PM, President, LG Sinha express Grief
New Delhi, Sep 23: Junior Railways Minister Suresh Angadi has died nearly two weeks after he tested positive for coronavirus infection. He was admitted to AIIMS in Delhi after his condition worsened. He was the first Union Minister and the fourth MP to die due to COVID-19 infection.
Born in 1955, the BJP leader from Belgaum district in Karnataka has held several positions in the party in his long political career. He started as BJP vice president in Belgaum in 1996, and worked his way up.
He was elected MP in the Lok Sabha election in 2004, and again in 2009. He was elected for a third term in 2014, when the BJP came to power in the centre, and for a fourth term in the general election last year, after which he was made Union Minister of State for Railways.
President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted, “Shocked to know the passing away of Shri Suresh Angadi, Union Minister of State of Railways. An amiable leader Shri Angadi worked tirelessly for the people of his constituency, Belagavi and Karnataka.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted his condolences.

“Shri Suresh Angadi was an exceptional Karyakarta, who worked hard to make the Party strong in Karnataka. He was a dedicated MP and effective Minister, admired across the spectrum. His demise is saddening. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti,” PM Modi tweeted.
Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) chief HD Deve Gowda tweeted, “I am shocked and deeply saddened by the demise of Union Minister of State for Railways and four-term MP from Belagavi Shri. Suresh Angadi. He was like a younger brother to me. I feel terrible losing him. This is an unbearable loss to our nation.”
Angadi was a law graduate. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha in a statement said, “I am deeply pained by the sad demise of MoS Railways,Shri Suresh Angadi. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour”.
He will always be remembered for his selfless service to the Nation and for welfare of the people, the Lt Governor added.

.Recruitment to PM package posts accelerated
.Approves conduct of elections to vacant Sarpanch, Panch constituencies

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sep 23: The Administrative Council (AC) which met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, today approved the re-allocation of 1997 number of unfilled supernumerary posts for recruitment of registered Kashmiri migrants and non migrant Kashmiri Pandits, who are willing to serve and settle down in Kashmir under the Prime Minister’s Package.
The Administrative Council also approved conducting the recruitment only on the basis of written test/skill test, without viva-voce, for the selection of suitable candidates through the J&K Services Selection Board within six months of the referral of posts by the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, and Rehabilitation& Reconstruction.
The re-allocated posts include posts of Sub Inspector Commercial Taxes and Assistant Compiler in Finance Department (997), Field Assistant, Field Supervisor (Mushroom) and Assistant Store Keeper in Agriculture, Production & Farmers Welfare Department (150), and Depot Assistant in Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department (300), and Class IV in Revenue Department (550). In order to fast track the recruitments, the posts have been allocated with simpler recruitment rules based on Graduation based; Higher Secondary based and Matric based qualification criteria.
The present re-allocation of posts is part of the 3000 posts that were announced in 2015. So far, only 806 selections have been made and 1997 posts remained unfilled due to various reasons.
The decision of re-allocation of the unfilled posts is aimed at accelerating the recruitment under the PM’s package and the benefits of employment to Kashmiri migrants and non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits.
Approves conduct of elections to vacant Sarpanch, Panch constituencies
The Administrative Council (AC) also approved the proposal of the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj to issue a notification for conducting elections to vacant Sarpanch/Panch constituencies. The detailed schedule will be finalised by the election authority.
Filling of the vacant constitutional posts will ensure devolution of powers and proper grass-root planning in the 3rd-tier of the Local Self Government. It will ensure that the non-functional Panchayats become functional.
Earlier, general elections to 39,521 Sarpanch/Panch constituencies in 4,483 Halqa Panchayats were conducted in 2018 of which 13,257 positions are vacant due to resignation, removal, election of Sarpanch as BDC Chairpersons, death, and non-availability of candidates at the time of election. Among them, 1,089 vacancies pertain to the office of Sarpanch, whereas 12,168 are Panch vacancies.
Pertinently, the elections to the vacancies notified earlier were postponed due to security concerns and the onset of COVID-19.

