Excelsiordaily

REGD. NO. JK-71/18-20RNI No. 28547/65Vol No. 55 No. 23 JAMMU, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019 18 Pages `̀ 5.00

Cong made no effort to plugcorruption, we stopped loot: PM

VARANASI, Jan 22:

Taking on the Congress,Prime Minister NarendraModi today said the party thatruled for so long made noeffort to plug corruptiondespite a former prime minis-ter identifying the malady,while the BJP ended "85 percent of the loot" in four-and-a-half years.

Without naming RajivGandhi, he alluded to the formerPrime Minister's remark thatonly 15 paise of Re 1 reaches themasses and said CongressGovernments over the years didnothing to stop the leakage.

Modi said his Governmentgave about Rs 5,80,000 crore tothe people directly through vari-ous schemes.

Addressing NRIs and

Indian-origin people at the inau-guration of the 15th PravasiBharatiya Diwas convention inhis Parliamentary constituencyVaranasi, Modi described NRIsas India's brand ambassadorsand said they were the symbolsof the country's capabilities.

The Government haschanged the mindset that Indiacannot change, he said in thepresence of chief guestMauritian Prime Minister,Pravind Jugnauth, ExternalAffairs Minister SushmaSwaraj, UP Chief Minister YogiAdityanath, Haryana ChiefMinister Manohar Lal Khattar,Uttarakhand CM TrivendraSingh Rawat, UP Governor RamNaik, and Minister of State forExternal Affairs V K Singh,among others.

Sanjeev PargalJAMMU, Jan 22: Skandan

Krishnan, a retired IAS officerof 1982 batch, who wasIncharge of Kashmir Divisionin the Government of India forfive consecutive years from2007 to 2012, will be fourthAdvisor to Jammu andKashmir Governor Satya PalMalik and will be allottedportfolios shortly after hetakes charge of his new assign-ment.

Skandan, who was TamilNadu cadre IAS officer, hadretired as Director Anna Instituteof Management, Chennai onDecember 31, 2016.

Official sources told theExcelsior that Union HomeMinister Rajnath Singh has

cleared theposting ofS k a n d a nKrishnan asnew Advisorto theJammu andK a s h m i rG o v e r n o r

and his formal order of appoint-ment will be issued shortly.President Ram Nath Kovind hasalso approved the appointmentas the State was under the spellof President's Rule sinceDecember 20, 2018, for a periodof six months.

Skandan Krishnan hashandled Jammu and Kashmirduring his posting with theGovernment of India as JointSecretary, Incharge of Centre-State Divisions from 2007-

2012 followed by AdditionalSecretary Centre-StateDivision in 2012 during whichhe was also Incharge ofKashmir Division for fiveyears.

"In view of his experience inhandling the issues of Jammuand Kashmir during his postingwith the Centre, he was appoint-ed as Advisor to the Jammu andKashmir Governor,'' sourcessaid, adding that Governor SatyaPal Malik will effect changes inportfolios of his Advisors afterSkandan Krishnan takes chargeof the post.

Skandan will be third retiredIAS officer to be posted as theAdvisor to the J&K Government.The fourth Advisor is retired IPSofficer. Apart from Skandan, two

NEW DELHI, Jan 22:

The Supreme Court todaysaid it would take an "in-chamber" decision on listingof a petition challenging theConstitutional validity ofArticle 35-A, which providesspecial rights and privileges topermanent residents ofJammu and Kashmir.

Advocate Bimal Roy hadmentioned the matter before thebench headed by Chief JusticeRanjan Gogoi and also compris-ing Justices L Nageswara Raoand Sanjiv Khanna.

He sought urgent hearing ofthe petition, filed by NGO 'WeThe Citizens', saying the courthad earlier ordered listing of thematter in the second week ofJanuary.

In August, the Apex Courtadjourned hearing on a batch ofpetitions challenging Article 35A till January this year, after tak-ing note of submissions of theCentre and the StateGovernment that there was a lawand order problem in the State.

Article 35-A, which wasincorporated in the Constitutionby a 1954 Presidential Order,accords special rights and privi-leges to the citizens of Jammuand Kashmir and bars peoplefrom outside the State fromacquiring any immovable prop-erty in the State.

The Apex Court had onAugust 31 deferred till Januarythe hearing on the pleas chal-lenging the Constitutional valid-ity of Article 35 A, which pro-vides special rights and privi-

leges to natives of Jammu andKashmir, after the Centre andthe State said that polls to localbodies polls there would go ontill December.

