Minister in exam copying scam

CM asks Crime Branch to probe Peerzada denies allegation

Taking cognizance of the media reports about education minister using unfair means to get his son passed in 10th class examination chief minister Omar Abdullah has asked the minister to explain his position and has asked the Crime Branch to probe the matter.

However, education minister, Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed, denying the allegations has welcomed the decision of the CM to get the matter probed. An official handout said that the chief minister Omar Abdullah, taking strong cognizance of the report carried by a local daily, asked the top crime branch officials to probe the case and bring facts to fore. Besides, the handout said, chief minister issued an explanation to the education minister asking him to clear his position with regard to the matter.

“After the chief minister sought an explanation, Peerzada appeared before him and explained his position," sources said. The minister denied the allegations and told the CM that he will welcome the probe into the matter by crime branch of the police or any other investigating agency. 

“The reports were just an attempt to damage my credibility and I will fully cooperate if the matter is probed thoroughly by the crime branch,” sources quoted the minister as having told the CM. Pertinently the minister, a couple of years ago, remained in news for weeks after his name figured in the multi crore scam in education department.

A local English daily had carried the facsimile of an answer sheet in two handwritings -- alleging that part of it had been written by an education official to help his son pass the secondary school exam in 2009. 

It has been alleged that an official of the education department posted on exam duty had written part of the student's Urdu exam paper in order to help him pass the exam.

A complaint lodged by another teacher posted on duty at the centre was received by the authorities of the Jammu and Kashmir board of school examinations, but despite recommendations to withhold the result of the candidate, the authorities went ahead announcing that the candidate had passed the exam.

Good days of tourism

Asserting that tourism is an economic activity and should not be equated with the phenomenon of normalcy, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that the visit of over 6 lakh visitors to the Valley this summer should serve a loud message for change of travel advisories issued by various countries regarding Jammu and Kashmir.

Expressing satisfaction over the modifications effected by some countries in this regard, he hoped that other countries would also follow the suit. He said that up till now 1.3 million visitors and yatris have visited the Valley indicating return of good days of tourism. "This should be a guiding observation for the countries to remove the travel advisories they have issued to their citizens regarding travelling to the State", he said.

Addressing the 4-day 9th Annual Convention of Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) at SKICC here, the Chief Minister said that the concept of relating tourism activities with the normalcy needed to be changed and tourism regarded as a sheer economic activity.

Omar Abdullah said that Jammu and Kashmir possesses vast potential of adventure tourism which is gaining popularity and momentum globally over the conventional tourism. "Our mountains and rivers are great gifts of God and these offer unique and wide-ranging adventure interests for trekkers, mountaineers, river-rafters, para-gliders, skiers and others", he said, adding that the danger attributed to these activities is simply a misgiving.

"The lovers of adventure sports undertake these activities in a safe mode and the graph of its popularity is steadily on upward trend", he said, adding that the challenge before the State is to showcase this potential of the State in a befitting manner. He said that the concerned department should also produce generation of trained personnel and guides in this field.

The Chief Minister said that ATOAI can help the State to move forward in this direction and train local youth. He said that the State has also to concentrate on improving and upgrading capacities besides raising necessary infrastructure. He said that the local people associated with tourism especially the youth are required to learn from such conferences, understand the requirements and necessities of adventure tourism and also display their views regarding this activity.

Omar Abdullah said that the adventure tourism in the State can be harnessed in a big way to generate jobs and give boost to the economy across the State. He underlined the need for joint efforts by all the stakeholders to nurture this economically viable venture and open vistas for progress and development in the State.

Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora in his speech highlighted the tourist potential of the State, adding that adventure tourism has a great future here. He presented the resume of the measures put in place in the State for the holistic and integrated development of the tourism sector.

Among others the function was attended by Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, Union Secretary Tourism, Rajen Habib Khawaja, Secretary Tourism Department, Atal Dullo, President ATOAI, Tejbir Singh Anand, Convention chairman and founder president of ATOAI, Capt. Sudesh Kumar and Director Tourism, Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad Shah.

