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Why babus' tough stance against attachments is farce

6/22/2016 12:33:27 AM

Abodh Sharma Early Times Report JAMMU, June 21: The dictates of the senior officers against attachments of the subordinate officials in various government departments are farce as several senior babus have attached chosen officials with their offices and even residences for their personal convenience. A senior officer of the rank of Commissioner Secretary, who pretends to be vehemently opposed to attachments in his department and takes strict notice of any such order of his subordinate officer, has himself attached a group-D employee of the department he heads to run the errands of his residence in Jammu. Sources divulged to ET that an employee posted in the periphery of Jammu, who ow...

Now, PDP MLA seeks separate colony for tribals

6/22/2016 12:33:17 AM

Majid Nabi Early Times Report SRINAGAR, June 21: As if the KPs and Sainik colony issues were not enough to tax the government that a PDP legislator from Rajouri on Tuesday pressed for separate colonies on the pattern of KPs for tribal population. PDP MLA, Chowdhri Qamar Hussain while talking to reporters during Jammu and Kashmir Tribal Welfare Forum (JKWF) protest against the government's alleged 'unresponsiveness' said " tribal population living in and around forest areas must be rehabilitated in separate colonies on the pattern of Kashmiri migrant Pandits" "We will be forced to start a sustained campaign followed by roadside protests against the government in case our demand was no...

Babus collect funds for political parties

Anantnag by-polls

6/22/2016 12:33:04 AM

Hyder Ali Early Times Report SRINAGAR, June 21: Even as Anantnag constituency is scheduled to go for by-polls on June 22, rumor mills are rife that some of the officials collected funds on behalf of contesting political parties. A coterie of officials, loyal to some political parties, particularly the ruling ones, are being accused of having collected millions as party funds to retain plum postings and goodwill of their masters, in a more powerful way. Sources said in one such case, a coterie of officials including middle-rung, arranged around Rs one crore cash for a political party. Party insiders said "loyalist" officials were only asked to rope in prospective funders from the Kashm...

Cracks in Congress wide and open

6/22/2016 12:32:52 AM

Early Times Report Srinagar, June 21: The by-polls in south Kashmir's Anantnag constituency set to be held on Wednesday have once again exposed the cracks within the Congress party in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources told Early Times a few Congress leaders were not in favour of fielding a candidate from the constituency and wanted the party to support the National Conference candidate to give a tough fight to the PDP candidate Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. They said both NC and Congress fielding different candidates has given an edge to the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and she is all set to emerge as winner as the votes of Congess and NC would be divided easily. A Congress insider reveale...

PSC 'copy pastes questions from master guide'

Screening test for 10+2 lecturers

6/22/2016 12:32:32 AM

Early Times Report SRINAGAR, June 21: In what could be another scam like BOPEE, the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service commission (JKPSC) has made a cruel joke and mockery of the recently held exam for the post of 10 +2 English lecturers which was held on June 5, 2016 across various centers in J&K. Instead of setting paper through noted professors and educationists, the authorities at PSC have copied 90 % of the questions from a master guide namely Popular Master Guide UGC (NET,SET) English Li...

No takers for BJP's excuses to delay resolution of refugees' issues

6/22/2016 12:32:02 AM

Early Times Report JAMMU, June 21: The power hungry BJP leadership appears to be have taken people of Jammu for granted as party is indulging in deceitful tactics to hoodwink the masses, who had voted enmass to the party in Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. In its recently held state executive committee, party in a bid to befool the people, had passed resolutions demanding speedy implementation of package for PoK refugees and settlement of West Pakistani refugees on humanitarian grounds. Shockingly party has been in power in J&K for the last over one year and BJP led NDA government has completed two years in power at the Centre but still party leadership is passing resolution to address to t...

Ram Madhav's absence raises eye-brows

6/22/2016 12:31:55 AM

Early Times Report JAMMU, June 21: BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav's conspicuous absent in state executive committee meeting of the BJP has raised many eye-brows because the all powerful general secretary was scheduled to address to concluding session of the meet. Party had also announced that two national general secretaries Ram Madhav and Ram Lal (both RSS's pointmen in the party) would participate in the meeting. Credible sources in the BJP said that Ram Madhav had, at the eleventh hour, informed state party leadership that he was not going to attend the state executive committee meeting due to some unavoidable circumstances. Ram Madhav, who was instrumental in formation of ...

Trusts managing Hindu shrines in Kashmir under scanner

Fail to provide basic facility to devotees

6/22/2016 12:31:47 AM

Early Times Report JAMMU, June 21: Despite Hindu shrines like Kheer Bhawani and Shankaracharya temple in Kashmir receiving huge donations from the pilgrims, the trusts managing these shrines have failed to provide bare minimum facilities to pilgrims visiting there. A few trusts have reportedly run into controversy over pilferage in the accounts and huge money being received as donations having no accountability. The Trust looking after the management of Kheer Bhawani and Shankaracharya temple has also failed to provide bare minimum facilities to pilgrims visiting there. The buildings at Kheer Bhwawani have been constructed by the government while the concerned trust which is looking ha...