Article 35 A denies proper-ty rights to a woman who mar-ries a person from outside thestate. The provision, whichleads to such women from theState forfeiting their right overproperty, also applies to herheirs.

The Article was incorporatedin the Constitution in 1954 by anorder of President RajendraPrasad on the advice of the thenCabinet headed by JawaharlalNehru.

In the previous hearing, alawyer had given an illustrationand said that if a native woman

SC to take ‘in-chamber’ decision onlisting of plea challenging Article 35-A

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Jan 22:Three militants includingbrother of an Indian PoliceService (IPS) Officer werekilled in a gun battle in Heffvillage of South Kashmir’s

Shopian district today.Three militants were killed

in the gun battle that raged fol-lowing the search operation that

was launched in the village bysecurity forces after theyreceived inputs about the pres-ence of militants hiding there.

A joint search operation was

launched by the Army's 44Rashtriya Rifles, para-comman-dos and Jammu and KashmirPolice in the area against the mil-

IPS officer’s brother among 3 militants killed

Gurez martyr tobe honoured

THANE, Jan 22: Major Kaustubh Rane, who

was martyred in an encounteron the Line of Control (LoC) inAugust last year, will be posthu-mously honoured with a gal-lantry award by an organisationhere in Maharashtra on January26.

The "Maharana PratapShourya Puraskar" consists ofRs 11,000 in cash and a citation,announced by B L Sharma ofHindi Bhashi Ekta Parishad,which has instituted awards invarious categories, in a pressconference today.

Court issues warrant againstSajjan

NEW DELHI, Jan 22:A Delhi court today issued

production warrant for January28 against former Congressleader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984anti-Sikh riots case.

District Judge Poonam ABamba issued production war-rant against Kumar after TiharJail authorities, where he islodged after conviction inanother case related to the riots,could not produce him today.

In the case before the trialcourt, three persons -- Kumar,Brahmanand Gupta and VedPrakash -- are facing trial on

NH, many roads closed; 5000vehicles stranded

Gopal Sharma / Fayaz Bukhari

JAMMU/ SRINAGAR,Jan 22: After heavy rain,snowfall and landslides, theJammu-Srinagar NationalHighway, Batote-Doda-Kishtwar and many otherroads across the State wereclosed, four flights operatingfrom Jammu airports can-celled while two persons werekilled and two rescued afterthey were trapped under an

avalanche at a village inBanihal area of districtRamban this afternoon.

Trikuta hills of Katra MataVaishnodevi, famous touristreports of Patnitop-Batote,Gulmarg, Bhaderwah andPahalgam experienced heavysnowfall of the season, whileJammu region recorded a sharpfall in day's temperature as com-pared to last two days. Powersupply to entire Doda-Kishtwar,Bhaderwah and Paddar area

besides many parts of the regionhas been snapped as many polesand cables were broken/ dam-aged due to snowfall and rain,whereas, the water supply tomany snowbound areas has alsobeen badly hit.

Over 5000 vehicles includ-ing trucks and other load carrierswere stranded at Nagrota

Bypass, Udhampur -Dhar Road,Jakheni Bypass besidesManwal-Mansar area of thehighway whereas, around 200light and medium passengervehicles were said to have beenstranded in Banihal and Rambanareas. Over 250 vehicles are alsotrapped on Nashri-Batote-Doda-Kishtwar and Bhaderwah roads.

There was about 3 ft snownear Jawahar Tunnel, 2 ft atBhaderwah and around 1.5 to 2ft at Patnitop and Batote areasthis morning. Latti, Dudu-Basantgarh, Pancheri inUdhampur; Bani and Loangtowns of Kathua; Mandi, Loran,

Gadkari, Malik, Jitendra dedicateKeerian Gandyal bridge to nationAvtar Bhat

KATHUA, Jan 22:Conceiving a novel idea,Union Minister for RoadTransport & Highways,Shipping, Water Resources,River Development andGanga Rejuvenation, NitinGadkari today asked the StateGovernment to work forbuilding a new and GreenJammu on the pattern of NewMumbai and New Delhi.

