New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday gave a fierce rebuttal to all critics of the Modi government’s move to remove Article 370 in J&K and stated that “real” development has taken place post the abrogation and also rejected any notion that there was “fake normalcy” in the erstwhile state.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on the conclusion of the discussion on the demand for grants and budget for the Union Territory, Sitharaman said that 22 MPs had participated in the budget discussion in the house. She said that post removal of Article 370, which gave special powers to the erstwhile state, 890 central laws are now applicable to J&K. “What was denied to the state for 70 years is now a reality,” she said.

She said that earlier the state’s people would get members of the Valmiki community to do menial chores in the state, but denied them the rights that members of the community got in the rest of the country. This has now been rectified with removal of 370.

“All discriminatory laws were removed that existed under 370. This country cannot have two PMs, two symbols and two constitutions,” she said.

“After removal of 370, 250 state laws have been repealed, 150 state laws have been modified,” she added.

She said that several financial reforms have been undertaken in the state post removal of 370, and more money has flowed in under the MNREGA, unemployment come down from earlier figures. She said that all employment in government, and banks was being done in a “fair and transparent manner” – without recourse to illegal employment and backdoor entry, which was “the norm earlier”.

Sitharaman said that children from poor and disadvantaged sections were getting into school and the hold of a few privileged families has been done away with.

“Over 20,323 people have been referred at various levels to the state selection board and the process has commenced. 10,500 appointments made in J&K bank in a fair and transparent manner,” she said. Youths have been provided money for entrepreneurship, and the state has witnessed the highest ever tourist footfall – at 50,33,966 recorded since October 2021 to January 2022, including 1.43 lakh who visited the valley alone.

This she said would not have been possible if law and order was not conducive. She said there has been Rs 28 400 crores outlay for industrial development in J&K.

“Yes, development is happening and the figures speak for themselves,” she added. On militancy, she said that while it is still there, the figures have come down.

She said 229 militancy incidents were reported in 2021, as against 244 in 2020. “There is a drop in the number of policemen getting martyred, and decline in militant recruitment,” she added.

She said that containing militant recruitment and arresting and eliminating them is the highest since abrogation of 370, and there has been a 33 percent decline in infiltration. She also said there has been a 90 percent decrease in ceasefire violations, as well as in drone incidents, with more drones getting intercepted.

On stone pelting, she said earlier “we used to hear with sadness” about the stone pelting incidents. In 2021, there were only 171 incidents and no civilian died, while 48 were injured, and no security forces personnel was killed, while 30 were injured. In contrast in 2010 there were 5,188 people who were injured.

Sitharaman said that Rs 1,353 crore was given as economic revival package to J&K and Rs 750 crore was already provided to 3.44 lakh account holders. There was 50 percent waiver for six months for electricity and water to the people and this was provided for in the budget.

On the MPs alleging that a significant allocation had been made for the home department, which signified that it was for law and order, which in turn showed that things were far from normal, the minister said that only 10 percent of the budget is being allocated to the home department. Grants under MHA is Rs 35,581.44 crore against Rs 30,557 crore, she said, adding the grant goes towards J&K and the increase is provided for “activities”.

On connectivity, she said the government is doing a lot to increase connectivity in the UT and cited figures to back her statement.

According to her, prior to abrogation of 370, the road length was 39,349 km, which is now 41,141 km. Under the PM gram sadak yojana, earlier 1,622 km was covered, which is now 2,927 km a year. Four new national highway projects are being completed, while under Bharatmala 10 new tunnel roads have been agreed to under MORTH.

For Kashmiri Hindus, she said that 1,025 transit accommodations have been completed in the valley for the Kashmiri Pandits who were forced to leave and work is going on on 1,488 more units. She added that 4,678 posts of Kashmiri Pandits have been filled up in Kashmir itself.

She said that two new AIIMS, 15 new nursing colleges are being set up in J&K, and the number of MBBS seats has been increased to 600 along with 68 PG seats. 100 percent vaccination of Covid-19 has been done in the J&K, and the DRDO has set up two 500-bed hospitals.

She said the Dal Lake is being dredged and cleaned and a peripheral road being constructed, with more machines being procured. Dredging is also being done on acquired 60 sqkm adjacent land which would be added to the lake.

To NC MP Hasnain Masoodi saying there is “fake normalcy” in J&K, she said that “This is not fake normalcy. After 1947 the development that was in the rest of the country was not in J&K. Fake normalcy is not now, but before removal of 370. That was fake normalcy and all of us kept quiet, and quiet,” she said, to thumping of desks by the treasury members.

