Srinagar: The famous Badamwari garden currently witnessing an almond bloom was on Sunday opened for public in the down town Srinagar on the occasion of Nauroz-e-Aalam.

Despite rain and chilly weather conditions, people, including women and children, besides tourists throng the aromatic garden which located in the foothills of historic Koh-e-Maraan in the down town Srinagar city. The garden is famous for almond bloom and is also known as “Badam vaar”.

Union Territory (UT) Tourism secretary Sarmad Hafeez said the mesmerizing Badamwari is a symbol of spring as this almond blossom is the first to bloom in the Kashmir valley. This will further help to increase the footfall of tourists who stayed away last year due to COVID-19 pandemic.

During the opening ceremony several cultural activities including traditional Kashmiri folk songs and group dance were performed by local artists.

Almond blossom was unnoticed last year due to COVID lockdown.

This will be followed by reopening of Tulip Garden on the foothill of Zabarwan hills, overlooking famed Dal Lake. The garden, brain child of former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad will be thrown open for public later this month.

Srinagar: A youth was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his car Saturday night in the outskirts of the Srinagar city, official sources said.

They said youth Zahid Amin Baba has left his Wanabal home in his car at 1700 hrs  last evening. However, when he did not return a massive search was launched by family members and other relatives in different parts of the city.

Later, Zahid was found dead in his car at Gangbugh in the city outskirts. The cause of his death was being ascertained.

However, police has registered a case an initiated proceedings.

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday suffered yet another set back when a senior leader and former Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Khursheed Aalam resigned from the party.

In a resignation letter to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, Aalam said he has resigned from the party.
Aalam unsuccessfully contested Assembly election on PDP ticket from Khanyar constituency where he lost to National Conference (NC)  senior leader Ali Mohammad Sagar narrowly in 2014.
He too was arrested on August 5, 2019 when centre abrogated Article 370 and 35 A besides divided Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories (UTs).
Former trade union leader Aalam alleged that he left PDP as party lacks political vision and strategy.
Over a dozen senior PDP leaders resigned from the party and majority of them joined Apni Party (AP).

Meanwhile, another People’s Democratic Party leader from Nesbal area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, Yasir Reshi also tendered his resignation from the party on Sunday.
Reshi said that he has formally sent his resignation to the party.
He said that he had already parted ways with the party leadership about two years ago and today he has formally resigned from the party.
On being asked about which party he was going to join, Reshi said that he “will first have discussions with his workers and then will take a step forward”. (With inputs from agencies)

By: Asif Iqbal

Srinagar: Several acclaimed personalities, including officials from medical, police departments and people from media fraternity, are among the awardees on the eve of ongoing first-of-its-kind event under the banner of ‘Real Kashmir Heros’.

The event organized by South Asia Peace Movement at SKICC, is aimed to felicitate the persons doing ‘exceptionally well’ in different fields of life in the Valley.

The awards are to be presented by Members of Parliament led by NDA leader Chirag Paswan, who arrived the Valley on Saturday.

The personalities receiving the award include; Junaid Mattoo SMC Srinagar, Haseeb Mughal, SSP Shailendra Mishra, SSP Tahir Ashraf, Intikhab Ahmad Shiekh (Director), Javid Bakshi SKICC Director, Tariq Bhat – Chairman South Asia, SP Ganderbal Feroz Yahya, Dr. Naveed Nazir Shah (HOD), Dr. Javid Malik – SKIMS Bemina, Dr Suneem Khan Medical Officer, Dr Mir Mushtaq Senior Medical Officer.

Among the other awardees also include; Proff. HOD Law Department Kashmir University Mohammed Ayoub Dar, Er. Sahil Bashir Bhat – Political Activist, Deputy Mayor Parvez Qadri, Sanjay Saraf – Social Activist, Mohammed Saleem Pandit – Times of India, Senior Journalist Majid Hyderi, Arif Shafi  Wani Greater Kashmir Newspaper, Ishfaq Gowhar Gulistan News, Mudasir Yaqoob, Greater Kashmir Newspaper, ANN News Final, Syed Hanif Balkhi ADDC Srinagar, Dr Saleem Khan GMC Health Care, Dr. Nazir Ahmad Bhat JVC Bemina, Dr Tufail Anjum and DSP Shiekh Adil. (GNS)

New Delhi: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today attended the fourth edition of Purvanchal Festival “Maati” at India International Centre, New Delhi. The Lt Governor was the Chief Guest for the Maati Samman session on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor congratulated all the achievers of Purvanchal and acknowledged their significant role in inspiring the young generation through their achievements in their respective fields.

