Srinagar: In yet another move to provide best-in-class facilities to the devotees of Shri Amarnathji, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha laid the foundation stone of Office cum Yatri Niwas of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board here on Friday at Pantha Chowk, Srinagar.

The new facility would be built over 25 kanal land at Pantha Chowk Srinagar in a period of 18 months. The Yatri Niwas once completed would accommodate more than 3000 pilgrims.

Speaking on the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor, who is also the Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, observed that the prestigious project is aimed at ensuring comfortable stay of Shri Amarnathji Yatris at Srinagar who come from all over the world for the holy annual pilgrimage.

It will also act as an Information Centre for the guidance of pilgrims, besides many similar works would be completed for smooth conduct of the yatra, he added.

The government of J&K is initiating various services, along with the infrastructural development to provide a memorable experience to millions of devotees of Shri Amarnathji, the Lt Governor said

We are planning to construct Yatri Niwas in various parts of the UT, besides a permanent office and a bigger Yatri Niwas will soon come up at Jammu to facilitate a large number of visiting devotees. Another Yatri Niwas with the capacity to accommodate 3200 yatris is coming up at Chanderkote, District Ramban, added the Lt Governor.

With modern facilities and conducive environment being created, the day is not far when the Yatris visiting Shri Amarnathji shrine would cross the 10 lakh mark which will also make a greater impact on the economy of J&K, the Lt Governor observed.

Study is also being conducted for exploring feasibility of ropeway at Shri Amarnathji Shrine, he further added.

Nitishwar Kumar, Chief Executive officer of the Board termed the project as a historic development. This was a long pending demand from various organizations and stakeholders for having a dedicated Yatri Niwas for Shri Amarnathji Yatris, he added.

The CEO further highlighted the recent developments made by SASB for facilitating Shri Amarnathji Yatris.

The Shrine Board has also brought Darshan, Hawan, and Prasad facility under the virtual mode where the devotees of Lord Shiva from across the world can perform online virtual Puja and Hawan at the Holy Cave, and priests at the holy cave will offer it in the devotees’ name. Prasad will be subsequently delivered at the doorsteps of the devotees. For the first time, we have a 24×7 dedicated portal wherein the devotees can watch the live darshan of Holy Ice Lingam uninterruptedly through the Jio-TV live streams. These steps have been initiated in the wake of the cancellation of this year’s Yatra, said the CEO SASB.

The Shrine board has already arranged for a live telecast of morning and evening Aarti from the holy Cave of Lord Shiva both on TV and Digital platforms, he added.

Mahant Deependra Giri also spoke on the occasion and said that the upcoming Yatri Niwas is a much-needed facility to accommodate Shri Amarnathji yatris.

Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor launched “Shri Amarnath Ishwaram”, an iconic and signature video song on Shri Amarnathji and dedicated the same to the devotees of Shri Amarnathji on the auspicious occasion of Shravan Shivratri.

Released under the banner of T-Series, the video song was composed by Aman Pant, while devotees worldwide can experience the powerful Shiva mantra in the voice of renowned singer Sachet Tandon.

During his address, the Lt Governor observed that the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board’s devotional song reflects the divine journey of Lord Shiva with Mata Parvati to the Holy cave and narrates the route of the divine journey with the religious significance of places en route. This devotional track will also make the devotees feel spiritually connected with the divine Lord, he added.

On the occasion, the Lt Governor prayed for the well-being of the people of the UT.

Nitishwar Kumar, Chief Executive officer of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, and Anup Kumar Soni, Additional CEO SASB joined from the Holy Cave through virtual mode. Popular Singer, Sachet Tandon and Music Composer, Aman Pant also joined through video conferencing and shared their experience of working on this devotional video song.

Baseer Ahmad Khan, Advisor to the Lt Governor; Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department; Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary to the Government, H&UDD; Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary, PDD; Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment; Ranjan Prakash Thakur, Principal Secretary to Government, Industries & Commerce Department; Pandurang K. Pole, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Vijay Kumar, IGP Kashmir; Sarmad Hafeez, Administrative Secretary, Tourism Department; Board Members of SASB, besides other senior officers of Civil, Police, Shrine Board and the various religious organizations and NGOs attended the foundation laying ceremony of Yatri Niwas at Pantha Chowk.

By: M S Nazki

Jammu: Two militants were killed in a gunfight in a forested area of Thanmandi in Rajouri district on Friday, officials said.

“Acting on a specific intelligence inputs by Jammu & Kashmir Police, a joint cordon and search operation by the Indian Army and JKP was launched in the remote village of Pangai, which is in a forested area of Thanmandi, District Rajouri,” Lt Col Devender Anand, Army’s Jammu based spokesman said.

“During the Operation a fierce gun fight took place with two (militates) who were successfully neutralised by the Security Forces,” he said, adding, “The identity of the slain (militants) is yet to be established.”

