Prez Kovind, VP Naidu, PM Modi express grief

Mumbai: Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar passed away on Sunday after battling with Covid and its complication for 28 days at a hospital here. She was 92.

National mourning of two days have been announced. Even as her “Aye Mere Watan ke logo” prayed through the night wishing for miracle, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the news of her demise after visiting the Breach Candy hospital, where she was admitted.

Gadkari was in the hospital at around 9 am and soon tweeted: “Singing legend Lata Mangeshkar passes away.” With this the entire nation was plunged into a sense of loss as the “nightingale”, the “kokila of India” was gone forever.

Dr Pratit Samdani said: “She passed away at 8.12 am after multi-organ failure post Covid detection 28 days ago.” Condolences have started pouring in. President Ram Nath Kovind said he was heartbroken.

“Lata-ji’s demise is heart-breaking for me, as it is for millions the world over. In her vast range of songs, rendering the essence and beauty of India, generations found expression of their inner-most emotions. A Bharat Ratna, Lata-ji’s accomplishments will remain incomparable,” Kovind tweeted.

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu tweeted: I am extremely saddened by the demise of Lata Mangeshkar Ji, the Nightingale of Indian Cinema and legendary singer. India has lost its voice in the death of Lata ji, who has enthralled music lovers in India & across the globe with her mellifluous & sublime voice for many decades.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolence and said so anguished he was that he was at a loss of words. “I am anguished beyond words. The kind and caring Lata Didi has left us. She leaves a void in our nation that cannot be filled. The coming generations will remember her as a stalwart of Indian culture, whose melodious voice had an unparalleled ability to mesmerise people.”

The President also shared: “An artist born but once in centuries, Lata-didi was an exceptional human being, full of warmth, as I found whenever I met her. The divine voice has gone quiet forever but her melodies will remain immortal, echoing in eternity. My condolences to her family and admirers everywhere.”

India was praying for her recovery after her doctor on Saturday said an “aggressive form of treatment was being pursued. She was put on ventilator after her condition deteriorated on Saturday. Her mortal remains be kept at her residence and the funeral will be in the evening at the Shivaji Park.

“Lata Didi’s songs brought out a variety of emotions. She closely witnessed the transitions of the Indian film world for decades. Beyond films, she was always passionate about India’s growth. She always wanted to see a strong and developed India,” the PM also said.

“I consider it my honour that I have always received immense affection from Lata Didi. My interactions with her will remain unforgettable. I grieve with my fellow Indians on the passing away of Lata Didi. Spoke to her family and expressed condolences. Om Shanti,” said Modi in her message.

The legend has been admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai after she was tested Covid-19 positive. (UNI)

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government has declared two days of state mourning as a mark of respect for singer Kumari Lata Mangeshkar – who passed away in Mumbai this morning.

“As a mark of respect to Kumari Lata Mangeshkar, who has passed away, the Government of India has decided that there shall be two days State Mourning on 06.02.2022 to 07.02.2022 throughout the country. It has been decided that: a) The National Flag shall fly at half-mast during the mourning on all buildings and places where it is flown regularly; and b) There shall be no official entertainment during the mourning”, reads a notification.

These decisions are brought into notice of all the concerned for information and necessary action, it reads further.

Jammu: Three Pakistani smugglers have been killed on the International Border (IB) in Samba sector of Jammu and 36 packets of narcotics were recovered from them, BSF said on Sunday.

“In the early hours of 6 Feb, the alert troops of BSF Jammu neutralized three Pak smugglers who were trying to smuggle Narcotics through Samba International border,” BSF said.

The Border Security Force (BSF) said a big smuggling attempt was thwarted and 36 packets (Approx 36 kgs) of narcotics, likely to be heroin, were recovered from them.

“The search of the area is in progress,” BSF said. (IANS)

Bhubaneswar: Union Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said India would be the world leader in the Telecom sector in the next three to five years.

Talking to media persons here Vaishnav said the Prime Minister has directed to develop 4G and 5G technology indigenously.

He said while the development of 4G technology has been completed and its testing is going on the designing of the 5G technology has progressed satisfactorily and would be made available for mobile phone and radio networks soon.

The Union Minister said the technology adopted by India for the development of 4G and 5G technology is far better than the technology adopted by other countries which would help India to become the world leader in the Telecom sector. The Union Minister said his ministry has identified as many as 6,000 villages for the installation of mobile towers in Odisha.

He said 3,933 mobile towers would be installed in these villages to provide telecom and internment network.

He said a survey is going in the direction of the Prime Minister to find out if any more village other than these 600 villages has no mobile phone connectivity. If any such village is found it would also be covered, he said.

Taking a pot shot at the UPA government, the Union Minister said the BSNL came to near-bankrupt condition during the UPA rule.

The BSNL regained financial stability and registered operating profit last year for the first time after Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided it with a revival package of Rs 90,000 crore.

This year a sum of Rs 45,000 crore allocation has been made in the budget for the telecom sector to take the BSNL to its next stage.

The Union Minister said while during the UPA rule Odisha was given Rs 800 crore for the development of Railways, the allocation was hiked to Rs 4126 in 2014 after BJP came to power. This year a record Rs 9,734 crore was sanctioned for the development of railways in Odisha.

He said more funds would be available to the state if the money sanctioned was utilised At present up-gradation of around 12 railway stations is going on.

The Union Minister said his government was committed to the 4.5 crore people of Odisha and the agenda for the development of the state should not be diluted by political division.