The Lt Governor appreciated the organizers for celebrating the spirit of Purvanchal and strengthening the sense of belongingness among the people of Purvanchal through this event.

Purvanchal can be understood fully through the couplets of Sant Kabir Das- the Gem of Purvanchal. It is a land of spirituality and is among the most ancient regions of India. With its rich heritage and culture, it has created a unique identity by assimilating all creeds, sects and beliefs, said the Lt Governor.

Purvanchal had a glorious history of prosperity. The people of Purvanchal living across the world have preserved the rich culture and traditions of the region. Collaborative efforts are needed to take the region to new heights of development, he added.

Speaking on the socio-political change the Purvanchal region is witnessing, the Lt Governor observed that since 2014, under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Purvanchal has embarked on a journey of development and prosperity.

The ultimate way of developing a region is the creation of resources and empowering the common people. There is huge diversity in the areas of Purvanchal and the new dawn of development has given a determined push for the holistic progress of the region, he added.

The socio-economic development has come up in the region of Purvanchal. Aspirations of the people of the region are now the focus area of the government. Platforms are being provided to the youth to achieve high success in various fields. Reformative measures has been taken for the promotion of various sectors in the region, said the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor while highlighting the important role played by Purvanchal in the making of modern India, said that the contribution of the people of Purvanchal holds a distinctive place in Indian freedom struggle.

The region had a long tradition of learning. Sanskrit based education and a vast heritage of ancient to medieval learning made this region a hub of Hindu-Buddhist-Muslim education. Purvanchal Universities and academic institutions have played a very significant role in building modern independent India, he added.

The Lt Governor also made a special mention of Mangal Pandey, the great hero of the first freedom struggle, who was a native of Ballia.

Underscoring the reformative measures taken by the central government, the Lt Governor said that between 2009 and 2014, the average budget of Railways in Uttar Pradesh was Rs 1109 crore. After, 2014, Rs. 11,213 crore was given every year for the development of railways in Uttar Pradesh. That is a big quantum jump of about 911% which itself speaks about the right intention of the Government of India i.e development.

Tremendous work has been done in every field, be it transportation, education, health, roads or other essential aspects of infrastructural development for the society. Revolutionary reforms are being made for the growth of Heath sector, said the Lt Governor.

Every area of the Purvanchal was linked to the mainstream of development. The national highway network had almost doubled and connectivity was strengthened. The whole work culture is changed and its impact is visible on the ground, the Lt Governor maintained.

On development of sports sector in Purvanchal region, the Lt Governor said that the untiring efforts of the Hon’ble Prime Minister led to the development and creation of state-of-the-art sports facilities .

Speaking on the ongoing “Azaadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav”, the Lt Governor said that the national festival is a great opportunity to share the saga of courage and sacrifice of the brave-hearts of Purvanchal with the people across the country.

Achievers from Purvanmchal including Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog; Shri Saurabh Shukla, Film Actor & Director; Dr. Sabahat Azim, Founder CEO, Glocal Healthcare; Shri Tapan Singhel, CEO, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance; Shri Pratap Somvanshi, Executive Editor, Hindustan-HT; Ms. Asha Patel, Senior Columnist & Editor-in-Chief, Garibon Ka Setu were felicitated by the Lt Governor on the occasion.

Prominent among others attended the event were Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, President IGNCA, GoI; Shri Desh Deepak Verma, Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha; Shri Durga Shanker Mishra, Urban Secretary to GoI; Prof. Alok Kumar Rai, Vice-Chancellor, University of Lucknow, besides various prominent personalities from different spheres of life.

The day witnessed series of events including distribution of prizes to winners of Maati competition; presentation of Kabir bhajan, Phagua and folk songs by Gajendra Pandey and Troupe and Poetry recitation by Achanak Mauve, Nirjhar Pratapgarhi  and Nagendra Anuj.

Asif Azmi and Prakhar Malviya Kanha were the Conveners on the occasion.