He said killing of two militants was testimony to the “alertness” of the Security Forces and JKP. He said the operation was under progress to ensure that the area is adequately sanitised.

A police spokesman said that two AK 47 rifles with 7 magazines, four grenades and some pouches besides packets of medicine were recovered from possession of the killed militants. (GNS)

Poonch: Police have recovered two wireless sets from Balnoi area along Line of Control in Mendhar area in Poonch district.

Official sources said that at around 0100 hours, a Police party along with SOG recovered two “motorola sets) along with one adapter and a small torch from Balnoi near sheep farm in Mankote  area of Mendhar.

A police official while confirming the recoveries said that Police party was headed by SHO Manzoor Kohli and the operation was done under the supervision of SDPO Z A Jafri. (GNS)

By: M S Nazki

Jammu: Police and army recovered two pistols, five magazine and 122 rounds besides a silencer in Sarthian village of Rajpura in Samba district, officials said on Friday.

They said the recoveries were made by army’s JAKLI and Police while carrying searches in the area falling within the jurisdiction of police station Ghagwal.

The arms and ammunition were found wrapped in a gunny bag with plastic tape around it, they said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Samba Rajesh Sharma confirmed the recoveries and said that investigation has been started with regard to the incident. (GNS)

New Delhi: In a renewed thrust on exports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asked Indian Missions abroad, state governments, industry, exporters and all other stakeholders to make a concerted attempt to seize the opportunity.

The PM assured exporters and investors of all the required support to take Brand India to each and every corner of the world.

He said that a detailed planning needs to be worked to identify new products and new markets to achieve the ambitious export target.

The government has set US$400 billion merchandise export target for the current financial year.

PM Modi suggested various ideas including engagement with Indian diaspora overseas to establish Indian products in different countries.

He noted the four key factors that could help boost exports. The PM said the first step should be to raise manufacturing multiple times. Then, problems and challenges related to transport and logistics should be addressed.  The other two factors being government support and international market for Indian products.

Modi said that the production linked incentive announced by the government would not only scale up production capacity but also efficiency and the level of global quality standards.

He said that the Rs 88,000 crore insurance cover announced for exports would boost the sector while rationalising export incentive and making them WTO-compliant would give further support.

The PM said that exports currently account for 20% of the GDP but given the size of the country and the base of manufacturing and services there is huge potential.

He noted the latest government decision to scrap the retrospective tax law saying the exporters who go out to the world very well know the importance of policy stability.

“The decision to get rid of the retrospective tax law shows our commitment and consistency in our policy,” he said while interacting with heads of Indian Missions abroad and other stakeholders.

The Prime Minister declared that it was time to start a new journey for Brand India and with new goals.

Stressing on the quality and reliability of Indian products, he said that there is a need to create demand for value-added products from India in different countries.

Exports have a huge employment generation potential, especially for MSMEs and high labourintensive sectors, with a cascading effect on the manufacturing sector and the overall economy.

The PM’s virtual interaction with Heads of Indian Missions abroad was focused on how to leverage and expand India’s export and its share in global trade.

It was aimed at energising all stakeholders towards expanding India’s export potential and utilizing the local capabilities to fulfill the global demand.

The PM said that at present almost half of the country’s exports are to only 4 major destinations.

Similarly, about 60 percent of the exports are related to Engineering Goods, Gems and Jewellery, Petroleum and Chemical Products and Pharmaceuticals.

He urged exporters and other stakeholders to find new destinations and also take new products to the world.

He added that with the opening of sectors like Mining, Coal, Defense, Railways, entrepreneurs are also getting new opportunities to increase exports.

The PM elaborated how Production Linked Incentives helped to strengthen the mobile phone manufacturing sector.

“The mobile phone sector, we are also experiencing its impact. Seven years ago, we used to import mobile phones worth about $ 8 billion. Now, it has come down to $2 billion. Seven years ago, India used to export mobile phones worth only $ 0.3 billion. Now it has increased to more than 3 billion dollars,” he said.

He listed the initiatives of the Government to boost MSMEs like many relaxations given in compliances under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and provision of Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme of Rs 3 lakh crore.

The Prime Minister said that the government, both at centre and states are also focussing to reduce the time and cost of logistics in the country. For this, work is going on at a rapid pace in every level to create a multimodal connectivity, he noted.

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s strategy to boost exports, EEPC India Chairman Mahesh Desai said that the engineering goods sector has the potential to become the lead contributor to the economic growth and job creation as India leaps ahead in the post-pandemic world.

“Most developed countries are working on “China Plus One” strategy and India very well fits into the scheme. The engineering goods sector could considerably gain from it with right policy support,” he said.

The government has set US$107 billion export target for the engineering goods sector which accounts for a little over one-fourth of the total target set for merchandise exports in FY22.

In his first of the kind interaction with exporting community representatives and Indian Mission heads, the Prime Minister said that for maximum benefit to the economy from exports, there was a need to build a seamless and high quality supply chain within the country as well.

