Lucknow :April 30, 2008 In compliance of the directives given by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati during the law and order and development works review meeting held on April 24 last, the State Government has issued the necessary Government Order (G.O.) Through this G.O. effective implementation of development works and law and order would be ensured. According to the G.O. issued by the Chief Secretary Mr. Prashant Kumar Mishra, the Principal Secretaries/Secretaries, D.G.P., Divisional Commissioners and D.M.s have been given explicit orders that the policies and programmes of the government should be implemented effectively so that the needy could be benefited to a larger extent. There should be no slackness in registering F.I.R.s. Besides, there should be no laxity in the implementation of development works and maintenance of law and order, else the guilty would not be spared at any cost. According to the G.O., the officers should remain present between 10 a.m. and 12 noon in their respective offices barring holidays, so that the problems of the people could be disposed off at the earliest. Although these orders had been issued previously, but still the government was receiving complaints that it was not being strictly adhered to in some districts. According to the G.O. teams from the headquarters would be sent to conduct surprise checks and if any laxity in it was detected then stringent action would be initiated against the guilty. The G.O. further states that the officers of the police and administration should maintain better co-ordination to ensure peace arrangements in their areas. The S.O.s should not pressurise the aggrieved party to go for compromise, neither any action should be initiated against the same under sections 107, 116 and 151 of C.R.P.C. The complaints related to the exploitation of SC/ST should be investigated speedily and if the complaint is found correct, then only case should be registered under the SC/ST Act. Besides, review meetings regarding the terrorist activities should be compulsorily held at the district and divisional levels. The G.O. further states that the officers should accord proper respect to the people’s representatives. Besides, they should initiate strict action against the white collared criminals, mafias and notorious criminals under the Gangster Act. The officers have been asked to reach the incident site without delay if any untoward happening occurs in their respective district, and initiate proper action. Besides, the media should also be informed with real facts, so that the people get the real picture of the incident. In the Government Order, directives have also been issued for organising Thana Diwas every saturday, to redress the people’s complaints in every police station. During thana diwas, all the revenue employees of the revenue villages falling under the concerning police station, police inspector and sub-inspectors, employees of development and electricity departments will remain present compulsorily. Whether the Thana Diwas is being organised on scheduled time or not? The concerning Police Superintendent (rural) /A.S.P. will have to verify at least two police station areas. Besides, D.M./S.P. have been directed for checking at least one police station. For tackling the problem of naxalism, activities should be under taken regarding the economic, social and law and order aspect. It is the need of the hour that the poor people residing in naxal affected areas should join the mainstream of the society. Action in this regard is needed on priority basis. Full attention should be paid for providing maximum benefits of government facilities to the weaker sections of the society. Besides, pension, scholarships to SC/ST, backward, minorities and other eligible people should be provided timely. The Government Order further states that the remaining agricultural land in districts should be allotted to the eligible on priority basis. Besides, if some land is still available, then it should be distributed among the eligible persons. If strongmen have encroached upon the pattas given to the dalits and poor, then effective action should be taken for freeing the pattas from their possession. It should also be ensured that the poor people of Sarva Samaj benefit from the decisions of the government. The Chief Secretary has directed to ensure the availability of electricity without hindrance as per roster in the urban and rural areas. Special attention should be paid for effectively checking on power theft and also on drinking water, health, NAREGA and other welfare programmes. Incidents of theft, dacoity, murder, crimes and rape should be effectively controlled. Small incidents concerning with law and order and communalism should be taken seriously, so that they do not aggravate into a major incident in future. Special attention should be paid regarding the security of the statues of saints, gurus and great persons so that anti-social elements do not cause any harm to these. District Magistrate, Commissioner and the district and divisional level officers of other departments have been directed for making spot verification of development works. Similarly, the S.P. and S.S.P.s have been instructed to monitor the law and order situation in their area. Besides, 10 teams have been constituted for reviewing the police and administrative works of 18 divisions. All the divisional in-charge will visit their respective divisions till the 20th of every month without fail. The Government Order also directs the officers to discharge their duties honestly and with commitment, keeping in view the policy of Sarvajan Hitai, Sarvajan Sukhai so as to provide the people a development oriented system devoid of injustice, crime, fear and corruption. *********

