66 Percent MLAs are Crorepatis

More than one-third of candidates elected in the just concluded Assembly polls have criminal cases against them, with Uttar Pradesh topping the list.

35 per cent or 252 of the 690 MLAs elected to the five Assemblies—Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa—have criminal background, a rise of eight per cent since 2007.

Also, 66 per cent or 457 of the newly elected MLAs were ‘crorepatis’, according to an analysis of affidavits the candidates had submitted to the Election Commission.

The analysis by Association for Democratic Reforms and National Election Watch also shows that compared to Assembly elections in 2007, there is over 32 per cent increase in the number of crorepati MLAs and about eight per cent rise in the winning candidates with a criminal past this time.

In 2007, voters in these five States had chosen about 190 or 27 per cent MLAs with criminal past, while more than 235 or 34 per cent of candidates having assets worth more than one crore were elected to those Assemblies.

According to the analysis, a total of 189 (47 per cent) new MLAs in the new Uttar Pradesh Assembly have declared criminal cases against them, compared to 140 (34 per ent) in the 2007 Assembly.

Similarly, 271 or 67 per cent new MLAs in the State are crorepatis, compared to 124 crorepati MLAs elected in 2007.

While Samajwadi Party’s Mitra Sen who won from Bikapur seat topped the list of tainted MLAs with 36 criminal cases, Nawab Kazim Ali Khan of Congress from Suar constituency topped the rich list with a declared total assets worth Rs 56.89 crore followed by Shah Alam of BSP from Mubarakpur with assets worth Rs. 54.44 Crores.

Manipur is the only State, where not a single elected candidate who has declared any pending criminal cases against him or her.

However, the new Assembly witnessed a sharp rise among wealthy MLAs with 16 have declared assets worth more than Rs one crore. In 2007 Assembly there was only one MLA who was a crorepati.

In Punjab, the recent polls witnessed 22 candidates with a criminal past winning the elections, compared to 21 such tainted MLAs in the 2007 Assembly.

So far as the money power is concerned, more than 86 per cent of the candidates fared well in the State, as voters sent about 86 per cent or 101 crorepatis to the 117-member Assembly this time. There were 77 (66 per cent) crorepatis in the 2007 Assembly.

In Goa, voters have chosen 37 (93 per cent) crorepatis and 12 (30 per cent) candidates with tainted past to the 40-member Assembly this year. In 2007, their number was 22 and nine respectively.

Similarly in Uttarakhand, 19 (22 per cent) new MLAs have criminal cases against them, while 32 (46 per cent) crorepatis managed to enter the new Assembly. Their figures in 2007 were 17 and 12 respectively.

Rich tributes paid to Dr Ambedkar on his 55th anniversary

FM Radio Sharda in Jammu 

lawyers strike Continued

Corruption Nepotism in Health Deptt

Excelsior today submitted a comprehensive reply to Motion of the breach of privilege moved by Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma dismissing all charges leveled by him saying it was duty of the fourth pillar of the democracy, called media, to highlight plight of the citizens of the State, who had been dying due to bad treatment, inferior quality of medicines and machinery and ill equipped medical and paramedical staff.

"Irregularities, bad services, corruption and nepotism in health sector has quite often been raised in the Assembly. Corruption and appointment of junior officials on important posts, illegal and dangerously flourishing business of unauthorized hospitals has caused a grave threat to human lives in J&K'', the reply filed by Excelsior Editor-in-Chief, S D Rohmetra before Assembly Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone, said.

Following is full text of the reply:

"In response to the motion, as delivered on me for my comments, I have to submit that the bad condition of health care services in the State of Jammu and Kashmir has equally been the concern of Legislature, Judiciary as well as the fourth pillar of democracy called Media. Citizens of the State have been dying due to bad treatment, inferior quality of medicines and machinery, not adequately trained medical and paramedical staff. Many more have been suffering in terms of other related factors. Hundreds of petitions are under hearing with Judiciary, many more have been raised by honourable MLAs and MLCs in Legislature and all outlets of Media---newspapers, radio, television----have been carrying reports and stories on the deteriorating conditions every day.

Your good self has often taken irregularities and bad services, including corruption and nepotism, in health sector seriously and, quite a number of times, issued necessary direction to the Government. The number of questions and calling attention motions in Assembly on this malaise in health sector in itself is an indication how menacing proportions it has assumed over the years. In this context, state subjects have been repeatedly complaining to us that, mainly because of corruption and appointment of junior officials on senior positions, the illegal and dangerously flourishing business of unauthorized hospitals, nursing homes and clinical laboratories in the State has already caused a grave threat to the human life in J&K.

Driven by this concern, we have been carrying reports and stories on this particular subject without malice or prejudice for anybody as it is the primary responsibility of media to highlight such problems and bring same to the notice of other institutions for the purpose of necessary corrections and improvement. Wherever, an inaccuracy of facts creeps in, we have been fairly accommodating the official versions.

