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| Controversial remarks land up Cong minister in trouble | | Show cause notice issued, clarification sought within 7 days | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, Dec 12: Following furore in political corridors caused by the statement loaded with controversial contours by the Health minister Sham Lal Sharma , the Congress High Command has issued show cause notice to him seeking to clarify his position on the remarks within a week's time. The show cause notice has been issue by the party High Command over his remarks in the statement in which he reportedly supported independence (Azadi) for Kashmir ,separate statehood for Jammu and UT status for Ladakh region.
Though Sharma remained inaccessible for his comments over the high command's move, he is reported to have said that he has learnt notice has been issued but he has not yet received it. Sources however said the show cause notice issued has been to the minister on Friday in which he has been asked to explain his remarks and the context in which those were made while speaking at a public rally at Bani on December 5.
Speaking at a party rally in a hilly and remote area of Bani in Kathua district, Sharma in presence of state PCC chief Prof Saif-u-Din Soz and other senior leaders, in the backdrop of continuous discrimination with Jammu region and the political slogans like autonomy and self rule for Kashmir had said that the " if people in the Valley want azadi, let they be given azadi…… Ladakh should get the union territory status and Jammu statehood…………" . It is worthwhile to mention that Sharma's statement stirred up controversy and heated debates in the political circles and the remarks came in for sharp criticism not only from the opposition BJP but also were intensely questioned within the Congress party as well.
Congress sources said that in the wake of the embarrassment the party is facing over these developments, the party leadership, in the notice, also demanded to know from the minister as to why he issued a statement two days after the rally and sought to justify his "azadi" remarks.In the clarification the minister in his defense contended , that he was prompted, rather compelled into saying so by the continuous Congress bashing by the senior National Conference (NC) leader Dr Mustafa Kamal, who happens to be the brother of Dr Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's uncle.
The Congress Minister in his speech at Bani , while giving instances of discrimination had, advocating separate statehood contended that this had become imperative in the wake of the fact that Jammu had been denied its share and the major share goes to Kashmir. "The need of the hour is to ask for Jammu share and get it rightfully so….", This is the only alternative to ensure peace and parity in all the three regions……I appeal to you to consider this viewpoint", Sharma said while pointing towards the PCC Chief
The PCC president Saif-ud-Din Soz, who later dismissed what Sharma uttered in his statement asserted that it was not the policy of the party to get state divided. The policy of the Congress party was to unite the state and keep all the three regions as one united unit. Therefore, it was not proper to ask for statehood for Jammu even if it comes as personal viewpoint of any leader, the PCC chief maintained. However, Prof Soz has now chosen to maintain silence over the issue.
Sharma's statement also generated a lot of heat within the ruling coalition allies with NC terming it as unfortunate and uncalled for. Even within the Congress, a faction of senior leaders have expressed unhappiness and displeasure particularly over his Azadi remarks. In a written complaint they had reportedly sought action against the Health Minister.
Case registered against hotlier for allegedly encroaching graveyard
JAMMU, Dec 11:
Police today registered a case against Bhajan Pal Bhalla, owner of 17 Miles Restaurant and Hotel on Jammu-Samba road, for his alleged act of encroaching upon graveyard land at Salmeri close to his business complex.
An FIR had been registered against Bhalla under section 447 A of RPC, police sources said. Tension gripped Salmeri with people holding demonstrations Saturday
night and Friday morning against the alleged attempt of the hotlier to encroach upon the graveyard land. Sources said Bhalla Friday night hired a JCB to level the land close
to his factory of transformers near the restaurant. While the JCB levelled the land, local Muslims stopped the work and held a demonstration, alleging that the hotlier had entered the graveyard land with an intention to encroach upon it.
An assistant commissioner and an additional SP visited the spot from Samba late Friday night and pacified the people, who returned homes after they were assured that the hotlier would not be allowed to resume work on the disputed land.
The people, however, gathered at Salmeri Friday morning too. As tempers ran high, Samba's deputy commissioner and SSP had rushed to the spot along with Wakaf administrator Raj Mohammad Malik.After conversation with senior officers, the protesters had agreed to disperse on the condition that an inquiry would be held into the
incident.
After a through probe, police today registered a case against Bhalla under section 447 A of RPC, the sources added. Raj Mohammad said the hotlier had allegedly made a similar attempt in 2003 also.
K oil shortage at Samba
JAMMU, Dec 11: The Samba district is faced with acute shortage of kerosene oil for the past few days. Kerosene oil was not available in any part of the district, locals
told The Early Times over phone.
They said they had brought the matter to the notice of authorities concerned, but nothing had been done in this regard so far. They urged the authorities to take requisite steps for adequate supply of kerosene oil to the district.
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