MONDAY, March 02, 2015 10, Jamadi ul Awwal 1436 AH 28th Year of publication

Published from Srinagar | Jammu Regd. No. JK NP-6/SKGPO-2012-2014 Vol: 28 No. 61 Pages: 12 Rs. 3.00 (Air Surcharge For Jammu/Leh 50 Paisa) epaper.GreaterKashmir.comGreaterKashmir.com, GreaterKashmir.net

COUNCIL OF MINISTERSAbdul Rehman Bhat Chander Parkash Javaid Mustafa Mir Lal Singh Abdul Haq Khan Bali Bhagat

Syed Basharat Ahmed Bukhari Choudhary Zulifkar Ali Sukhnandan Kumar Ghulam Nabi Lone Asiya NaqashSyed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari Dr Haseeb A Drabu Imran Raza Ansari Naeem Akhtar Chering Dorjay Sajjad Gani Lone Abdul Majid Padder Sunil Kumar Sharma Muhammad Ashraf Mir Abdul Ghani Kohli Priya Seth Pawan Kumar Gupta

PARDEEP SINGH BALI / YOGESH SAGOTRA

Jammu, Mar 1: The newly sworn-in Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Sunday said Pakistan, Hurriyat and militants “allowed condu-cive atmosphere for assem-bly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Addressing his maiden press conference here after taking oath as the Chief Minister, Mufti said the huge voter turnout in J&K, especially in Srinagar, was “an achievement and this wasn’t possible without favorable atmosphere cre-

ated by Pakistan, Hurriyat and militants.”

"People from across the border allowed conducive atmosphere during elec-tions. My humble submis-sion is peaceful elections were not possible, if they had done something.

You know how small action was needed to disturb the elections. They allowed this democratic process to go ahead. This gives us a hope,” he said. "God forbid if they (militants) would have done something. It would not have been possible to have smooth conduct of the elections.”

Omar slams Mufti’s remarksSrinagar, Mar 1: Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hit out at Mu� i Muhammad Sayeed’s remarks and asked BJP to explain its stand.

"Pakistan, Huriyaat & Militants ALLOWED Peaceful con-duct of elections, says Syeed, I guess we should be grateful to their generosity (sic). Dear @BJP4India Please explain role of security forces & Polling staff considering your CM just said, "Pakistan allowed elections in J&K", Omar wrote on the microblogging site twi� er.

On a retweet about BJP worker in Jammu celebrating Omar wrote, "Or Just thanking Pak for JK elections."

BJP responds: JK polls due to those who trust in ConstitutionNew Delhi, Mar 1: Refusing to be drawn into the row over J&K Chief Minister Mu� i Muhammed Sayeed's remarks crediting people across the border and separatists for the peaceful polls in the state, BJP Sunday said the exercise had been successful due to the eff orts of the Election Commis-sion and Indian Army and of those who believe in the Indian Constitution.

"The peaceful poll in Jammu and Kashmir was conducted with the support of the Election Commission and other security agencies, including state police, besides those who believe in the Indian Constitution," said BJP National Secre-tary, Shrikant Sharma.

PDP-BJP alliance a historic opportunity: ModiNew Delhi, Mar 1: Terming the BJP-PDP government a "his-toric opportunity" to fulfi l aspi-rations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday wished the new government under Chief Minister Mu� i

Mufti takes oath as JK CM; 24 ministers tooModi, Advani, Joshi attend swearing-in; Altaf, Drabu, Naeem, Sajad get cabinet berths; Nirmal is Dy CM

Azad, Omar, Third Front leaders skip swearing-in

YOGESH SAGOTRA

Jammu, Mar 1: Leader of Oppo-sition (LoP) in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdul-lah skipped the swearing-in ceremony of Peoples Demo-cratic Patron (PDP) patron Mu� i Muhammad Sayeed and his council of ministers.

According to sources, Azad and Omar—and other legislators and senior lead-ers of Congress and National Conference—were invited for the ceremony as per protocol of the state but they skipped the function.

Governor's rule endsJammu, Mar 1: With elect-ed government taking the oath of offi ce, the Gover-nor’s rule ended in Jammu and Kashmir.

Governor NN Vohra Sunday issued a Proclama-tion to revoke the earlier Proclamation issued by him on 9th January 2015 whereby he had assumed all functions of the Govern-ment of the State, an offi cial spokesman said.

He said the fresh Proc-lamation brought to an end Governor’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir which had commenced from 8th Janu-ary, 2015.

CHIEF MINISTER Mufti Muhammad Sayeed

DEPUTY CMNirmal Kumar Singh

Mufti credits Pakistan, militants, separatists for ‘smooth polls’

PARDEEP SINGH BALI

Jammu, Mar 1: The PDP and BJP have decided to maintain status-quo on the issue of Article 370 that gives special status to J&K while asserting that it would “exam-ine” the need for de-notifying ‘disturbed areas’ to enable the Central Government to take a fi nal decision on the continuation of

Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) in these areas.

In the ‘Agenda of Alliance’ released by Chief Minister Mu� i Muhammad Sayeed and his deputy Nirmal Singh, the two par-ties have vowed to constitute a steering commi� ee comprising of presidents of PDP and BJP—with four members each from both the parties—to oversee implementa-

tion of the Agenda .The 16-page document titled ‘Agenda of

the Alliance’ says both parties have agreed to maintain a status quo on Article 370.

“While recognizing the diff erent posi-tion and appreciating the perceptions BJP and PDP have on the constitutional status of J&K, considering the political and

Alliance Agenda: Status quo on Art 370, AFSPA, WPRs

Says Sajjad Lone has given opening for others to follow, lists good governance as priority

YOGESH SAGOTRA

Jammu, Mar 1: The Peoples Democratic Party patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Sunday took oath of office as eleventh Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir along with 17 cabinet ministers and eight ministers of state in the newly-formed PDP-BJP coalition government.

Governor N N Vohra administrated the oath of office and secrecy to Council of Ministers at a function held at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium at University of Jammu.

Who is Mufti

Muhammad Sayeed

Born in Baba Mohalla in Bijbehara

town of south Kashmir’s Anantnag

district on 12 January 1936, Mu� i graduated from S P College in Srinagar

and later went to obtain a degree

in law, and a post-graduate degree in Arab History, from

Aligarh Muslim University.

First cabinet meeting today

ABHINAV VERMA

Jammu, Mar 1: Jammu and Kashmir’s newly sworn-in Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed will chair his first cabinet meeting on Monday at Civil Secretariat here, sources said.

Sources said the cabi-net meeting would follow meeting of Council of Min-isters including Ministers of State “where they will be informed about the port-folios and Ministries to be headed by them.”

Mir Imran/GK

See Mufti...on Pg-08

See BJP...on Pg-08

See Mufti takes...on Pg-08

See Azad, Omar...on Pg-08 See PDP-BJP...on Pg-08

See First...on Pg-08 See Alliance Agenda...on Pg-08

See Who is ...on Pg-08

CMYK