Excelsiordaily

REGD.NO.JK-71/18-20RNI No. 28547/65Vol No. 54 No. 6 JAMMU, SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 2018 14 Pages `̀ 5.00

Sanjeev PargalJAMMU, Jan 5: Vice

President M Venkaiah Naidusaid today that Dr KaranSingh, former ruler of Jammuand Kashmir, a former UnionMinister and Parliamentarian,was both 'Raja and Mantri'(King and Minister) and com-plemented him saying hearinghim was a feast.

Naidu's remarks came beforeDr Karan Singh delivered brieffarewell speech in the RajyaSabha today, the last day ofWinter Session of Parliament ashe would be completing his termby the end of this month alongwith Janardhan Dwivedi andParvez Hashmi.

"Dr Karan Singh was both'Raja and Mantri' (King andMinister). Hearing him was afeast,'' Naidu remarked, in anapparent reference of Dr Singh

being ruler of Jammu andKashmir and also a UnionMinister later.

Law Minister Ravi ShankarPrasad also recalled his inter-action with Karan Singh.

"In Karan Singh, I saw a'philosopher King' as envis-aged by Aristotle. Of late,Singh had stopped writing butI urge him to continue writ-ing,'' Prasad said.

In his speech, Dr Karan

Singh said he had come to NewDelhi half a century ago afterserving for 18 years as head ofthe State (Jammu and Kashmir).

"At the age of 36, I joinedMrs Gandhi's (Indira) camp. Ofthese 50 years, I had beenMember of Parliament for 40years-four times in Lok Sabha

and an equal terms in RajyaSabha, sitting both in treasurybenches as well as Opposition,''Karan Singh said.

He said Parliament hasevolved in the last 50 years butnot all the changes were posi-tive.

Stating that earlier boththe Houses used to witnessbrilliant debates from HirenMukherjee, Madhu Limaye,Atal Behari Vajpayee, NathPai, Bhupesh Gupta etc, heregretted that debates havenow become rare and disrup-tions have been more frequent.He called upon the membersto introspect this.

"Earlier, there were just two

WASHINGTON/ISLAM-ABAD, Jan 5:

Putting Pakistan on notice,the US today suspended overUSD 1.15 billion in securityaid and the delivery of mili-tary equipment to it for failingto clamp down on the AfghanTaliban and the HaqqaniNetwork terror groups anddismantle their safe havens.

The freezing of all securityassistance to Pakistan comesafter President Donald Trump ina New Year's Day tweet accusedthe country of giving nothing tothe US but "lies and deceit" andproviding "safe haven" to terror-ists in return for USD 33 billionaid over the last 15 years.

The suspended amount alsoinclude USD 255 million inForeign Military Funding(FMF) for the fiscal year 2016as mandated by the Congress.

In addition, the Department

of Defence has suspended theentire USD 900 million of theCoalition Support Funds (CSF)money to Pakistan for the fiscalyear 2017 and other unspentmoney from previous fiscalyears.

"Today we can confirmthat we are suspending nation-al security assistance only, toPakistan at this time until thePakistani Government takesdecisive action against groups,including the Afghan Talibanand the Haqqani Network,"State DepartmentSpokesperson Heather Nauerttold reporters.

"We consider them (terrorgroups) to be destabilising theregion and also targeting USpersonnel. The US will suspendthat kind of security assistance

to Pakistan," she said.The US, she said, will not be

delivering military equipment ortransfer security-related funds toPakistan unless it is required bylaw.

Reacting to the Trumpadministration's move, Pakistansaid, "We are engaged with theUS Administration on the issueof security cooperation andawait further details."

"Arbitrary deadlines, unilat-eral pronouncements and shift-ing goalposts are counterproduc-tive in addressing commonthreats," the Foreign Office saidin a statement in Islamabad.

It said that Pakistan believedthat its cooperation with US infighting terrorism directlyserved US national securityinterests as well as the largerinterests of the internationalcommunity.

Historically, the US has pro-

vided Pakistan over USD 1 bil-lion in security assistance annu-ally.

In August, while unveilinghis new South Asia strategy,Trump had accused Pakistan ofgiving "safe haven to agents ofchaos, violence, and terror," andsaid the time had come "forPakistan to demonstrate its com-mitment to civilisation, order,and to peace".