She rebutted Masoodi’s complaint that nothing was being done for teachers and setting up colleges, etc, saying “You were in power earlier, why didn’t you do it then, why are you mentioning it now. But we are doing all this now,” she said. (UNI)

Reviews UT Capex of Revenue deptt, urges strengthening of complaint redressal system

Jammu: Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta Monday said that the ongoing digital transformation of revenue administration will bring openness and speed in the decision making and improve the delivery of service in next three months.

He said that the issues of land demarcation and incorporation of new entries in the land records have always been the cause of concern and the ongoing digitization of land records will fully address these concerns.

Dr. Mehta said that adoption of digital technologies in revenue department will facilitate online provision of fard intikhabs and mutations and also ensure that no transaction is done in the land records of the land owners without their knowledge.

He made these comments in the review meeting of UT Capex of the Revenue Department, which was attended, amongst others, by Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Shaleen Kabra, and Commissioner Secretary, Revenue, Vijay Kumar Biduri.

Earlier FCR, Revenue informed that all tehsildars/naib tehsildars will be provided laptops, while the officers down below will be provided tabs for automation of mutations etc. to help improve the overall working of the department at the cutting edge level.

He said switch to mobilize governance is also being contemplated anda mobile app will be developed shortly to support the land transactions on the smartphones.

Commissioner Secretary, Revenue informed that the digital hardware for revenue governance at the leading edge level will be in place by March, 2022, and for sustained momentum, necessary financial support for the purpose will be ensured during the next year as well.

The Chief Secretary directed for ensuring that laptops/tabs are given to the identified revenue functionaries within scheduled time, while further adding that an appropriate mobile app should also be developed to facilitate mobile governance.

He directed the department to ensure that one room in patwar khanas in each patwar halqa is reserved for patwaris for public meetings for at least two hours for four days in a week.

He further directed to ensure that the names of tehsildars/naib-tehsildars/girdawars/patwaris and their mobile numbers are permanently displayed on the walls of these buildings along with helpline numbers to enable the visitor(s) to lodge their complaints on these help lines in case the revenue officials/patwaris are not available for public meetings.

Reiterating his earlier directions, Dr. Mehta asked the department to ensure that land passbooks are distributed to the land owners in two districts, Jammu and Srinagar, by 31st, March, 2022 and to all the land owners in the remaining district by 15th August, 2022.

Saying that the mechanism of addressing the complaints of the land owners has to be strengthened within the departments, the Chief Secretary directed for setting up dedicated 24X7 revenue help lines besides designating a whatsapp number of an officer at an appropriate level in the department exclusively for receiving the complaints/suggestions/inputs from the land owners.

The Chief Secretary said that the department should re-align its spending focus on creating an enabling digital ecosystem instead of setting up physical infrastructure in the shape of buildings etc.

Dr. Mehta advised the department to ensure that the UT’s own software of digitization of the revenue records is made a part of service plus and also integrated with RAS.

He said that this software application in time would need to be converged with the NIC software for digitalization of land records.

The Chief Secretary further directed the department to launch awareness campaigns for not only educating the people about the ongoing digital transformation, but also for urging them to register their Aadhaar/mobile numbers with the departments for benefitting from the e-services in the department.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday said it has busted a module of Hizbul Mujahideen militant group that was involved in the killing of a Sarpanch in Kulgam district.

Sarpanch Shabir Ahmad Mir was shot dead at Audoora area in South Kashmir three days ago. Police said investigation showed that Mir was killed by the Hizb.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kulgam GV Sundeep Chakravarty said the Jammu and Kashmir police had formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the killing of Sarpanch.

“During the course of investigation, it came to surface that active terrorist of HM, Farooq Nali alias Umer, had received directions from Pakistani terror handlers to target the members of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) in Kulgam,” SSP Kulgam said.

“He (Nali) further directed active HM terrorists Mushtaq Itoo and Zubair Sofi to execute the terror act with the support of their associates Danish Ahmad Dar and Faisal Hameed Wagay, both residents of Kulgam and Nisar Rashid Bhat of Tengpora Shopian to conduct the recce of the Sarpanch’, to arrange  transport and provide logistics to execute the terror act,” Chakravarty said.

The SSP said with strenuous efforts of Kulgam Police, the three Hizb associates have been arrested and the vehicles used in the commission of crime have been seized.

“From their possession, incriminating materials including two pistols, three pistol magazines, 11 pistol rounds, two grenades, one magazine of AK 47 and 15 rounds of AK 47 have been recovered. Further investigation is going on as more arrests and recoveries are expected,” he added.

SSP Chankravarty said massive searches were going on to neutralise the militants involved in this heinous crime.