The Union Minister whodedicated Rs 150 crore inter-State Keerian Gandyal bridge

over river Ravi near here tonation this afternoon along withState Governor, Satya Pal Malikand Union Minister in PMO, DrJitendra Singh said "I asked bothGovernor and Dr Jitendra Singhto furnish a proposal in thisregard so that the new and greenJammu which will be pollutionfree can be established on thepattern of New Mumbai andNew Delhi''. Advisor toGovernor, K K Sharma andChief Secretary, BVRSubrahmanyam were also pres-

ent on the occasion.Gadkari, while unfolding

various developmental projectsincluding Highways, bridgesand tunnels in road sector under-taken in the State by hisMinistry during last five years ofNarendra Modi Governmentalso asked the State Governmentto run electric vehicles inJammu and Srinagar citieswhich will be cost effective,environment friendly and savefuel consumption also. Hedeclared that his Ministry willprovide all help and support in

this regard and J&K having a lotof potential for generating elec-tricity can utilize the same forrunning electric buses and othervehicles also.

He asked the Governmentto use new technology in thecities of Jammu and Srinagarand make them pollution freealso.

The Minister, while congrat-ulating the State Government,engineers and contractors forconstructing a 1210-meter span-Keerian Gandyal bridge over theriver Ravi before the time span

by saving crores of rupees alsosaid that the officers who workwith dedication and honestydeserve reward while those whoare dishonest and lazy need pun-ishment.

The Minister also gave fullcredit to Union Minister, DrJitendra Singh with whoseefforts, he said the bridge wasconstructed. "I too was forced totake personnel interest in gettingit sanctioned'', he added.

He, while referring toShahpur Kandi Project, said thatan agreement was signedbetween J&K and PunjabGovernments in this regard andthe project has become a realityafter 40 long years. This way thewater of three Indian riverswhich was the share of our coun-try as per Indus Water Treaty wasflowing to Pakistan. Now withthe signing of agreement thewater will be utilized by the peo-ple of the two States of J&K andPunjab. He said 90 percent fundsfor the construction of ShapurKandi will be provided byCentre while the two states haveto bear only 10 percent.

Gadkari said the work on

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INSIDE WEATHERJail or a jape? ...Page 8* Ropeway incidentAdvisor Kumar stresses onconservation of Mansar,Surinsar lakes ...Page 5Ensure smooth supply of essentials in Valley: PDP ....Page 5PK flays Mehbooba forcommunalising situationin J&K ....Page 7Students hold protest,demand roll back of CBCS ....Page 9King Kohli sweeps ICC awards;also named captain of Test,ODI Teams of year ...Page 16

JAMMU: Possibility of light rain/thundershowers

TEMPERATUREMax: 10.4 Degree C Min: 8.7 Degree C

RELATIVE HUMIDITYRH-I (Morning): 97.0 per centRH-II (Evening): 79.0 per centSunset on Wednesday: 05.56 p.m.Sunrise on Thursday: 07.31 a.m.

SRINAGAR:Possibility of light rain/snow

TEMPERATUREMax: 3.1 Degree C Min: -3.8 Degree C

RELATIVE HUMIDITYRH-I (Morning): 90.0 per centRH-II (Evening): 91.0 per cent

LEH: TEMPERATURE

Max: 7.0 Degree C Min: -2.8 Degree C

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App Store Nishikant KhajuriaCHENANI: Despite bestowed

with natural beauty, lush greenforests and places of religiousimportance, which make the areasignificant and attractive, theChenani-Ghordi Assembly con-stituency in Udhampur districtcontinues to remain deprived ofrequired attention and develop-ment in all respects-thanks to thelocal representatives, who failed toget the issues addressed.

Health services as well aseducational infrastructure in theconstituency are virtually inshambles owing to inadequatestaff and a number of develop-mental projects are either stalledor facing delayed execution ofwork while extremely poor con-dition of road network seems tobe the root cause of backward-

ness of thisconstituen-

cy, which spreads from Patnitopto Dudu and Ghordi toRoundomail in Udhampur.

Because of the lacklusterattitude of the State Governmentauthorities and the local repre-sentative, not even ten percentwork has been done on muchneeded widening and blacktop-ping of the 45 km Mantalai-Dudu road, for which Rs 52crores were sanctioned underCRF in 2017. Then Minister forRoads and Buildings, NaeemAkhter had inaugurated this

road widening work onSeptember 6, 2017 and Rs 9.90crores were also released for thejob on first five kilometers of thestretch. However, till date, workhas been completed only on lessthan half a kilometer road for thereasons best known to the exe-cuting agency and the contractor.

