Srinagar: Normal life continued to remain affected in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday for 30th consecutive day due to lockdown on account of covid-19, officials said. There were no prayers in major mosques and shrines including historic Jamia Masjid and revered shrine of Hazratbal.

Police and paramilitary forces kept barricades on roads at many places in Srinagar as well as in other district headquarters of the Valley and the Jammu region to prevent the movement of people. However, essential and emergency services are allowed, the officials added.

Most of the shops, and other business establishments remained shut while public transport was off the roads.

In view of the alarming surge in daily cases across the Kashmir Valley, Police said to have enhanced the efforts to implement the Covid-19 guidelines, SOPs and restrictions strictly throughout the valley.

“During the last 24 hours, Police have arrested 190 persons, lodged 92 FIRs and also realized fine to the tune of  Rs 1,22,920/- from 964 people for violating the guidelines/rules throughout the Kashmir valley,” a police spokesman said..

On April 29, the administration imposed a curfew in 11 districts in a bid to arrest the surge in Covid-19 cases, which has been since extended to all the 20 districts till 7 am on May 31.

“The special drive against the violators of Covid-19 guidelines/rules continued throughout all the districts of Kashmir Valley to ensure that people adhere to SOPs/ guidelines envisaged by government to curb COVID-19 pandemic,” the spokesman said, adding, “Community members are once again requested to cooperate with the Police in containing the spread of Coronavirus by following the SOPs/ guidelines/ protocols for the safety of the people. The special drive shall remain continue throughout the districts of Kashmir Valley to strengthen the safety measures.”  (GNS)

Will hold meeting soon to discuss whether to be part of exercise: Farooq

By: Abid Bashir

Srinagar: National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah Friday said that the party hasn’t taken any decision on participating in the delimitation exercise in J&K and that the final call will be taken after thorough consultations with the party leaders in the days ahead.

Talking to KNO over phone, Dr Farooq said that NC has not decided anything yet on its participation in the delimitation exercise. “We will sit and discuss the issue threadbare and accordingly final call will be taken in the days ahead,” he said.

Earlier, media reports suggested that NC may plunge into the delimitation exercise as majority of its leaders during the recently held Central Working Committee (CWC) meet had seriously advocated “active participation in the process to ensure no injustice is done with Kashmir.”

Reliable sources in the NC camp revealed that final consultations are yet to take place and call will be taken within a week or so. “So far we have stayed away from the exercise but there are some strong voices within the party that advocate active participation in the delimitation exercise to ensure no injustice with the Kashmir Valley,” they said.

Interestingly, from the NC camp Dr Farooq and MP Justice Hasnain Masoodi were nominated as the members of the delimitation panel, however, the party decided the stay away from the exercise. From the BJP, MoS in PMO Dr Jitendera Singh and MP Jammu-Poonch Jugal Kishore the members of the panel.

NC didn’t participate in the first meeting of the delimitation panel called by its chairman Justice (Rtc) Ranjana Prakash Desai in February this year. If sources are to be believed, many NC leaders were of the belief that the party should participate in the delimitation process to ensure BJP doesn’t play any spoil sport and resort to any sort of injustice with Kashmir by advocating more Assembly seats to Jammu.

“We have put forth our views before the party chief Dr Farooq sahib and also to NC’s vice-president Omar Abdullah. However, there is a need for broader consultation on the subject before the party chief announces final decision,” a senior NC leader who was present in the party’s CWC meeting told KNO, wishing anonymity.

In March this year, the delimitation Commission, mandated to redraw parliamentary and assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, was given a one-year extension. The commission was constituted in 2019, however, it couldn’t meet due to “unfeasible situation.”  Before Parliament passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act in August 2019, the effective strength of the J&K was 87, including four seats from Ladakh, which is now a separate Union Territory without a legislature. The strength of the realigned Jammu and Kashmir Assembly is 107 now with 24 seats to continue to remain vacant as those fall in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PaK).

Earlier, in a letter to the chairman of the commission, the NC MPs, including NC chief Farooq Abdullah, had stated, “In our view, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 is palpably unconstitutional and has been enacted in disregard and violation of the mandate and the spirit of the Constitution of India and therefore, not to be acted upon.”  As per the section 60 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, “…the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall be increased from 107 to 114….”  With 24 seats in PaK, the effective strength will go up from 83 to 90. Pertinently, elections in the J&K UT can’t be held unless delimitation exercise is over and re-alignment of assembly and parliamentary seats is done afresh.

Srinagar: Chairman of Kashmir music Club and renowned singer Waheed Jeelani has  appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and the responsible officials in the Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, to provide the artist community with required vaccines, just as other departments are being granted. “There are artists who are aged, sick, or unaware.  We need to ensure everyone’s health and safety, and request you to do the same,” Jeelani said in a statement.

Srinagar: Authorities concerned have retrieved at least thirty kanals of State Land – Kahcharai – during a ‘massive anti-encroachment drive’ in village Movera along Nallah Lidder in Pahalgam in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

An official part of the anti-encroachment drive told GNS that land under Khasra Number 421, 411, 380, 395, 379 and 398 was retrieved during a massive anti-encroachment drive led by Tehsildar Sallar Dr Mohammad Hussain on receiving the directions from higher authorities. The drive was ably supported by Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) besides by Police and other allied departments, he said.

“Many hoteliers have been on prowl to erect structures over the prized land”, the official said adding that “with such an ominous scenario it is a ‘big achievement’ for the department.”

The official has in the meantime asked people to abstain from any illegal encroachment and construction over the land. “We will take strict action against all those who are found to be involved in the unscrupulous act”, the official said.