Now, with regard to the story pointed out by the Minister, we have to make it clear that it does not anywhere mention the name of Mr Sham Lal Sharma. Nor does it anywhere mention that Mr Sham Lal Sharma has fixed the hafta, we strongly believe, is being collected through extortion from owners and operators of these hospitals and nursing homes. We can not help if still he feels that it is "raising fingers" on him. Top corridors of power do not essentially mean the Minister in charge. As you are better aware, it comprises different strata of the system of governance.

We would further make it clear that we have nowhere infringed the privilege of any identified MLA or Minister nor reported any proceedings of the House in this report that could have been perceived as breach of privilege. Even if a legislator's or a Minister's name is mentioned in such kind of a story, which is not about the business or proceedings of Assembly, the aggrieved person has a right to come up with a rejoinder, that can be carried prominently, or else approach a court of law for defamation. The Minister in question has not taken recourse to either. Instead, he has, without any reason, substance and justification, moved this motion. We strongly reject his allegation that we have in any manner committed the breach of his privilege as MLA or Minister. Yes, it is our duty to make the executive, headed by Ministers, accountable before public through this lawful mandate. We assure you sir that we will carry on to discharge this responsibility.

We also strongly dismiss the complainant's allegation that we are in any manner blackmailing him. It is a fact that lawsuits between us are separately going on in different courts of law but we have been still accommodating his speeches and statements in the interest of our people. We believe that, instead, it is this honorable Minister who is trying to browbeat and silence this genuine and reputed organ of the fourth estate with false, frivolous and fallacious accusations. After approaching different courts, he seems to be trying his weapon by unjustifiably invoking the privilege of honorable members of the House.

With this detailed explanation, we beg to submit that the false and fabricated charge be dismissed forthwith and the complainant reprimanded for trying to silence media while taking refuge under the issue of privilege. As regards the appointment of junior officials as Directors, without the sanction of Cabinet and Establishment-cum-Selection Committee, we are continuing to document the cases, one by one, where Assistant Directors have been appointed as Directors at the peril of the services in health sector."

Education conference in jammu kashmir
kashmir university Kings

Introduce horticulture crop insurance in J and K

MLA, M. Y. Tarigami has underscored the need for linking production with marketing channels adding that this was imperative to achieve dividents of increase in the fruit production.

Raising a supplementary to a question of Abdul Rehman Veeri in the Legislative Assembly today, Tarigami said though fruit production in the State has increased many folds but unless this production is linked to marketing, the benefits of the increase in production were not possible.

Tarigami said Horticulture is the major component of State’s economy adding that there was dire need for developing basic infrastructure for pre and post Harvest Management in this sector. He specifically urged for developing Grading and Packaging units and establishing cold chain to increase shelf life of the fruits so that it reaches to the terminal markets of the country in fresh condition. These facilities would enable fruit growers to fetch better remuneration of their produce, Tarigami added. Tarigami also urged for introducing crop insurance scheme to protect the fruit grower against the losses due to natural calamities including hailstorms and drought.

Priceless articles in Toshakhana
Heavy rains lash Jammu region
Ramdev Aruna Roy Varun Gandhi

Soz said Cong decision fair

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President and Rajya Sabha member Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz has today said that the decision taken by the Congress high command regarding Education Minister, Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed is a fair one.

This was claimed by Soz during his exclusive talk with media persons. He said, “There is a system in every institution and same is with the Congress Party. Every decision is taken after adopting some mechanism and this time the decision taken by the institution is also fair.”

Holding Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah responsible for running the coalition government he said, “CM is the head of institution in the state and in this case everything was done according to his knowledge.”

“If anything was not fine in the institution it is his duty to fix it and rectify it, as he is the only responsible person to take care of all his ministers,” Soz maintained.

On the question of PHE Minister, Taj Mohi-ud-Din regarding his presence in New Delhi during last few days he refused to comment.

Soz was in Jammu today for attending a rally organized by the MLA, Indu Pawar, and State President Mahila wing of the Congress Party.

Fate of Education Minister to be decided in 24 hours

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the fate of Education Minister Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed, whose foster son's Class 10 exam was allegedly fudged, would be decided in the next 24 hours.

Talking to reporters here, Omar said the findings of the Crime Branch have been discussed with his alliance partner Congress.

"We will decide action in 24-36 hours. The minister is not accused of helping his son," Omar said but added the probe had not yet established at whose behest the tampering of three answersheets had been done.

The Chief Minister said he was not lenient with anyone.

"I am just following the natural course of justice that his guilt has to be established. I can't go on presumptions. The guilt must be established. In this case, the minister happens to be the Education Minister also. Therefore, a thorough probe is a must," he said.