Referring to Trump's newstrategy, Nauert said despite asustained high-level engage-ment by Trump administra-tion with the Government ofPakistan, the Taliban and theHaqqani Network continue tofind sanctuary inside Pakistanas they plot to destabiliseAfghanistan and also attackthe US and allied personnel.

At the same time, Nauertmade it clear that the US action

Coalition Support Funds too suspendedUS freezes over $ 1 bn military aid to Pak

Fayaz BukhariSRINAGAR, Jan 5: A

Border Roads Organization(BRO) Engineer was killedand at least nine persons aremissing after avalanchesstruck North Kashmir'sKupwara district today fol-lowing fresh snowfall in thehills of Kashmir.

The hills of Kashmir hadfresh snowfall since last nightleading and around two feet offresh snow had accumulated inSadna Top area, leading to ava-lanches. Several avalanches hitthe road near Shaitan Nallah inSadna Top on Kupwara-Tanghdar road this afternoonsweeping away a Taxi, a BorderRoads Organization (BRO)vehicle and two persons whowere walking on the road.

Two beacon officials cameunder a snow avalanche near theSadna Top this afternoon. Theywere standing near their vehiclewhen the avalanche struck andswept away both of them alongwith their vehicle. They wererescued and one of them, aJunior Engineer of 109 RC, MPSingh was declared brought

dead at Army unit hospital inChowkibal.

The road was slippery due toheavy snowfall during the nightand there were few vehicles thatwere on their way to Tanghdarthis afternoon. The drivers hadstopped their vehicles nearShaitan Nallah to have a look atroad ahead.

The driver of the sumobearing registration Number

JK09A- 3249, Zahoor AhmadKhan son of Maqsood AhmadKhan of Chetarkote Karnah,was also with other drivershaving a look at the road andhad parked vehicle when itwas swept away by an ava-lanche.

SSP Kupwara, ShamsherHussain, who was on the spot tomonitor the rescue operation,told Excelsior that seven person

including three women, onechild and 3 men were inside thevehicle when it was swept away.

He said that two more per-sons who were on the road fewdozen meters away were hit byanother avalanche and they arealso missing. An 11-year oldboy, Abdul Wahid son of NaseerAhmad Parray, resident ofSuliman Tangdhar, who waswith these two persons, was res-cued immediately. He has beenshifted to Srinagar for treatment.

The missing include AltafAhmad Check son ofMohammad Samander Check ofNopora Tanghdar, ShakeelaBegam wife of Abdul RehmanParray resident of SulimanTanghdar, Master Abdul RashidJoo son of Abdul Majeed Joo ofDildar Tanghdar, FareedHussain Shah son of Momim AliShah resident of ChamkoteTanghdar, Chapee Begam wifeof Fareed Hussain Shah residentof Chamkote Tanghdar, ShafqatBegum wife of MaqboolHussian Shah of Gunde SajdanTanghdar, Ghulam HussainShah son of Mir Ahmad Shahresident of Chamkote Tanghdar,

BRO Engg killed, 9 missing inavalanches at Sadna Top

Gopal SharmaJAMMU, Jan 5: Prakash

Utsav of Sri Guru GobindSingh Ji, the 10th Sikh Guruand the founder of KhalsaPanth was celebrated with

great religious fervour, gaietyand devotion across the Statetoday.

A large number of devoteessince early morning throngedthe Sikh religious places(Gurdwaras) and paid theirobeisance to the great Guru andoffered special prayers. TheGurudwaras were highly deco-rated by the concerned manage-ment committees and huge rush

of people was witnessedat all the religious placesthroughout the State.

The main function inconnection with Gurpurabwas held at Sri GuruNanak Dev Ji, ChandNagar (Lower Gumat),Jammu, where thousandsof people from all walksof life and especiallySikh Sangat from variousparts of Jammu city andtowns of district, offeredspecial prayers. RagiJathas from the State andoutside participated in theprogram and recited‘Gurvani Path'.

Prakash Utsav of Guru Gobind Singhcelebrated with religious fervor, gaiety

Mohinder VermaJAMMU, Jan 5: Despite

repeated directions from theChief Minister and the ChiefSecretary, majority of thebureaucrats have failed toundertake regular field visitsto review the implementationof developmental works andassess the impact of welfareschemes on the ground.Taking serious note of prevail-ing administrative inertia, theChief Minister MehboobaMufti is likely to take somestringent measures so thatdevelopmental agenda of theGovernment doesn’t suffer.