Peerzada in Wikileaks

Peerzada’s socks and shoes in Wikileaks

A United States Embassy cable sent from New Delhi described Congress leader and Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Syed as someone who "behaves like a traditional Congress machine politician, one who asks his staff to put on his socks and shoes for him".

The partial extract of the original cable, which details the profile of Kashmir-related leaders, dates back to 2005.

The three-part biographic report compiled "information academics, journalists, NGO activists and others during a 2002-2005 assignment at embassy New Delhi" and impressions gained from contact with Kashmir-related politicians, government officials, separatists.

"President of J&K Congress Party, Sayeed (52) behaves like a traditional Congress machine politician, one who asks his staff to put on his socks and shoes for him," the leaked cable reads.

In the 2002 state polls, he braved terrorist threats in the volatile Kokernag constituency in South Kashmir and was inducted into the Cabinet on account of his loyalty to the party. Prior to his current appointment, he was a senior Vice President of the state unit of the Congress party. His English is good, the cable said.

Peerzadas son arrested

Police today arrested son of Minister for Education along with his six accomplices for ransacking and beating two recently elected Sarpanches in a South Kashmir village last evening.

Police arrested Iman Subhan alias Subi son of Minister for Education, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Zahid Javed son of Peerzada Javed, Arif Asharf Wani son of Mohamamd Ashraf of Damhal Hanjipora; Sheraz Ahmad Khan son of Reyaz Ahmad Khan of Anantnag; Suhail Ahmad Wani son of Shoukat Ahmad Wani of Sarnal, Anantnag, Irshad Hassan son of Ghulam Hassan and Junaid Ahmad Boda son of Aijaz Ahmad Boda of Qadi Pora, Anantnag

A FIR (271/2011 under Sections 147,336,427 RPC) has been registered against them in police station Acchabal, Anantnag.

According to residents of village Hakura Gund, yesterday son of Peerzada Sayeed accompanied by his two Personal Security Guards (PSOs) and few other youth came in a car and beat up a youth in the village in front of villagers.

The allegations against the youth was that he was among the mobs who pelted stones on Peerzada's residence last year. The residents of the village accompanied by the recently elected panches immediately assembled and chased away Peerzada's son and his PSOs.

In the evening, Peerzada's son returned to the village with his PSOs and six other persons and beat up two Panches Abdul Hameed Sheikh and Abdul Majid Mir and ransacked their house for rescuing the boy, who they had beaten during the day.

Angry residents today blocked the main road and protested against the incidents in Hakura. The senior police officers immediately rushed to the spot and took the stock of the situation.

The police officers tried to pacify the protesters but angry villagers were demanding arrest of the culprits.

Police lodged an FIR against the 7 persons including the son of Minister for Education and arrested them. 

Union Power Minister inspects Alchi project

The Union Minister for Power KC Venugopal along with the Minister of State for Power and CAPD Shabir Ahmad Khan today visited 45 MW Alchi hydel project to carry out on the spot inspection of the prestigious power project.

Mr. Venugopal said that Alchi Hydel Station will have a unique position on completion as it is going to be world's highest altitude Power Station.He appreciated the NHPC management for taking the challenge of its construction in tough terrains and inhospitable weather.

Assuring full support of his Ministry in the successful completion of the project, he said the Alchi project on operation would be instrumental for economic growth of the region as it will cater to the varied energy needs of the consumers.

Shabir Ahmad Khan said that after completion of this project, both civilian and defense establishments will be benefitted in a big way, adding the project would ensure dependable power supply to the consumers as well as industrial concerns.

Khan said to sort out issues regarding laying of transmission line, diversion of river Indus and remaining mechanical works of the project, a meeting will be held at Srinagar shortly.

The Chief Engineer, NHPC, JK Sharma gave a power point presentation to the Ministers, highlighting the salient features of 45 MW Alchi hydel project. He said that this project will be commissioned by July 2012.

During their visit to Alchi Hydel Project, Mr. Venugopal also inaugurated a steel truss bridge having span of 60 meters over river Indus, which has been constructed to facilitate supply of construction material to Alchi Hydel project.

The Ministers also visited the world famous 1000 years old Alchi Monastery.