The Crime Branch had concluded there were some irregularities in the anwser sheets of Sayeed's foster son's Class 10 exam, which he passed, after it found two hand writings on them.

The Crime Branch, which probed the answer-paper scandal in its report submitted to the government today, also identified three officials allegedly involved in this.

The report said there were two hand writings on three answer sheets of the Class 10 exam taken by the student, official sources said here. Sayeed is a Congress nominee in the state cabinet.

The sources said the three identified officials belonged to the examination division of the J and K Board of Secondary Education.

Imam Sauban, Peerzada Sayeed's son, had passed his class 10 exam in 2009 allegedly with the help from Board of School Education officials.

As the controversy had broken out, the Chief Minister had announced an inquiry by the Crime Branch which questioned the Board officials.

The answer sheets of the candidate were sent to General Examiner of Questioned Documents who opined that the three answer sheets had two different handwritings, they said.

After the probe was announced, Sayeed had welcomed the decision and he said the issue has been raked up to malign his image.

Sayeed had to resign earlier also because of allegations of corruption while he was in Ghulam Nabi Azad's government in the state.

He had quit in January 2008 after being accused of demanding and accepting illegal gratification of Rs 40,000 from an independent MLA Shoaib Lone. 

MLA Bhaderwah inaugurates Bus Stand

To provide adequate transport and accommodation facility to the passenger and load carrier vehicles MLA Bhaderwah.Mohd. Sharief Niaz today inaugurated newly constructed Bus Stand Bhaderwah which was constructed by Police Housing Corporation at an estimated cost of Rs. 6.50 crores.

Deputy Commissioner Doda. Farooq Ahmed Khan, Tehsildar Bhaderwah. Sudershan Slaria, DSP Bhaderwah. Jameel Ahmed, DFO Bhaderwah. Basher Shah besides various District and Sectoral Officers , Newly elected Sarpanches, Panches and a huge gathering of the people were also present on the occasion.

While speaking on the occasion MLA Bhaderwah. Mohd Sharief Niaz said that Bhaderwah is endowed with natural beauty and has emerged as the tourist destination in the state so the number of passenger as well as goods carrier vehicles are increasing day by day and the old Bus Stand Bhaderwah is unable to cope the growing traffic and vehicles in the town so there was a dire need of the New Bus Stand. He also said that with the completion of Bhaderwah–Chamba Inter State road connectivity and Bhaderwah–Bani-Basohli inter District road Bhaderwah will become a hub of various activities in the State.

While congratulating the newly elected Sarpanches and Panches of the area. Niaz asked them to work with honesty, devotion and dedication for the welfare of poor and needy people.

Shiv Sena condemns Drama by MLAs

Shiv Sena, Bal Thackrey J and K activists under the leadership of Block President Bhalwal Raj Kumar and other officials including Piyar Singh, Vikram Sharma, Dhanatar Singh Guddu and Roshan Lal Sharma took out a protest and eight hours Dharna in front of residential gate of BJP MLA Bharat Bhushan at Simaliyala Domana on Saturday. The activists of Shiv Sena raised slogan ‘Panch Krore Khane Wala MLA Haye Haye’ and ‘Dogron Key Sentiments Ko Panchar Karnay Wala MLA Haye Haye’.

While addressing the gathering Piyar Singh, Raj Kumar and Vikram Sharma strongly condemned the drama of forwarding resignation of 11 MLAs to high command and said if the high command is sincere towards the sentiments of people of Jammu from where the founder member of Jana Sangh Pt. Prem Nath Dogra was born, they must send the resignations to the Speaker of J and K Legislative Assembly. But the resignation was handed over to Incharge J and K Affairs O.P Kohli and National General Secretary J.P Nadda indicates a high voltage drama enacted by 11 MLAs when Ashok Khajuria, the Chief, had issued a whip to the party legislators to vote for the party candidate in the election then how these seven MLAs acted apparently for money considerations they alleged. The high command must send a letter to the speaker of J and K Legislative Assembly under anti defection law for cancellation of the membership of the MLAs of BJP they demanded.

President Ashok Gupta strongly condemned the statement of CM Omar Abdullah wherein he said that “we will resign, if charges of bribery to MLAs are proven”.

Gupta further added that getting seven more votes to NC candidate, proves the sell out of seven BJP MLAs and big corruption going on between NC and BJP. He added that aspiration, commitments and suffering of Jammu people was sold out in the open market by seven MLAs of BJP.

So called champions of Jammu should be booked under law as these seven MLAs have corroded the confidence of people of Jammu who voted them to power, said Ashok and added that Shiv Sena will expose political corruption and horse trading of ‘Aaya Ram Gaya Ram’ who have murdered the sentiments of Jammu people.

Qurrah for Hajj seats today
Govt to recruit 50,000
water shortage in jammu