Stresses on speedy tunnel excavation, bridge, approach road constructions

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sep 23: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole today chaired a quarterly meeting to review pace and progress made on Z- Morh and Zoji La tunnels connecting Kashmir with the Ladakh UT.
During meeting, the Div Com emphasized on work on all projects is sustained in full swing for speedy completion of all works and targets are achieved within the stipulated time frame.
He instructed Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal and DC Kargil to ensure full support and coordination to the executing agencies so that work execution on both tunnels doesn’t face any sort of hindrance or delay.
At the outset, Chief General Manager NEIL, gave a detailed PowerPoint Presentation (PPP) about Z-Morh and Zoji La tunnels, construction of approach roads, lanes, protective walls, drains besides the road and other projects.
The chair was informed that the work process was going on in full swing and against 1055 meters target 680 meters were achieved in the month of September so far.
During meeting, the Div Com directed concerned to deploy all manpower and put all machinery into services to ensure work on tunnel excavation, bridges and approach road construction is carried out smoothly.
The Div Com said that though the deadline for the Z- MORH tunnel is December-21, 2023 however, a bonus up to Rs 400 crores shall be provided to the concerned agency if the project is completed before it’s set deadline.
It was further informed that 14.083 km long Zoji La tunnel is constructed to facilitate all weather connectivity between Srinagar and Leh.
On this, the Div Com directed the DC Ganderbal and DC Kargil to ensure speedy forest clearance and completion of land acquisition process on war footing for the construction of Zoji La tunnel besides concerned agencies were instructed to conduct pre- mobilization, arrangements of required staff and installation of machinery.
During meeting , the Div Com also reviewed about the blasts carried out daily, construction of snow galleries, Hellipad facilities, dumping sites, clearance, land acquisition for extra creeper land on WP, approach road, land hindrance at take off points, land acquisition for 3rd lane, compensation, and muck dumping sites.
Stressing on early clearance of pending liabilities of vendors, workers, hoteliers, shopkeepers and instructed ADC Ganderbal heading the concerned committee to look into the issue and submit report within a week’s time.
At the outset, the Div Com also reviewed the progress on Barramulla- Gulmarg road and directed concerned to ensure speedy work execution on the project.
Among others, the meeting was attended by CCF J&K Forests, CGM NEIL, DGM Rodik, DEO Kashmir, SDO, and other concerned.
Deputy Commissioner Kargil, ACR Gabderbal, Tehsildar Gund and other concerned also attended the meeting through videoconferencing.

Experts call for building of earthquakes resistant structures
Sumaya Jan
Srinagar, Sep 23: Experts have suggested building of earthquake resistant constructions as Kashmir reported 140 earthquakes in the last one decade.
On Tuesday evening, panicked residents rushed out of their homes after strong jolts were felt in Kashmir. The National Centre for Seismology said that the quake occurred at a depth of 5 km from the surface at 9.40 pm.

Kashmir has been witnessing frequent earthquakes. As per the details of Meteorological Department Kashmir accessed by news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service that over 140 earthquakes have been reported in the last one decade.
Kashmir felt tremors seven times in 2011, 11 earthquakes in 2012, 25 in 2013, and 19 in 2014.
The earthquakes were recorded highest number in 2015 in the decade when Kashmir was jolted 27 times.
Kashmir is vulnerable to disasters. At least 13 districts out of 100 districts in India have been identified as ‘multi hazard districts’.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, most parts of Kashmir covering the districts of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Budgam, Anantnag and parts of Jammu region, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar come under Seismic Zone V and are prone to earthquakes. While the rest part of the state comes under Seismic Zone IV.
Director Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus, said people should be well prepared to deal with disasters. “People should build earthquake resistant constructions in Kashmir,” Lotus added.
Bashir Ahmad, a research scholar of Earth Sciences said people should be well prepared for earthquakes.
“We can’t predict the timing, but we can prevent loss of life and property,” he added.
The state cabinet approved the Disaster Management Plan in July 2015, when late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had been chief minister of J&K.
The government had said that it was an effort to reduce the vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters and natural calamities in a more effective manner. However, an official said that the government has done “little” to deal with disasters.(KINS)

