Lone-led PC bags key post in Kupwara

Independent wins in Budgam, polls in Baramulla deferred till February 13

Peoples Conference (PC) led by Sajad Lone and independent candidate Nazir Ahmad Khan secured the post of chairmanship in Kupwara and Budgam districts of Jammu and Kashmir, respectively, during the second phase of elections for District Development Councils (DDC) on Monday. Irfan Panditpuri of PC was declared as the chairman while Farooq Mir secured the post of deputy chairman. In Budgam, the post of deputy chairman was secured by National Conference’s Nazir Ahmad Jahara. Polling in Baramulla district council was deferred to February 13 after most of the DDC members did not arrive to vote amid apprehensions of horse trading. Here, there is a direct contest between People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration candidate Qurat Bashir and independent candidate Safeena Baig.

SRINAGAR: The People’s Conference (PC), which recently separated from the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), won the posts of chairperson and vice-chairperson in Kupwara district development council (DDC) polls while an independent candidate bagged the top spot in Budgam on Monday. The Baramulla DDC chairperson polls were deferred to February 13 due to lack of quorum.

PC candidate Irfan Panditpuri was declared chirperson while Farooq Mir became his deputy. Lone, who had five members in the council in Kupwara, was also able to muster the support of independent members. Kupwara district is considered Lone’s stronghold and the party had won two seats from the dis

trict in the last assembly elections.

In Budgam, National Conference (NC) had the most members. However, the chairperson post was won by Nazir Ahmad Khan, who won the toss after there was a tie with both candidates getting seven votes.nazir Ahmad Jahara, another Independent, was elected the vicechairperson.

Khan, the son of former minister Sarafraz Khan had been People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP’S) district president. However, he was not given a ticket because of PDP’S alliance with the PAGD. He, therefore, contested as an independent candidate. It has been learnt that since

winning the DDC polls Khan has not attended any part meetings.

In Baramulla, the polls were deferred till February 13 after half of the 14 members did not turn up for voting. In Baramulla, there was a direct contest between alliance candidate Qurat Bashir and independent candidate Safeena Baig, wife of former MP Muzuffar Baig.

The PC and Apni party have decided to support Safeena for the chairperson’s post. Only three PC members, two Apni party members, Safeena and another independent member turned up for voting.

Irfaz Hafiz Lone, an independent member from Sangrama, said that they decided to abstain as there were apprehension about horse-trading during these polls.

“Those who abstained are members from PDP, NC and Congress. I also abstained. Now, there will be new date for these elections.”

Of the eight districts, which had elected their chairpersons last week, the newly launched Apni Party won in Srinagar and Shopian, PAGD won in Kulgam while the two districts of Jammu were secured by the BJP.

NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar termed Apni party as the kings’ party supported by the Centre. “King’s party which won only 2 DDC seats in Shopian distt, engineered defections post elections and are now heading the DDC Council there. Similarly, in Srinagar, the party won just 3 seats and managed to take control of the district. Is ko bolte hai democracy is aisi ki taisi,” Dar tweeted.

However, Apni party spokesman Altaf Bukhari said that DDC members are joining them as they trust them more than other parties.

CHENNAI: The Madras high court on Monday came down heavily on advocates indulging in illegal activities such as landgrabbing and spoiling the image of the profession while hearing a writ petition against a group of people that included lawyers who allegedly tried to take over a property by force.

“When it comes to the conduct of the advocates, there will be zero tolerance shown by this Court and this Court has to ensure that the activities of some of the advocates do not spoil the image of the entire profession,” justice Anand Venketash said.

He observed that it was the third time in a month that it was brought to the court’s notice that “advocates (were) indulging themselves in criminal activities by forming part of an unlawful assembly and making attempts to grab properties”. “It looks like the lockdown period (due to Covid-19), has again revived this despicable practice and once again some advocates are indulging in illegal activities of grabbing properties,” it said

The petitioner, PS Kirubakaran, said police protection wasn’t given to the property due to the presence of advocates. In its interim order on Monday, HC directed the police authority to provide protection to the property. The court said that advocates’ participation was evident from photographs and called for the advocates to be identified. “This report will form the basis for this Court to give a complaint before the Bar Council of TN and Pondicherry against the concerned advocates.” The matter has been posted for March 2.