Ever since she took over asChief Minister of the State,Mehbooba Mufti is repeatedlylaying thrust on regular field vis-its by the AdministrativeSecretaries as well as the DeputyCommissioners so as to assessactual status of the developmen-tal works on the ground and toresolve the grievances of thepeople at their door-steps.

The first ever directive inthis regard was issued by theChief Minister on April 9,2016 while chairing the meet-ing of the senior officers of theState administration. In thismeeting, she had explicitlytold the bureaucrats to leadfrom the front in reaching outto the people in mitigatingtheir problems.

“Reaching out to the peopleat their door-steps particularly inremote and far-off areas is themajor step towards making theadministration more response tothe needs and problems of thecommon masses”, she had toldthe officers.

Thereafter, the ChiefSecretary, in numerous meet-ings of Committee ofSecretaries, asked theAdministrative Secretaries toensure strict compliance to thedirectives vis-à-vis regularfield visits. He had even fixedevery Thursday for undertak-ing field visits by theAdministrative Secretaries toreview the implementationand impact of developmentalworks and welfare schemes.

Similarly, as a follow-up tothe Chief Minister’s directivesissued on April 9, 2016, theChief Secretary issued instruc-tions to all the DeputyCommissioners to pay field vis-

its at least twice a week so as toassess the grievances of the peo-ple at their door steps andresolve the same on spot. They(Deputy Commissioners) werealso directed to keep the respec-tive Divisional Commissionersupdate about their field visits bysubmitting tour diaries and workdone statements.

Not only their own field vis-its the Deputy Commissionerswere also told in clear terms thatthey should ensure regular fieldvisits by their subordinate offi-cers and obtain regular reportsfrom them so as to ensure prop-er monitoring and supervision ofentire administrative mecha-nism.

“However, Chief Minister’soffice is frequently receivinginformation from differentquarters that majority of theAdministrative Secretaries aswell as Deputy Commissionershave yet not paid seriousattention towards the direc-tives about field visits till date,highly placed sources toldEXCELSIOR.

“It has been observed thatmost of the AdministrativeSecretaries prefer to sit in theCivil Secretariat instead of con-ducting mandatory field visitsonce in a week and are seekingfeed-back about the

Majority of bureaucrats not conducting fieldvisits despite repeated instructions from Govt

Nitish, Desai toattend Mufti'sdeath anniversary

Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU, Jan 5: Bihar Chief

Minister Nitish Kumar andIndian-origin UK politicianLord Megnad Desai will attendsecond death anniversary func-tion of former Jammu andKashmir Chief Minister MuftiMohammad Sayeed atDussehra Grounds, GandhiNagar on January 8.

Nitish Kumar was closeassociate of the Mufti as bothhad worked together in VPSingh Government. Mufti was

INSIDE WEATHERIncapable of utilizing PMDP funds* Rohingya issue ...Page 6BJP must break silence ondiscrimination with Jammu orcome out of Govt: Sham ...Page 3Cross border narco traffickersracket busted, 5 arrested withPak smuggled heroin ....Page 5DyCM appeals people toactively participate in Panchayat elections ....Page 7Bali holds talks with NHM employees, appeals to resume work ...Page 10India in trouble at 28/3 after bowlers dismiss SA for 286 ...Page 12

JAMMU : Partly cloudy

TEMPERATUREMax: 19.9 Degree C Min: 6.7 Degree C

RELATIVE HUMIDITYRH-I (Morning): 76.0 per centRH-II (Evening): 53.0 per centSunset on Saturday: 05.40 p.m.Sunrise on Sunday: 07.34 a.m.

SRINAGAR:Partly cloudy

TEMPERATUREMax: 9.5 Degree C Min: -3.2 Degree C

RELATIVE HUMIDITYRH-I (Morning): 82.0 per centRH-II (Evening): 72.0 per cent

LEH: TEMPERATURE

Max: 2.0 Degree C Min: -10.3 Degree C

Download Mobile Apps ofDaily Excelsior for Android and IOS

http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/apps/

Download on theGoogle Play Store

Download on the

App Store

Bhimgarh Fort during night hours. -Excelsior/Romesh Mengi

(Contd on page 9 Col 3)

Azad blames BJPfor RS impasse

NEW DELHI, Jan 5: The Congress today held the

BJP responsible for the impassein Rajya Sabha due to which thetriple talaq bill could not betaken up, and accused the rulingparty of trying to use Parliamentas a "rubber stamp".

