Jammu:  Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, in his message on the eve of International Women’s Day, extended his heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all the women.

“On the occasion of International Women’s Day, I convey my best wishes to all. Let’s celebrate and cherish women’s accomplishments in all walks of life,” Sinha said.

He said women have made a significant contribution to the welfare and growth of Jammu and Kashmir and the country. “It is an occasion to acknowledge the importance of women and the hard work they put in every aspect of our lives.”

“I call upon people of J&K to reaffirm their commitment to gender equality and work relentlessly towards women’s safety, promoting women’s economic empowerment, education and increasing women’s workforce participation to create a peaceful and prosperous society,” added Sinha.

‘I arranged free Covid vaccination for them in Govt hospitals’

Kolkatta:  In a scathing attack on the opposition over their allegations of working for ‘friends’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the poor people are his friends and he worked for them by arranging free COVID-19 vaccination for them in government hospitals.

“My opponents say that I work for my friends. Who we grow up with are our best friends. I grew up in poverty hence I understand the plight of poor people living in every corner of India. I work for my friends and will continue to do so,” he said, while addressing a public rally in Kolkata.

The Prime Minister asked the people to vote for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fearlessly during the upcoming elections in the state and added Trinamool Congress’ Khela (Game) is over.

“When corona pandemic came, it caused trouble around the world, but it was my poor friends who were most troubled by it. When COVID-19 started, I gave ration to every friend for free, gave free gas cylinders and deposited crores of rupees in their bank account. The corona vaccine is so expensive around the world, but I arranged for my friends to vaccinate at the government hospital for free,” PM Modi added.

He asked his ‘friends’ in West Bengal whether they will support his ‘friendship’ or TMC’s ‘Tolabaazi’ (extortion/ corruption). “Sisters and brothers, didi and her companions are sleepless with this enthusiasm of yours. That is why these people are saying that this time – Khela Hobe (Game on).

“TMC ka Khela khatam, Vikas Shuru (TMC’s game is over, development has started)…vote for BJP fearlessly, vote against bad governance,” PM Modi said during the public rally at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata

Taking a dig at the opponent’s Khela Hobe slogan, the Prime Minister said, “These people are experienced people and play a lot! They have done innumerable corruption and looted the people of Bengal. They have even looted the relief money sent for Amphan cyclone.”

“Tolabaazi, syndicate, commission cut! You have done so many scams that a ‘Corruption Olympics’ game can be organised. You have played with the hard-earned money of the people and their lives,” he added.

PM Modi said he has known ‘Didi’ Mamata Banerjee for ages, but she is not the same person who raised her voice against the Left.

“She speaks someone else’s language now and is being controlled, he said and alleged TMC has pushed Bengal towards separation instead of development, “and thus the lotus is blooming.”

“You’ve divided people into religious lines, and thus the lotus is blooming,” he added.

Jammu:  A college professor in Udhampur was arrested and booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for allegedly instigating and disturbing law and order in Kashmir valley, an official said on Sunday.

A police team from Kulgam district of south Kashmir arrested Shabir Ahmed from a college in Udhampur district on Saturday, they said.

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government has started an exercise for the deportation of Rohingya refugees settled in the Jammu region by sending around 168 Myanmar nationals to Hiranagar Jail, which is being referred to as holding centre.

The holding centres with a capacity to hold 250 people were set up by a Home Department notification on Friday under Section 3(2)e of Foreigners Act. “These immigrants were not holding valid passports required in terms of Section (3) of the Passports Act,” a senior government official said, adding that they were in the process of identifying more such immigrants.

Police said that after verification, 168 Rohingya refugees staying in Jammu and Kashmir were sent to the Hiranagar jail. The police described the Hiragar jail as a holding center for Rohingya, saying they have invoked Section 3(2) e of the Foreigners Act.

The police insisted that the immigrants were not holding valid travel documents required in terms of Section (3) of the Passports Act. They said the exercise of identifying more such immigrants is still in progress. The government had ordered shifting of all inmates lodged in Hiranagar Jail of Kathua district to other prisons of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sources said the refugees were brought from Jammu to the sub-jail in buses on Saturday evening. The sub-jail had been prepared for keeping the Rohingya refugees “staying illegally” nearly a week ago, when all the prisoners and undertrials lodged there were shifted to other jails.

According to a senior police officer, all the refugees were living in J&K without valid documents.

Udhampur:  National Conference President Farooq Abdullah Sunday stressed the need for a thaw in the relations between India and Pakistan, saying this will hugely benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Hostilities on borders bring only agonies and miseries to the dwellers, halt agriculture and economic activities, and impact the way of life of every segment of society”, Abdullah said while addressing party workers here this afternoon.

Referring to recent reiteration by both countries to abide by ceasefire agreement in letter and spirit, he said J&K people wish and pray for success of this measure as it will bring some sort of relief to them. “Peace is in the larger interest of the region, especially as the people of the two countries have been yearning for good relations.”

Invoking the words of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that “you can change your friends but not your neighbours”, Abdullah said either the two countries have to grow friendship and prosper or continue the enmity and then there will be no prosperity.

The NC president said Article 370 was not just a Kashmir-centric issue but it was as much important to regions of Jammu and Ladakh as well. “To save the people, especially those of Jammu from the hegemony of the elite and affluent from the neighbouring states, Maharaja Hari Singh brought the law in 1927.”