In October 2018, PMGSYDepartment took over the workfor widening and blacktoppingof this road for the 25 kms uptoSira. Tender was also allottedbut no work had been startedwhile fate of the onward roadwas still unknown, said K L

Gupta, Sarpanch of PanchayatLatti and a prominent socialworker of the area.

Similarly, the extremely poorcondition of road network haskept almost entire Ghordi areavirtually cut off from Tehsilheadquarters and District head-quarters thus subjecting thelocals to a lot of problems,including no medical treatmentduring emergency hours, "Dueto non availability of adequatemedical facilities and doctorsparticularly Gynecologist andextremely poor road conditions,a number of pregnant women diein these remote villages," saidChet Ram of Ghordi. The areacomprised 17 Panchayats withmore than 25 thousand popula-tion.

Sudhmahadev, a prominent

Chenani remains deprived of required attentionEx-MLAs’ Report Card Constituency: Chenani

Dina Nath Bhagat (BJP)http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/ex-mlas-report-card/

Poor road conditions root cause of backwardness

Troops take positions during search operation at Heff,Shopian on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Younis Khaliq

Only 951 out of 14400 individual, communitybunkers constructed for border dwellers so far

Mohinder VermaJAMMU, Jan 22: State

Government is unlikely tomeet the latest deadline ofJune ending for completion ofover 14400 individual andcommunity bunkers in fiveborder districts of Jammuregion as only 951 bunkershave been constructed till datethat too in Jammu, Samba andKathua only while as work hasyet not begun on any of thebunkers in Rajouri andPoonch districts.

A total of 13029 individualand 1431 community bunkerswere sanctioned for Jammu,Samba, Kathua, Rajouri andPoonch districts by the UnionMinistry of Home Affairs early

last year to mitigate the hard-ships being faced by the peopleliving in the vicinity ofInternational Border and Line ofControl due to shelling and fir-ing by the Pakistani Rangers.

In the month of June lastyear, the State Governmentissued directions to the DeputyCommissioners of these fiveborder districts to ensure earlystart of the work on individualand community type bunkers.

Even the DivisionalCommissioner Jammu wasdirected to constitute multi-dis-ciplinary team in each districtfor physical verification of work

on regular basis and furnishingmonthly progress report foronward submission to the UnionMinistry of Home Affairs.

Moreover, latest conditionsof the Union Ministry of HomeAffairs were conveyed to theDeputy Commissioners as wellas Roads and BuildingsDepartment for strict compli-ance at the stage of constructionof individual as well as commu-nity bunkers.

These conditions read:"The building norms for allareas up to five kilometresfrom borders shall be specifiedand priority shall be given to

the bunkers which are nearestto the existing Border Out-Posts (BOPs). Every bunkershould be within three kilome-tres from the border and firstline of sight fromInternational Border/Line ofControl. All bunkers shall begeo-tagged and a properManagement InformationSystem (MIS) shall be put inplace where the requisitedetails shall be uploaded on aregular basis".

Thereafter, the Ministry ofHome Affairs a number of timesasked the State Government togear up the construction ofbunkers in all these five districtsand recently in an official meet-ing chaired by the Advisor to

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Photo-journalistsamong dozen

injured

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Handled Kashmir in GoI for 5 years

Skandan is 4th Advisorto J&K Governor

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Despite MHA’s repeated directives, work yet to begin in Rajouri-Poonch

Daunting task for Govt to meetJune ending deadline

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Union Minister, Nitin Gadkari along with Governor SatyaPal Malik and Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh inauguratingKeerian Gandyal bridge over river Ravi near Kathua on Tuesday.

-Excelsior/Pardeep

Vehicles parked amidst heavy snowfall at Bhaderwah Bus Stand on Tuesday.-Excelsior/Tilak Raj

31 Rohingyas fleeing from J&K

held at TripuraAGARTALA/NEW DELHI,

Jan 22: The BSF today handed over

the 31 Rohingya Muslims, whowere stranded on the India-Bangladesh border for fourdays, to Tripura Police, even as30 more community memberswere apprehended in Assam,officials said.

The 31 Rohingyas, who hadapparently come from Jammuand Kashmir, were stuck in no-man's land, beyond the barbedwire fence along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripurasince January 18.

The situation had led to ablame game between the BorderSecurity Force (BSF) and itscounterpart -- Border GuardsBangladesh (BGB) -- with the twosides accusing each other of push-ing them into their territories.

Union Minister for building New, Green Jammu; running electric vehicles

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2 dead in avalanche, flights cancelled

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