NC, BJP submit objections, suggestions

By: Nasir Azam

Srinagar: With National Conference (NC) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) on Monday submitting their objections/suggestions over the draft delimitation proposal, the proposed electoral map of Jammu & Kashmir is set to put in public domain soon to seek feedback from different stakeholders.

Sources said that the proposals for delimitation of assembly and parliamentary segments would now be published in the gazette of India and the gazette of Jammu & Kashmir to seek suggestions/ objections from general public.

“These proposals would be unveiled soon for feedback. Subsequently, the commission would invite objections and suggestions from different stakeholders over them,” they said.

According to sources, these suggestions/ objections received from public/ political parties will be considered by the commission in public sittings which will be notified on the day when proposals would be published in the gazette of India and the gazette of J&K.

Meanwhile, both National Conference and Bharatiya Janta Party MPs have today submitted their suggestions/ objections over the draft delimitation proposal.

NC MP from Anantnag Lok Sabha segment, Hasnain Masoodi said that they have handed over their suggestions/ objections to the delimitation commission today.

“We have reiterated the party’s stand that the entire exercise offends the constitutional values and propriety,” he said. The MP said that they have submitted that how population, which is the main criteria for delimitation, has been ignored during the exercise.

He said that they have also objected over changing names of constituencies like Batamaloo, Habba Kadal, Amira Kadal which are associated with our history and culture. “This obliteration of names is an assault on our culture and an attempt to mutilate our history,” he said.

It has been learnt that BJP MPs have also submitted their suggestions/ objections over the proposal.

Three NC MPs and two BJP MPs from J&K are associate members of the delimitation commission, which was formed on March 6, 2020 to redraw the electoral map of J&K. (KNO)

Srinagar: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Monday paid tributes to the 40 troopers killed in a suicide attack on this day in 2019.

The troopers of CRPF were killed when a suicide bomber rammed his explosive laden car into a security forces convoy in the Lethpora area of Pulwama district on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.

D.S. Chaudhary, Additional Director General (ADG) CRPF led the officers and troops in paying tributes at the martyrs’ memorial at Lethpora.

Floral wreaths were laid at the memorial.

The ADG said that the endeavour of the CRPF is to maintain peace in the Valley and not let the sacrifices of their personnel go in vain.

Tensions between India and Pakistan reached a new high in the aftermath of the Lethpora suicide attack.

India responded to the attack by bombing facilities deep inside Pakistan in the Balakote area on February 26, 2019. (IANS)

New Delhi: Amid political slugfest between the government and the opposition Congress party over alleged bank fraud to the tune of Rs 22,842 crore by ABG Shipayrd, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said that the loan was given prior to 2013 during UPA regime and it turned non-performing asset (NPA) in the following year.

The Minister also said that banks took less time to detect the fraud and took necessary action and filed case with Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

“This is actually an account which became NPA before 2014 January. In fact, November 2013 is when it was declared an NPA. After that, because it’s a consortium of banks which had business with them they have all sat together to see how best any restructuring can be done which is a due process.. which is done for any account which is under stress, more so it’s a big account and also becoming an NPA,” Sitharaman told reporters here today.

She said that during BJP-led NDA government, banks’ financial health has significantly improved and they are now in position to raise funds from the market.

The CBI has registered a case against ABG Shipyard and its directors including Chairman and Managing Director Rishi Agarwal on a complaint from State Bank of India (SBI).

It has been alleged that the accused cheated the consortium of 28 banks including the branches of erstwhile State Bank of Patiala, Commercial Finance Branch, New Delhi, erstwhile State Bank of Travancore, Commercial Branch, New Delhi, State Bank of India, Overseas Branch, Mumbai etc. The consortium of 28 banks was led by ICICI Bank.

Targeting the government over alleged fraud by Surat-based shipbuilder, the Congress Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala has asked why CBI took so much time to file FIR in the case. Responding to the question on the alleged fraud, Sitharaman said that soon after the fraud was detected forensic audit was done.