Tarigami rubbishes reports of differences in conglomerate

Srinagar: Leaders of political parties associated with People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) have failed to build a consensus regarding the agenda of meeting from last three months.
Sources informed KNS that a consensus is eluding the partners after fissures have grown among its second- and third-rung leaders over the issue of seat-sharing during DDC elections.
“The bias in the seat-sharing at many places led to alliance partners fought against each other,” the source said.
Some of the leaders informed that “one would hope that the violation of the arrangement would be followed up by disciplinary action or at least some form of reconciliation talks. None of the two happened.”

When contacted senior leader and allay of PAGD Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami said that  a meeting happened after DDC elections ended. “Delay is due to some personal engagements of various leaders. In my opinion meeting should be called soon. There shouldn’t be more delay. The alliance was formed for safeguarding constitutional and democratic rights of people of Jammu and Kashmir. We are hopeful that alliance chairman will call to discuss the current situation.”

On being asked whether he is in touch with Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, he said, “I do talk with them but no formal meeting has taken place. I am hopeful it will be called soon”

He added that chairman of alliance has always sent the invitation for meetings.
Asked, about separate meetings, public reach out programmes of different key leaders of alliance parties. “There is no harm in organizing meetings, programmes separately at own party level.”

He rubbished claims of any differences in PAGD. “Why would there be differences. It is responsibility of everyone to work to safeguard constitutional guarantees of people of Jammu and Kashmir. Even it is responsibility of civil society, people of all regions of J&K”

Asked whether the exit of Sajad Gani Lone from PAGD is a reason for freeze in PAGD activities, he said, “His leaving was unfortunate. But that has nothing to do with it. Meetings should happen in any case.” Another senior PAGD leader and Awami National Conference (ANC) Vice-President Muzaffar Shah said PAGD leadership should see why there is no meeting taking place and added that internal pressures in political parties are hindering the meeting , “PAGD is for restoration of Article  370 and  election also. It is fine to carry own party activities but we have to fight election together. Otherwise we would be nowhere. We are six or seven executive members. PAGD leadership has to see why there was no meeting. PAGD is a power which has to be presented before people in such a way that no power can exist before it.

“Parties have their many internal pressures that is why it is not happening. National Conference is leading the PAGD and PDP is its second important constituent. It is responsibility of these parties to come clear,” he said. (KNS)

MS, 2 Medical Officers, Nurses Fined 2-Day Salary Cut; Incharge Nurse Attached

By: Umer Rashid

Srinagar: After a probe panel indicted them for administering several doses of an expired antibiotic injection to a 6-month-old girl at District hospital Shopian, Deputy Commissioner of the south Kashmir district has fined Medical Superintendent and two other officers of the health facility besides nurses with two days salary cut while incharge nurse has been attached with the BMO office.

The deputy commissioner on March 19  constituted a committee, comprising of ACR Shopian and CMO Shopian to conduct threadbare inquiry into the incident after reports surfaced that the baby was administered expired antibiotic .

The committee submitted its report on March 20 with its observations, as well as its recommendations.

In light of the report, the deputy commissioner concluded that there was medical negligence on part of the district hospital authorities.

“Medical superintendent being the head of the institution should have put in place a proper mechanism for the medicines being administered to the admitted patient with the maintenance of consumption register, expiry medicine register and the medical store dairy,” reads the order by the deputy commissioner, a copy of which lies with GNS.

“No action on part of the medical superintendent against the negligent staff speaks about the negligence of the Hospital administration,” the deputy commissioner underlined and subsequently ordered fine of two day salary cut of Medical Superintendent, and Mohammad Yaseen (MO), Zubair Ahmad (MO) in charge of the SNCU.

“The Nurse in charge of SNCU on the incident day, namely; Roziya Mushtaq (FMPHW), is hereby attached with the BMO office Shopian and furthermore, BMO Shopian, would submit a comprehensive report with regard to the role of the nurse in the instant matter for further course of action,” the order reads further.

Also, the staff nurses namely Sheema, Zulfi, Sabi jan, Ulfat Jan, and Rubina Akhter have been fined to the tune of two days salary each.

“Moreover, the officers involved should not repeat such things in future and are hereby warned of the same,” the order adds.