“For this we need to build a new relationship and a new partnership,” said Modi.

He requested all exporters to strengthen partnership with MSMEs, farmers and fishermen, promote Startups and support them. (UNI)

Srinagar: The congregational Friday prayers were offered at historic Jamia Masjid after remaining suspended for over three months due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Large number of people, including women, offered Friday prayers in the historic Masjid today. The worshippers were wearing masks and keeping social distance during the prayers.

The prayers were suspended by Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid (AAJM), headed by Mirwiaz Moulvi Omar Farooq, shortly before the start of holy fasting month of Ramzan to prevent further spread of COVID-19. Mirwaiz will complete two years of house arrest on August 5.

A spokesman of the AAJM had on Wednesday announced that since the COVID positive cases have slowed down, Friday prayers are now being offered in all central mosques, Khanqahs, shrines and imambaras of Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore, he said. Friday prayers will be offered in Jama Masjid Srinagar on August 6.

However, the Anjuman Auqaf clarified that as per the guidelines of medical experts, the worshippers are advised to take precautionary measures and strictly adhere to Covid SOPs during the Friday and daily prayers.

Recently, when the district administration lifted ban on Muharram procession in Sriangar after about three decades, a number of Shia organizations questioned the announcement timing. They said when prayers are not being allowed in Jamia Masjid and annual yatra to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas was cancelled, how 30 year long ban was lifted when there was still COVID threat.

Friday prayers were also held in other shrines and worship places in the Kashmir valley. (UNI)

New Delhi: In a major development, India and China have carried out disengagement in the Gogra area of Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh sector, marking yet another breakthrough nearly 6 months after a similar process was completed in Pangong Lake area.

The troops of India and China have moved back their troops from the eyeball-to-eyeball situation in which they were since May last year.

According to a statement issued by the Defence Ministry, the disengagement process in Gogra area was carried out on August 4 and 5, as per an agreement reached at a meeting of the Corps Commanders at Chushul Moldo Meeting Point in Eastern Ladakh on July 31.

After disengagement in Gogra area, such a process now remains to be carried out in Depsang and Hot Spring friction points. ‘As an outcome of the meeting, both sides agreed on disengagement in the area of Gogra,’ it said.

‘As per the agreement, both sides have ceased forward deployments in this area in a phased, coordinated and verified manner.’

All temporary structures and other allied infrastructure created in the area by both sides have been dismantled and mutually verified. The landform in the area has been restored by both sides to pre-stand off period, the press release said.

This agreement ensures that the LAC in this area will be strictly observed and respected by both sides, and that there is no unilateral change in status quo.

‘With this one more sensitive area of face-off has been resolved. Both sides have expressed their commitment to take the talks forward and resolve the remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector,’ it said.

‘The Indian Army along with ITBP is totally committed to ensure the sovereignty of the nation and maintain peace and tranquility along the LAC in the Western Sector,’ the release said.

The two side had a ‘candid and in-depth exchange of views’ on resolution of remaining areas related to disengagement along the Line of Actual Control in the Western Sector of India-China border areas. (UNI)

New Delhi: As India makes efforts to thwart threats at its borders from China and Pakistan, troops from the three countries are set to take part in a mega anti-terror drill of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Russia aimed at expanding cooperation to deal with the growing menace of terrorism and extremism.

As part of the SCO initiative, the Peace Mission Exercise is conducted for member states.

Peace Mission-2021 is an anti-terrorist command and staff exercise of member countries. More than 3,000 soldiers are expected to participate in the drill.

The Indian Army will be conducting air reconnaissance and protecting facilities during the joint drills with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the Pakistan Army.

The joint exercise will be conducted by the Central Military Commission of Russia from September 11 to September 25 at the Donguzsky training ground in the Orenburg region in Urals.

The drill will involve tactical-level operations in an international counter-insurgency or counter-terrorism environment under the SCO Charter. The joint exercise will strengthen mutual confidence, interoperability and enable sharing of best practices among the armed forces of the SCO nations.

India became a full member of the SCO in June 2017. The SCO was established in Shanghai in 2001, with China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as its founding members.

Sources said the Indian contingent will have 200 personnel, primarily comprising troops from the infantry, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

Last year, India had withdrawn from a multilateral war game as its troops were engaged in a bitter standoff with the Chinese PLA in several areas along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh, while Pakistan was in continuous violation of the ceasefire agreement.

At first, India had agreed but later it withdrew from the multi-lateral exercise last year. No reason was cited officially as to why India had reversed its decision. (IANS)

Srinagar:  Enforcement directorate (ED) on Friday summoned Gulshan Nazir, mother of former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, on August 18.

A summon issued by ED Assistant Director Sunil Kumar Meena has asked her to be present for questioning before the investigating officer on August 18.

Gulshan Nazir was earlier also summoned by the ED twice in July, but had refused to respond to those summons.

Sources said she had sought details of the FIR in which she was accused, but the ED had not responded to her request. (IANS)