Leader of Opposition inRajya Sabha Ghulam NabiAzad said that for the first timein the country's Parliamentaryhistory, people could seeMinisters stalling proceedingsleading to an impasse for thelast three days and the tripletalaq bill could not be taken up.

(Contd on page 9 Col 3)

Resolve issues withPak: Parl Panel

NEW DELHI, Jan 5: A Parliamentary Panel has

asked the Government to“remove stumbling blocks” inresolving outstanding issueswith Pakistan through dialogue,and pitched for a NationalSecurity Framework (NSF) anda coherent strategy towards theneighbouring country.

The Committee on ExternalAffairs also noted the fact thatby neither publicly acceptingnot acting against terrorismemanating from its soil,Pakistan has displayed itsunwillingness to create

(Contd on page 9 Col 1)

9 CPOs, 11 SrPOs transferred

Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU, Jan 5: Police

Department today orderedtransfer and postings of 9 ChiefProsecuting Officers (CPOs)and 11 Senior ProsecutingOfficers (Sr POs) with immedi-ate effect.

According to the orderissued, Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar,CPO DPO Baramulla has beentransferred and posted as CPOCID CIK, while Nazir AhmedNaikoo, CPO, awaiting ordersof adjustment has been postedas CPO Baramulla and KamalSharma, CPO Ramban has been

(Contd on page 9 Col 5)

Pak violatesceasefire

Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU, Jan 5: The

Pakistani army today resorted toshelling and also fired fromsmall arms and automaticweapons along the Line ofControl (LoC) in Shahpur areaof Poonch sector.

The Indian Army retaliatedstrongly.

"Pakistan army resorted tounprovoked firing of smallarms and automatic weapons

(Contd on page 9 Col 5)

Hundreds of devotees offering special prayers on Gurpurab atGurdwara, Chand Nagar in Jammu. -Excelsior/Rakesh

*Watch video on www.excelsiornews.com

*Watch video on www.excelsiornews.com

*Watch video on www.excelsiornews.com

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 5: The StateElection Commission (SEC)was planning to cut by nearlyhalf the total phases in whichthe Panchayat elections will beheld as compared to 2011 andcould also reduce gap betweenthe phases to minimize totalduration of the polls, whichthe Chief Minister MehboobaMufti had recently announcedto commence from February15.

Sources told the Excelsiorthat as compared to 17 phases in

which the 2011 Panchayat elec-tions were held with total pollduration lasting about three andhalf months, the SEC couldreduce number of the phases tonearly half i.e. between 8 to 10.This will also bring down thepolling period from nearly threeand half months to about twomonths.

In 2011, the election processwas set in motion on March 18.The first phase of polling washeld on April 13, 2011 and thelast phase on June 27, 2011. ThePanchayats were constituted inJuly 2011 and they completedtheir five-year term in July2016, nearly one and a half yearago.

Sources said the StateGovernment was also of theview that the Panchayat elec-tion process should be com-pleted in nearly two months

and the SEC was also planningto cut down the phases from17 in 2011 to eight to 10 thistime. Also, the time gapbetween one phase to anothercould also be reduced fromseven or eight days to four orfive days.

"If the first phase ofPanchayat election starts onFebruary 15, the Commissionwould try to finish the electionprocess by April 15,'' sourcessaid.

However, much woulddepend on availability of para-military forces and Jammu andKashmir Police personnel forconduct of the elections as it was"gigantic task'' to protect morethan one lakh candidates, whocould jump into fray for 35096Panch constituencies spreadover 4490 Panchayats for which

Panchayat poll phases maybe cut to half from 2011

Debates rare, disruptions frequent;says Karan in farewell speech

Singh was both ‘Raja & Mantri’: VP

(Contd on page 9 Col 5)

Duration ofelection processto be reduced

(Contd on page 9 Col 5) (Contd on page 9 Col 1)

BJP provides Rs 51 lakh for Guru’s chair at JU

(Contd on page 9 Col 3)

CM’s office receiving regularcomplaints from different quarters

Stringent measures on cards to make administration responsive

(Contd on page 9 Col 3)

A view of fresh snowfall at Gulmarg on Friday. (UNI)

Fresh snowfall in hills of Kashmir

(Contd on page 9 Col 7)