Visits Tral, AIIMS Awantipora, meets deputations
Precious Kashmir News
Pulwama, Sep 23: Principal Secretary Power Development and Information, Rohit Kasnal today said that the Back to village is synonymous with public good and welfare and it has added new dimensions to the Jammu and Kashmir Government’s governance model.

Kansal was interacting with Panchayat representatives and locals here at the second Block Divas Day in Tral and Awantipura.

He said that Jan Abhiyan is aimed at to improve service delivery and redress the public grievances within the shortest possible time and achieve cent percent saturation of beneficiary oriented schemes. He added that its main aim is to strengthen the roots of good governance in J&K, empower the common man and give direction to new governance model adopted by UT Government.

During the visit to the twin blocks, he was accompanied by District Development Commissioner, Pulwama Dr Raghav Langer, SSP, besides other district officers.

At block Diwas events, the Principal Secretary inspected the stalls put up by different departments and enquired about the grievance redress mechanism being adopted to satisfy public.

He interacted with hundreds of people and listened to their issues and grievances. He also distributed sports kits among school children, income and Domicile certificates; handed over Baby Kits to newly born girl children under BBBP and gave away sanction letters under Ladli Beti Scheme.

He also distributed wheel chairs, hearing aids, walking sticks among the persons with disabilities.

The Principal Secretary also reviewed the developmental scenario in Tral, during which ADC apprised him about the progress of various developmental projects in the area besides the initiatives and outreach programs being organized to benefit the public .

The Principal secretary also met with various delegations, including representatives from Batagund, Rathsuna and Saimoh .

A delegation of retired Sikh teachers from Saimoh area raised the issue of road obstruction causing inconvenience to the people. Responding to the public demand, he issued on the spot instructions to ADC Tral for early action.

A delegation from Batagund demanded adequate staff for local health institution (NTPHC), a critical care ambulance and a digital X – Ray plant.

Another delegation representing Rathsuna area demanded availability of doctors in the PHC Rathsuna besides complained about the overcharging by transport operators in the area.

The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation of the people and PRI members of different Panchayats. They apprised the officers about their grievances and sought early redress of the same. The officers of all line departments were available at the twin Blocks to hear the public grievances.

Principal Secretary gave patient hearing to all the delegations and directed the officers for immediate resdessal besides submitting action taken report.

Later, Principal Secretary visited the AIIMS site at Awantipora and inspected the ongoing works. He directed the concerned Officers to complete the works in as per the set timelines.

Block Divas was held in all eleven Blocks of the district where detailed discussion was held regarding different development projects besides issues being faced by the common masses of different panchayats. The designated officers including, ADC Pulwama, ADC Tral and ADC Awantipora and other district and sectoral officers listened to the demands and issues of the people.

On the occasion, many grievances were resolved on the spot and the rest were forwarded to the concerned departments for prompt redress through an established tracking system.

The DDC and other designated officers at various blocks gave patient hearing and assured timely redress of the genuine grievances, whereas on spot directions were also passed for the several genuine demands raised by the people.