Store items worth Rs 2.44 cr 'misappropriated' in Estates deptt

SCAM

6/22/2016 12:31:37 AM

Early Times Report JAMMU, June 21: Alleged attempts are being made to hush up a Rs 2.44 Cr 'scam' in the Estates department as even after four years of its detection, the authorities concerned are yet to initiate action against the guilty. The alleged misappropriation was discovered after Kamal Kishore Gupta replaced Yash Paul Sharma as storekeeper of furniture store, Gandhi Nagar, in December 2012. During the verification of stock registers, Gupta had allegedly found the shortage of store items worth Rs 2.44 cr. The deputy director estates, Manda, had on January 29, 2015 written a letter No DDE/J/2465-67 to Gupta, SKP, furniture store, Gandhi Nagar, and ex-SKP Yashpaul Sharma (senior as...

Leaking roofs in GMCH leave patients in lurch

6/22/2016 12:31:15 AM

Early Times Report Jammu, July 21: Mocking at the claims of the department of Health and Medical Education and the GMCH administration, the patients admitted in the 'premier' healthcare centre of the region had to face nightmare Tuesday morning when the roofs of several wards started leaking like open taps, impelling attendants to shift the beds of their patients helter skelter to save them from dripping water. Attendants were seen running around to inform everyone from watch and ward staff t...

Heart patients suffer in ward No. 2 of SSH, admin turns blind eye

Poor State of Health Care

6/22/2016 12:30:43 AM

Raj Sandeep Early Times Report Jammu, July 21: The tall claims of the Government to provide required basic facilities to the indoor patients at Super Specialty Hospital have proven to be a hoax. Heart patients admitted in the hospital are craving for facilities, which government had promised after throwing open the SSH here. While talking to Early Times patients admitted in Ward No. 2 of the hospital said, "This hospital is a farce on the name of Super specialty hospital. The pesky power cuts in the hospital have become a norm and in the absence of electricity administration has failed to make alternate arrangement to keep the ward cool." A patient from Jourian stated that ever sin...

145 militants active in JK: Govt

6/21/2016 11:49:49 PM

Jehangir Rashid Early Times Report SRINAGAR, June 21: If the Home department of the state is to be believed then less than 150 militants are active in Jammu & Kashmir. Majority of these active militants are locals. Replying to a question of MLA, Minister told Legislative Assembly that reportedly 145 militants are active in the state. The minister said that 91 of these militants are locals while as 54 militants are foreigners. "Reportedly 4,587 youth/missing persons have crossed over to Pakistan or Pakistan occupied Kashmir for receiving arms training. 489 youth along with their wives and children have returned from Pakistan occupied Kashmir/Pakistan to Jammu & Kashmir via Nepal with eff...

Frequent disruption of internet services a reflection of admin paralysis

6/21/2016 11:49:20 PM

Abodh Sharma Early Times Report Jammu, June 21: Repeated breakdown of internet services at the behest of administration is reflecting on the incapability of the administrative machinery to pre-empt, stop and act against untoward incidents seen in Jammu and its adjoining areas in recent time. Besides, the repeated disruptions are confronting law abiding citizens with huge inconvenience without any fault on theirs. "For over five days in last one week, the internet services have been de activated and administration has made it a norm to withdraw the internet services every time there is an incident in the city" said Sudhir, a local businessman. "Public services cannot be withdrawn like...

Centre angry over snapping net services in Jammu

6/21/2016 11:49:15 PM

Early Times Report Jammu, June 21: The home ministry is miffed over continuous and consistent snapping of internet facilities in the Jammu by the state government. Sources said the ministry has sought detailed reasons for this step. The ministry has also advised the state government to not make it a practice. "Snapping net services once in a while is understandable. But making it a regular feature especially in the Jammu region, which is not affected by the militancy, is uncalled for. It gives a wrong message nationally and internationally,' said the senior home ministry official. The home ministry holds the view that snapping net services , which has become a routine affair, has th...

In times of financial distress J-K spends Rs 250 crores on security of protected persons

6/21/2016 11:49:09 PM

Jehangir Rashid Early Times Report SRINAGAR, June 21: At a time when Jammu & Kashmir is grappling with financial crisis the state spent more than Rs 250 crores on security and other things of the around 1900 protected persons during the financial year 2015-16. Minister while responding to MLA said that at present 1890 protected persons are being given security cover by the security wing of Jammu & Kashmir Police. He said that 634 vehicles have been deployed with 373 protected persons. "Besides, 284 political persons have been allotted secured hotel accommodation only. The total monthly expenditure on account of salary of PSOs, static guard, escort, fuel and hotel accommodation in re...