All Hajis will be allowed to bring Aab-e-Jamjam

Lucknow : April 30, 2008 The distribution of the application forms for the Haj pilgrims would begin from tomorrow (May 01, 2008). Now, the applicants would not be required to submit draft, instead they would have to deposit the necessary amount in the account of Central Haj Committee in the branches of the State Bank of India. The Hajis would be allowed to bring 10 litre cans with them this time. These decisions were taken at a meeting of the State Haj Committee held at the guest house of the PWD here today. The meeting was presided over by the State Public Works and Irrigation Minister and Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Nasimuddin Siddiqui. Keeping the district-wise population of the Muslims in mind, the Hajis would be selected on the basis of proportion. Besides, efforts were being made to provide information regarding the places of stay of the Hajis in the Saudi Arab through internet. The Hajis would get the information of their stay in India itself. The Chairman of the Haj Committee suggested that discussions should be held with the senior officers of the bank, so that separate counters for the Hajis could be set up in the branches of SBI. Expressing his dissatisfaction over the working of the Khadimul-Hujjaj, he said that the same should be given proper training, so that they could provide better services to the Hajis and they should also be kept under vigil in the Saudi Arab. The Minister of State for minorities welfare and Haj (Independent charge) Mr. Anees Ahmad Khan alias Phoolbabu expected from the employees and Khadimul-Hujjaj that they should discharge their duties with missionary zeal and and a feeling of service. He suggested the members and officers of Haj committee that they should remain present at Haj House and airport during the take-off of Hajis, so that the problems pertaining to Hajis coming in the way could be solved on the spot. The Minister for Science and Technology and the senior member of the Haj committee Mr. Abdul Mannan and another member Maulana Saif Abbas Naqvi suggested that the rates of food in hotels at Haj House Premises should be fixed during the Haj and rate boards should be fixed at all hotels compulsorily. Likewise, the rates for coolies carrying the belongings should also be fixed, so that the Haj travellers and their associates could not be exploited. The Secretary, State Haj Committee Mr. Laik Ahmad said that the action plan of U.P. State Haj Committee regarding the Haj was appreciated in the meeting of Central Haj Committee held few days ago and it was expected from the other States that they should also prepare their action plan on the same basis. It was decided in the meeting held today that a meeting of other states’ Haj Committee members should be organised to consider for providing the maximum facilities to the Hajis. In the meeting the income and expenditure of State Haj Committee for the year of 2007-08 was approved and the estimated income and expenditure for the year of 2008-09 was discussed. On this occasion, the senior member of State Haj Committee and Media Advisor to C.M. Mr. Zameel Akhtar, members Mr. Raees Ahmad, Hafiz Usman, Secretary State Haj Committee Mr. Laik Ahmad, Assistant Secretary Mr. Javed Ahmad and Haj Officer Mr. Tanveer Ahmad were present. *********

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Over 800 candidates in fray for phase II polls in Karnataka

Over 800 candidates entered the fray for

the second phase of Assembly elections in Karnataka from ten

districts on May 16, as about 305 candidates filed on the last

In all, more than 305 candidates put in their papers for Raichur,

Koppal, Uttara Kannada, Bellary, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Shimoga,

Udupi, Chickmagalur and Dakshina Kannada districts.

For the third and final phase polling on May 22, as many as 38

candidates had filed their nomination papers, including BJP

candidate B G Patil from Gulbarga north Assembly seat. Ten northern

districts, including Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Bidar,

Dharwad, Haveri and Gadag, would also face the electorate on the

same day.

A high drama was witnessed in Davanagere where the official

Congress candidate Syed Saifullah gifted the ‘B’ form issued by

party high command in favour of S S Mallikarjun, reportedly under

duress.

Mr Mallikarjun, a former state minister and district Congress

president, who had earlier submitted his nomination papers, handed

over the amended ‘B’ form to the returning officer. However the

paper submitted by Mr Mallikarjun was likely to be rejected during

the scrutiny on technical grounds.

Earlier, state Congress general secretary Manjunath Bhandari flew

in a helicopter with B form in the name of Mr Saifullah, which the

latter offered it to Mr Mallikarjun.