showkat Chaudhary, President Kashmir Hotel & Restaurant Association (KHARA) said that his organization comprising of hoteliers is very much serious in promoting a tobacco free Kashmir. He said for realizing this dream the association will pool in all resources and ensure that public places like hotels and restaurants are made 100 percent tobacco free. KHARA which is wo... | |
| | | | Hung Assembly in offing | | | | Sandeep Bhat
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 20: The stage is all set for yet another hung assembly as no party seems strong enough to form the government on its own.
Any coalition is possible in the state but more prominent is PDP- Congress coalition because if sources are to be believed, PDP will be the single largest party and as per rule, governor will invite the single largest party to form the government in the state and Congress will be PDP's first choice. The two parties have been together in 2002-2008 government.
Next option is BJP which may become second largest in the state and will opt for NC. There is no question of PDP and NC combine as both are regional forces and have ... | |
| | | | NC workers 'intimidate' people to vote for Rana | | Rana Murdabad, Gundagardi Nahi Chalegi, Shame, Shame… shout protesters | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 20: In a matter of shame, some NC workers and hardcore supporters of the NC provincial president and party candidate from Nagrota Devinder Singh Rana, today forced some people to vote for NC following which voting had to be suspended for nearly 15 minutes in Nagrota-70 assembly segment.
As per video evidence in possession of Early Times, people staged anti-Rana demonstration and shouted slogans against him for using "forcible ways" to intimidate people to vote in NC's favour.
The incident took place at polling station number 43 in Rathore Dhok area of the Nagrota constituency where some hardcore supporters of Rana forced people to vote for NC.
Outraged by ... | |
| | | | Dearth of doctors paralyses health institutions' functioning at Kalakote | | 14 odd doctors catering to needs of 43 health institutions | | | Bijay Charak
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 20: For 43 health institutions in Kalakote block of Rajouri, there are only 14 doctors, including the Block Medical Officer (BMO), exposing the tall claims of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to improve healthcare facilities across the state.
Sources informed Early Times that in Kalakote block, there are two Community Health Centres (CHCs), four Primary Health Centres (PHCs), five Allopathic Dispensaries and around 31 Sub-Health Centre (SHCs).
The people of Kalakote block are facing severe hardships due to the shortage of requisite staff in these health institutions, catering to the needs of lakhs of people.
"In CHC Kalakote, against the sanctio... | |
| | | | 5th phase records 76% voting: CEO | | '66% polling recorded in 2014 LA polls' | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 20: The Chief Electoral Officer Umang Narula today said that about 76% voters exercised their right to franchise in the 5th and final phase of Assembly Elections-2014 held in 20 constituencies spread across three districts of Kathua, Jammu and Rajouri.
Addressing a news conference here the Chief Electoral Officer said the highest turnout was recorded as 83.20 % in Bani and lowest as 60% in Gandhinagar.
He said Basholi recorded 78.50%, Kathua 80.47%, Billawar 77.... | |
| | | | 4 FIRs lodged against political activists, Cong Minister booked for attempt to murder | | Last Phase ends on stormy note | | | Sumit Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 20: Fifth and final phase of assembly elections 2014 ended on a stormy note with Police registering four First Information Reports (FIRs) against PDP and BJP activists and booking a Congress minister for indulging in violence and violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Sources told Early Times, District Election authorities, Kathua registered two separate FIRs against a Minister and Independent candidate for violating MCC and indulging in violence. FIR No 187/14 u/s 147, 148, 149, 353, 323, 336 and 307 RPC was registered at Billawar Police Station against Minister of State Manohar Lal Sharma for leading a mob which allegedly attacked the BJP can... | |
| | | | Voters interest shifts from polling percentage to poll results in J&K | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 20: Now that the last phase of the Assembly poll process in Jammu and Kashmir has ended today the main interest has shifted from the polling percentage to the results. The focus being on whether the election will throw up a hung Assembly warranting formation of a coalition Government or any single party is voted to power.
Another issue of interest pertains to the nature of coalition formation in case the election threw up a hung House. Will it be the PDP-Congress coalition? Will it be the Congress-NC coalition? Will it be the BJP-NC or BJP-smaller parties coalition Government?
Above all peoples' interest not only in Jammu and Kashmir but in rest of the coun... | |
| | | | PDP set to emerge as single largest party in JK: Exit Poll | | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Dec 20: Soon after the polling for the fifth and final phase ended in Jammu and Kashmir today, exit polls conducted by various news channels predicted that People’s Democratic Party is all set to emerge as the single largest party, while the BJP may become the second largest party in Jammu and Kashmir.
The India TV-C Voter exit poll claimed that PDP would win 32-38 seats in a House of 87. The BJP, which was contesting under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in J&K polls with a 44-plus target, may come up second and is projected to win within a range of 27-33 seats, with most of its seats coming from the Jammu region.
The Congress, which was a ... | |
| | | | Employees make merry as govt takes a nap | | | | Shakeel A Khan
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Dec 20: How much control does the government has over its employees can be gauged from the fact that the most of them visit their offices as and when they wish. The absence of employees from their duties has become problematic for the commoners but when it comes to drawing salaries, there can be no compromise.
The government heeded to their every demand, from the implementation of the sixth pay commission to the enhancement in their retirement age. In fact, the coalition government bowed before the employees but when it comes to services, they neither take the authorities into account nor fear the God.
"The government has failed to maintain th... | |
| | | | PDA shelves HC directive, allows illegal constructions | | | | Saahil Suhail
ET Report
PAHALGAM, Dec 20: In a total disrespect to the High Court directive, Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) has evidently allowed affluent violators, having political and bureaucratic patronage to plunder the fragile environment of this world class tourist resort in south Kashmir by allowing them to raise illegal structures.
Residents of Movera village told Early Times affluent violators resumed construction of the illegal structures prior to elections and it's still continuing.
During a daylong visit to Pahalgam and adjacent areas which were notified in 2013 and brought under the PIL, Early Times found constructions taking palace in broad day light. In Movera a ... | |
| | | | PDP seeks understanding with Centre, political parties | | | |
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 20: Hoping to perform well in Jammu, Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) today said it doesn't need any allies for government formation but need the political parties to run the state.
As the news reports are making rounds that PDP would need some external support for the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP says it needs a better understanding with the Centre and political parties to get the state out of crises.
After the exit poll results which gave PDP 32-38 seats in JK, the party says it expects more than the predicted results. "Our hopes of making the government of our own have further strengthened. We don't need any allies but need all of them ... | |
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