NHPC's refusal to return power projects troubles JK again

6/21/2016 11:49:04 PM

Early Times Report srinagar, June 21: Despite the hectic efforts by the Jammu and Kashmir government over bringing back the power projects from the NHPC and make state 'self reliant', the power giant seems to be in no mood to budge an inch, giving tough time to the coalition to stand by its word. At the time when the BJP and the PDP stitched a common ground for the alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, return of the power projects from the NHPC were listed as the top most priority. However, more than a year has passed but there seems no progress made over the issue. The government here has been reiterating that it would 'rigorously' pursue the issue with the union government and atleast would...

BJP's assertion on Article 370 misleading

Politics of bluff

6/21/2016 11:48:56 PM

Early Times Report JAMMU, June 21: Are the people of Jammu and Kashmir, nay of the entire country, fool, politically immature and incompetent to understand what the BJP says in its desperate attempt to hoodwink and mislead them? Yes, if one goes by the approach the BJP adopts on the eve of and during the election campaign. On the eve of election and during the election campaign, the BJP leaders rake up emotive issues like Ram Temple, Uniform Civil Code and Article 370 to arouse popular passions and garner votes like they did in Jammu and Kashmir in 2014 to mislead the nationalists in the state in general and Jammu and Ladakh in particular and after wining election and coming into power...

Sushma's statement on Pak rattles separatist Mirwaiz

6/21/2016 11:48:27 PM

Early Times Report JAMMU, June 21: Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's June 19 New Delhi statement that talks and terror could not go hand-in-hand and that all the issues between India and Pakistan were bilateral and would be tackled bilaterally has rattled Kashmiri separatists like the self-styled chairman of APHC-M, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq. Sushma on Sunday had said Pakistan had not refused to allow an NIA team to visit that country to probe the Pathankot airbase attack case and just sought "more time" and declared that talks and terror couldn't go hand-in-hand. She had further said: "The warmth and ease in relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawa...

9 yrs on, Floriculture Deptt fails to identify land for Flower Mandi

6/21/2016 11:48:21 PM

G S Asgotra Early Times Report Jammu, June 21: Much awaited project of Floriculture Department to construct flower mandi in Jammu which was supposed to provide facilities to flower growers of adjoining Jammu area, is still in oblivion. Source in department informed that the previous government of PDP-BJP had announced in 2007 to construct a flower mandi in Jammu district but after owing to non seriousness approach of the department concerned toward flower growers, the same has failed to see the daylight till date. The source further said that however, just after the announcement the department had started to construct flower mandi in Greeen Belt Park but in the meantime the High Cou...

BJP galvanizes support through its displaced cell

A day before voting NC makes ' desperate' efforts to mobilize support

6/21/2016 11:48:11 PM

Early Times Report jammu, June 21: As ruling BJP stayed away from direct canvassing for its ally and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for the Anantnag by-poll tomorrow, the party is learnt to have galvanized full support through its displaced cell during the past few days in favour of PDP. Congress and NC too stimulated their minority cells to woo the voters of the community from this constituency, which stand highest of all the constituencies across the Kashmir Valley. Sources within BJP said even though BJP's support for PDP for this by-poll was explicit, the party did not go for canvassing openly in the camp and non camp areas of Jammu for a reason. Since NC and Congress had build up ...

Burglars on theft spree, police clueless

6/21/2016 11:48:03 PM

Early Times Report Jammu, June 21: A sudden surge in burglaries in the city and on its outskirts has gripped people in a state of panic as series of thefts for the past two weeks have raised a big question mark on police vigil in the state's winter capital. Though police claimed to have constituted new teams, activated news nakas and lifted suspects to douse the simmering anger brewing among the people and the victims of thefts, but all this is in vain. Though police had registered cases, they were yet to make any breakthrough. The burglars had decamped with cash and valuables amounting to crores, according to police sources. As per details, burglars last night barged into house of a...

Meter installation: PDD fails to complete project on its own

6/21/2016 11:46:53 PM

Saqib Junaid Early Times Report SRINAGAR, June 21: After the Power Development Department failed to complete the installation of meters on its own, government has decided to outsource metering installation project to a central agency for its expedition process and has set up a target of 100 percent metering by 2019. Earlier the department in its multi-year tariff petition filed before the State Electricity Regulatory Commission said it had envisaged metering all its consumers by the end of the FY 2015-16, but the pace of metering has been very slow during the last couple of years due to "resource constraints and some bottlenecks". In order to achieve this objective and put it on fast tra...

Substandard rice to JK: Centre sets up task force

6/21/2016 11:46:48 PM

Ishtiyaq Ahmad Early Times Report Srinagar, June, 21: The Union Ministry for Food and Consumer Affairs has set up a task force comprising 12 officers to keep a vigilant eye on supply of substandard food grains meant for Jammu and Kashmir. The development has come after the Jammu and Kashmir government complaint that the substandard supply of rice is being received by the CAPD department. According to the reliable sources the task force, headed by the Secretary level officer, will monitor and supervise all issues related to the management of food grains in the state of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure smooth distribution of the food grains. One of the senior officials of the CAPD department ...