Vaishnaw said the Minimum Support Price of Paddy would be transferred directly to the Accounts of the farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to save the farmers from exploitation by middlemen and will boost the rural economy.

Vaishnaw said the system has proved to be a success in Punjab, Haryana and Western Odisha. The introduction of the system has changed the equation in the village completely. (UNI)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday constituted a Committee with regard to the referral of Non-Gazetted vacancies to the J&K Services Selection Board.

The four-member committee headed by Administrative Secretary, ARI & Trainings Department has been tasked to check and scrutinize the details of posts i.e. designations, numbers, eligibility criteria and creation orders with the Recruitment Rules of the concerned department of the non-gazetted posts to be referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board.

The committee has been asked to ensure that posts available for referral under the direct recruitment quota are under relevant categories viz OM, RBA, SC/ST etc.

“The Committee shall submit its recommendations by 11.02.2022,” reads the order.

The members of the committee include representative of Finance Department (not below the rank of Additional Secretary), General Administration Department (not below the rank of Additional Secretary) and concerned Administrative Department (not below the rank of Additional Secretary).

New Delhi: Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s philosophy, vision and his commitment to “inclusive empowerment” is effective mantra to make India world leader.

Union Minister said after offering a Chadar at Dargah Ajmer Sharif on behalf of Prime Minister Modi on the occasion of the 810th Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

“Today the entire world is looking towards PM Modi as a torchbearer of peace with hope and confidence. This is the result of the blessings of these Sufi Saints and the support of the society to Modi” he said.

Naqvi added that the life of Gharib Nawaz(Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti) inspires us to strengthen the commitment to communal and social harmony. This unity can defeat the forces, who are engaged in the conspiracy to create divide and conflict in the society, he said.

The Minister readout the Prime Minister’s message on the occasion, Naqvi said he conveyed his greetings and best wishes to followers of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in India and abroad on the occasion of annual Urs.

“By offering “Chadar” to Ajmer Sharif, I pay homage to the Great Sufi Saint, who gave the message of humanity to the entire world. Unity in Diversity is the identity of India. Harmonious co-existence of various sects, communities and beliefs in the country is our strength.” he quoted the PM’s message as saying.

Prime Minister in his, message, also said “The great Saints, Mahatmas, Pir, Fakirs have played a pivotal role in strengthening the socio-cultural fabric of the country in different periods. In this glorious tradition, the name of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, who gave the message of love and harmony to the society, is taken with full respect and reverence”.

“The philosophy and principles of Garib Nawaz will continue to inspire the generations to come. Urs, the symbol of harmony and brotherhood, will further strengthen the faith of the devotees” the message added. (UNI)

All regulations, protocols put in place for earliest re-opening of coaching centres

Srinagar: Coaching Centres Association of Kashmir (CCAK) Sunday hailed the government and its constituent members for working jointly to complete the 100% vaccination of all its students and staff members.

The Association said that it was due to the joint efforts of various government departments including Directorate of School Education, Health Services, Divisional Administration and coaching centres that the entire vaccination process was completed within the shortest possible time.

“It has been hectic yet a fruitful exercise of all stakeholders to complete the vaccination process. Our aim is to ensure better health of our students and also at the same time take steps for earliest opening of classes,” said G N Var Chairman CCAK.

The Association thanked the Chief Secretary, Div Comm, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Director School Education Kashmir, Director Health Services Kashmir for their proactive role in ensuring the vaccination process and minimal disruption of classes.

They also thanked the vaccination teams who worked extremely hard and often in difficult situations to administer the vaccines to students and the staff member.

The Association said that it is a good sign that the the third wave of Covid pandemic is ebbing and hospital OPDs and other activities have also come to normal.

“The doctors and experts have also recommended coming back to normalcy but with strict covid preventive protocols in place,” said the spokesperson. “In this case we have already ensured the social distancing by lowering the roll of students in classes. We will be undertaking classes batch wise, roll no wise, shift wise, gender wise, odd even pattern or the way which is feasible for that coaching centre.”

On the other hand students are also happy that coaching centres are opening soon particularly at a time when the date of competitive examinations is approaching fast.

“There are many students who are from far flung areas and they have living in rented accommodations in Srinagar. For them the opening of coaching centres will be harbinger of a good news and so is the case with the other students who want to complete their studies at this crucial time,” said the spokesperson.

Panaji: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday cancelled all the election-related programmes, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s virtual rally which was to be held in the evening, in the wake of the demise of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar.

”As we all grieve the demise of Legendary Singer Lata Didi Mangeshkar, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to cancel all its programs scheduled for the day, today.

The 2022 Election Manifesto, which was slated to be released by the hands of Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari at 1 pm and the virtual rally ‘Jan Sankalp Sabha’ to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 5:30 pm, stands cancelled,” a statement from the party said.

”BJP Goa will announce the new schedule later. Two days of national mourning are observed in the memory of our acclaimed singer, who breathed her last at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital around 8:12am today. Her death has left the entire country mourning. It is a great loss to the nation,” it said.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, BJP Goa unit president Sadanand Shet Tanavade, BJP MP (Rajya Sabha) Vinay Tendulkar, NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar, among others, paid tributes to Lata Mangeshkar at BJP office in the city.

Meanwhile, the Goa government announced three days of state mourning in the memory of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar who passed away in Mumbai on Sunday.

”The State government has declared 3 days State Mourning, i.e from February 6 to 8, 2022 due to the sad demise of Lata Mangeshkar, the Nightingale of India,” a statement from the government said. (UNI)