Srinagar, Sep 23: National Conference president and former J&K chief minister has said that at this moment the Kashmiri people do not feel and do not want to be Indian.
He even went so far as to say that they would rather be ruled by the Chinese, a point he reiterated when he was asked if he really meant this, a New Delhi based media outlet The Wire reported.
Abdullah, who heads the National Conference party and had been the most prominent ‘pro-India’ face in Jammu and Kashmir for the past four decades, also described the Kashmiris as slaves who were being treated like second class citizens.
Abdullah said it was complete rubbish for the Bharatiya Janata Party to claim that the people of Kashmir have accepted the August 2019 changes just because there have been no protests.
He said if the soldiers on every street and Section 144 were to be lifted, people will come out in their tens of lakhs. Abdullah also said that the new domicile law was intended to flood the Valley with Hindus and create a Hindu majority. He said this has further embittered the Kashmiri people.
Asked as to how Kashmiris view the Central government and, in particular, Prime Minister Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, Abdullah said they were deeply disillusioned. He said they had no trust in the Central government. The trust that once bound Kashmir to the rest of the country has completely snapped, he added.
Abdullah revealed details of his meeting with the Prime Minister roughly 72 hours before August 5, 2019 when the constitutional changes in Kashmir were announced.
He had met the Prime Minister seeking assurances about the continuation of Articles 370 and 35A. He asked the prime minister why there were so many troops in the Valley and whether this was because of any perceived military threat.
Abdullah suggested the prime minister deliberately went out of his way to give him the impression the massive increase in troops was for security purposes. He said Modi did not say a word about Articles 370 and 35A. Consequently, Abdullah emerged from that meeting believing the two Articles were not in danger.
When asked, he agreed that the prime minister had misled and deceived him.
Abdullah told The Wire that on August 5, 2019, when the constitutional changes were suddenly announced, the National Conference and all other mainstream political parties stood badly discredited in Kashmiri eyes. Speaking of himself, he said he seemed to have fallen between two stools. The Centre viewed him as a traitor and arrested him. Kashmiris, on the other hand, saw him as a servant of India and said things like this ‘serves Abdullah right’. They chided him and taunted him for having said “Bharat Mata ki jai.” This left him deeply shaken and upset.
However, after 7-8 months in detention his standing and that of his party and other mainstream parties has been considerably restored in Kashmiri eyes. People now realise they are not “servants of India”, he said.
Abdullah said that the National Conference and, in fact, all the other parties that had come together to issue the Gupkar Declaration of August 2019, which was reiterated on August 22 this year, were committed to restoring the dignity of Kashmiris. He said this meant reinstating Articles 370 and 35A and restoring statehood. He said he would fight for this – but always peacefully – till his last breath.
Abdullah said that he had faith in the Supreme Court and hoped that it would stop postponing the petition his party has brought and hear it expeditiously. In the interview he, in fact, appealed to Supreme Court judges to hear the constitutional case quickly.
Asked why he had not raised this matter during the present session of parliament, which ends on Wednesday, September 23, he said he was not given time. He said he had gone to meet Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, along with MPs from Congress, Trinamool, DMK and the Communist Parties, and the speaker had assured them time for a discussion would be allocated. But that never happened. Asked if he believed the government had intervened and told the speaker not to give time, Abdullah said he did not know but agreed that the speaker had not kept his word.

Abdullah told The Wire that in the greater interest of Kashmir, the Mufti and Abdullah families have buried their past differences and come together. He said, today, Mehbooba Mufti was politically close to both his son Omar and himself. He said that he was in touch with her frequently, every week.
In one of the more angry moments of the interview, Abdullah asked why Mehbooba Mufti has not been released. “Is she a criminal?” he thundered.
Asked if her incarceration has begun to affect her, Abdullah asked a question in return: “How can it not? She is a human being after all.”
Abdullah added that whether the National Conference will contest the next state elections is a decision that will be taken, first, democratically within the National Conference itself and he, as president, will not impose his personal thinking. The decision will also be taken in concert with all the other Gupkar parties, he said.
Abdullah said his son Omar Abdullah’s announcement in a recent Indian Express article that he would not contest elections whilst Kashmir remains a Union Territory is Omar’s personal decision and not the position of the National Conference. However, he added that if Omar does not wish to contest, that is his right. Of himself, he said, he would abide by whatever decision the party took collectively. (KNS)