“Everything else was collected and handed over to the CBI in 2020 and in 2022. CBI has filed two cases. In the meanwhile everything has gone into NCLT for resolution. …We have taken lesser time to detect it, take action. CBI (has registered) two cases. (It has gone to) NCLT for resolution. So, action is happening here like the way it happened for every other major defaults,” the Minister said. (UNI)

Jammu: In respect of the posts withdrawn by virtue of recent decision of Administrative Council, J&K Government has ordered one-time age relaxation for candidates who had earlier applied for these posts and were eligible in terms of age but have in the meantime crossed the upper age limit.

The Government also states that subject to the fulfillment of other conditions of eligibility, a candidate shall be deemed to be eligible in terms of upper age limit, if he/she applies for the said post(s) in pursuance to fresh advertisement, as and when issued by JKPSC/SSB.

Srinagar: Amid forecast for ‘erratic weather’, night temperature increased across Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said.

A meteorological department official here said that Srinagar, the summer capital of the J&K, recorded a low of 1.4°C against last night’s minus 2.2°C. The temperature was above 1.2°C than the normal for this time of the year, he said.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, witnessed a low of 0.0°C against minus 2.6°C on the previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, had a low of 0.6°C against minus 1.9°C on the previous night, the official said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.4°C against minus 6.3°C last night, he said.

Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 4.0°C against minus 7.0°C on the previous night, he said.

The temperature was 2.2°C above normal for this time of the year in the famous resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of 0.5°C against minus 3.0°C on the previous night, the official said.

While the ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day long harshest period of winter ended on January 30, Kashmir is under the grip of the 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ which would be followed by 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

Jammu recorded a low of 9.3°C against previous night’s 7.5°C, the official said. The temperature was 0.8°C below normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.

Banihal recorded a low of 1.2°C, Batote had a minimum of 2.9°C while Bhaderwah recorded a low of 1.8°C, the official said.

Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 11.5°C against last night minus 10.9°C while mercury at automatic station in Kargil settled at minus 15.2°C. Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 18.0°C against minus 20.1°C on the previous night, official said.

Weather is likely to remain erratic (generally cloudy and sunshine at times) during 15 to 21st with a possibility of brief spell of light rain and snow (over higher reaches) at scattered places of J&K during February 15 (night) to 16th and February 18-19th,” the official said. “There’s no forecast of any major rain and snow for the next 10 days,” he added. (GNS)

Kanpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday claimed that the BJP was set to return to power in Uttar Pradesh and also attacked the Trinamool Congress for remarks by a party leader that its alliance with MGP in Goa had stopped consolidation of Hindu votes.

Modi’s comments came as polling took place to elect assemblies in Goa and Uttarakhand and in the second phase of the staggered elections in Uttar Pradesh. Addressing a rally in Kanpur Dehat, the Prime Minister urged voters, especially first timers, to exercise their franchise.

“Yesterday I saw an interview… A leader of Mamata Banerjee’s party was asked why they are fighting polls in Goa where the party has no existence. The reply given by the leader should be noted by Election Commission, by voters across India, and voters in UP as well… “The leader said we want to divide Hindu votes in Goa. Is this secularism? You are openly saying we want to divide Hindu votes,” he said.

TMC MP and Goa in-charge Mahua Moitra told a newspaper that the TMC’s alliance with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) has stopped consolidation of Hindu votes.

Modi also expressed confidence over the BJP winning the polls in Uttar Pradesh and in other states and claimed that all castes and communities were supporting the BJP.

“The voting in the first phase (in Uttar Pradesh) and the trends of the second phase have made it very clear that the BJP’s (Adityanath) Yogi government is coming back to power,” he said.

“Every caste and community voted for the BJP in first phase and now in the second phase as well,” he said. “Women have taken the charge of making the BJP victorious. My Muslim sisters are also stepping out to bless Modi,” he said. (UNI)