Three Panchayat members have been killed in Kashmir this month, creating panic among Sarpanches and Panches.

Police said that panchayat members facing threats were provided safe accommodation in Srinagar and all other district headquarters. (UNI)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police on Monday said that they have arrested one LeT associate who was involved in the murder of an Army soldier in Budgam district on March 11, 2022.

Police said, “Case of death of soldier Sameer Ahmad Malla of Khag Budgam turned to be #terror act of #abduction & #murder. One terrorist associate of LeT terror outfit involved in the crime arrested. Other 3 LeT #terrorists involved also identified & shall soon be dealt under law: IGP Kashmir”.

The soldier working with the J&K Light Infantry (JAKLI) regiment was posted in Jammu and had come home on leave when he was killed.

Police said earlier that it was being investigated whether the soldier’s murder was a militant related incident or an act of personal vengeance.

Police on Sunday had arrested the killer of a CRPF trooper who was killed on Saturday in Shopian district by the militants. (IANS)

‘Collective responsibility of society to prevent killing of cops’

By: Sajid Raina

Kupwara: General officer Commanding (GoC) of Srinagar-based army’s 15 corps Lieutenant General D P Pandey on Monday said that at least  170-175 militants are still active in Kashmir while militancy have also registered a significant decline from the last two years.

“As compared to the last two years, the active militant rate has come more down while as 170-175 militants are active in Kashmir, ” he said in reply to a query whether militancy is decreasing in Kashmir and how many are still active.

On Kunan-Poshpora, the GoC said that a delegation from the said village have met them and were demanding the rehabilitation and self-employment opportunities for the people as after the 1991 incident a fake narrative was created which kept them away from all the basic facilities and they were kept separate from other others.

“Today, I personally visited the area and their demands that including computer centre, self-employment generation for girls, sports development and other were being met, ” he said, adding that there are further demands as well which will be addressed soon.

Meanwhile, stating that Kupwara district has borne the brunt of violence over the past many decades, Pandey said that as of now and especially for the past few years, the district is militancy free and most peaceful area of the Valley.

“Kupwara was the worst hit by militancy and violence. But today, and for the past few years, the district is peaceful and people are living in a peaceful atmosphere as they have rejected the violence. This area was once a hotbed of militancy but of late, people of this place are enjoying the peace,” Pandey told reporters during his visit to Kunan, Trehgam area of northern district of Kupwara after inaugurating a Computer Centre  and Nursing Home. He also interacted with students and locals of the area.

He said that there is an atmosphere of peace prevailing in entire Kashmir and the security grid is fully prepared to deal with any situation. “Operations are being carried out wherever we get inputs of militants hiding, ” he said, adding that “but it was the collective responsibility of the society to prevent killings of security forces personnel who come to their homes on leave and also to stop  youth from treading the wrong path.”

“On the LoC, we are alert to foil all possible infiltration bids,” he said. He said that local militant recruitment was much less this year compared to previous years. (KNO)

LG announces ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to NoK’s of deceased; Rs 1 lakh to injured

By: Yogesh Sagotra

Jammu: In a tragic accident, four persons including a woman and a child were charred to death and at least 13, mostly non-local laborers, suffered injuries after a massive fire broke out inside a scrap shop with some shanties in the vicinity near Jammu’s busy Residency Road.

According to locals of the area, around 6.30 the fire broke in and three persons were charred alive while several persons were rescued in injured condition by the locals who rushed to the area as soon as flames started to emerge.

A spokesman of Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu said that in Residency Road fire incident four persons brought dead to the hospital which includes one lady, one child and two males.

“All the dead bodies shifted to mortuary room for postmortem and identification,” he said.

He added that other 13 with burn injuries were admitted in GMC.

The injured identified as Marjeema Khatoon (23) resident of Assam, Anwar Hussain (53) resident of Assam, Momina Khatoon (25), Menar-ul-Hussain son of Mehju Din (3.5 yrs), baby (7),  Asrar-ul-Islam (19) son of Anwar Hussain.

Anku Ram Alias Antu son of Krishan Lal resident of Gole Gujral, Pappu so of Babu Lal resident of Bihar, Nilma 35, Mehju Din (25) son of Anwar Hussain,  Sukitam wife (24) of Zehrulla Islam, Semirinisa (30) wife of Ishub and Suzu Bano (4)

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu, Chandan Kohli said that fire broke out in a scrap shop located in the Residency road area of Jammu this evening.

“Short circuit in electricity wiring is suspected to be the cause of fire breakout in initial state. In the incident, fire flames engulfed the entire building and some LPG cylinders lying inside also exploded,” he said.

“15 person sustained injuries in the incident who all have been evacuated from the site with hectic efforts of police, fire and emergency services assisted by locals and all injured are under treatment in local hospital.

Unfortunately, three people have so far lost their lives in this tragic incident.

The SSP further added that rescue operations are going on.

The area where the ablaze took place is situated in narrow lanes and streets and surrounding by mostly gowdons.

The eyewitness has said that the fire tenders found it difficult to reach the main portion of the building where fire took place as there was no space to manoeuvre around the structure.

This prevents them from swiftly dousing fires, which soon entered into the nearby shanties. The bust road and narrow streets also affected the rescuing people of the city. Meanwhile, J&K LG Manoj Sinha announced an ex-gratia of Rs.5 Lakh each to be given to the families of the deceased in Jammu LPG Cylinder blast incident. “Ex gratia of Rs.1 Lakh to be given to the seriously injured and Rs.25,000 to those with minor injuries,” the LG Office tweeted. (KNO)

Jammu: Four policemen were injured in a cooking gas cylinder explosion in J&K’s Doda district on Monday, police said.

The LPG cylinder explosion occurred in Bhaderwah jail.

“The cylinder caught fire and exploded leaving four policemen injured. The injured policemen are under medical observation,” a police officer said. (IANS)

Jammu: The Delimitation Commission has published its proposals in the gazettes of India and Jammu & Kashmir and invited objections and suggestions till March 21.

The commission has announced that it will visit the union territory on March 28 and 29 for public sittings.

The commission has incorporated two detailed dissenting notes signed by three National Conference (NC) Lok Sabha members including Dr Farooq Abdullah, Mohammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi.

Five Lok Sabha members from Jammu and Kashmir are associate members of the commission. In addition to three from the NC, the other two are union minister of state in the PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore of the BJP.

In its dissenting note, the NC has challenged the constitution of the commission. The NC’s dissenting note also pertains to the different assembly constituencies proposed by the panel.

The statement by the commission has said that the number of Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir will remain five.

Jammu division will have Jammu-Reasi and Udhampur-Doda constituencies while Kashmir division will have Srinagar-Budgam and Baramulla-Kupwara. Anantnag-Poonch seat will be part of both the divisions.

As per the proposals of the panel, J&K will have 90 assembly constituencies out of which seven segments will be reserved for SCs and nine for STs.

“Copies of the Gazette are available for reference with the Chief Electoral Officer, UT of Jammu and Kashmir and the Election officials in all districts of the Union Territory. Objections and suggestions by the people can be given to the Secretary, Delimitation Commission, Ashoka Hotel, 50-B, Niti Marg, Chankyapuri, New Delhi on or before 5 p.m. on March 21,” the statement said.

Suggestions will be considered by the Commission in its public sitting in Jammu and Kashmir on March 28 and 29, the location and timing of which will be notified separately.

Nine seats reserved for STs include Rajouri, Darhal and Thanna Mandi, all in Rajouri district, Surankote and Mendhar in Poonch district and Mahore in Reasi district (Jammu region), Gurez in Bandipora district, Kangan in Ganderbal district and Kokernag in Anantnag district (Kashmir division).

All seven seats reserved for SCs fall in Jammu region including Ramnagar in Udhampur district, Kathua South in Kathua district, Ramgarh in Samba district; , Bishnah, Suchetgarh, Marh and Akhnoor in Jammu district.

With the panel now putting its proposal in public domain, anyone can file the objections which have to be either accepted or rejected by the Commission before submission of final report.

The Commission has its term till May 6 and there is a possibility that it will submit final report within the timeline.

The Panel was set up on May 6, 2020 with one year term which was extended by another year on May 6, 2021. While its term was due to expire on May 6, 2022, it was granted two month extension to complete the task.

The commission is headed by Justice (Retired) Ranjana Prakash Desai and comprises the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra and State Election Commissioner (SEC) K.K. Sharma.

In addition to the proposed 90 assembly seats to which elections will be held, 24 seats will continue to remain vacant as they fall under other side of Jammu and Kashmir.

While splitting Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories through the Reorganization Act, the Union Home Ministry had increased Assembly seats of Jammu and Kashmir by seven taking total seats to 114, 24 of which are reserved for other side of J&K while election will be held for 90 seats.

Two women MLAs will be nominated to the House, which was the position earlier also.

In the previous Assembly, Kashmir had 46 seats, Jammu 37 and Ladakh four.

Delimitation of the Assembly constituencies was last held in 1994-95 during the President’s Rule when seats of the erstwhile State Assembly were raised from 76 to 87.

After the final report of the delimitation commission, summary revision of the electoral rolls will be followed by elections in J&K. (IANS)