New Delhi, Nov 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged spiritual leaders to amplify the
message of AatmaNirbharta (self reliance) as had happened during freedom struggle, and preach the benefits of ‘vocal for local’.
After unveiling ‘Statue of Peace’ in Pali, Rajasthan, via video conferencing to mark the 151st Birth

anniversary celebrations of Jainacharya Shree Vijay Vallabh Surishwer Ji Maharaj, Mr Modi, said the way the country supported the local during Diwali festival, is an ‘energising feeling.’
India has always shown the path of peace, non-violence and friendship to the world, he said and added that the world is looking towards India for similar guidance.
‘If you look at history of India, whenever need arose, some saintly figure emerged to guide the society. Acharya Vijay Vallabh was one such saint,’ Mr Modi said.
Mentioning about the educational institutions established by Jainacharya, the Prime Minister lauded his efforts
to make the country ‘AatmaNirbhar’ in the field of education as he established many institutes imbued with Indian values in states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. These institutions had given many industrialists, judges, doctors, and engineers to India, he said.
The Prime Minister the country owed a debt to these institutions for their efforts in the field of women’s education. These institutions kept the flame of women’s education alive in those difficult times. The Jainacharya established many institutions for girl children and brought women into the mainstream.
He said, the life of Acharya Vijay Vallabh ji was full of kindness, compassion and love for every living being. With his blessings, Bird Hospital and many gaushalas are running in the country today. These are not ordinary institutions. These are the embodiment of the spirit of India and the hallmarks of India and Indian values.
The Statue unveiled in honour of the Jain Acharya has been named as the ‘Statue of Peace’. The 151 inch tall statue has been made from Ashtadhatu i.e. 8 metals, with Copper being the major constituent, and is installed at Vijay Vallabh Sadhana Kendra, Jetpura, in Pali, Rajasthan.
Talking about two ‘Vallabhs’, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel and the Jainacharya Shree Vijay Vallabh Surishwer Ji Maharaj, the Prime Minister said he feels blessed by the fact that after dedicating to the nation the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Patel- ‘Statue of Unity’, he unveiled the ‘Statue of Peace’ of the Jainacharya Shri Vijay Vallabh.

Reviews security arrangements in Budgam for DDC polls
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Nov 16: Advisor to Lt Governor R R Bhatnagar and Director General of Police (DGP), J&K, Dilbag Singh on Monday reviewed the security arrangements put in place in central Kashmir for upcoming District Development Council (DDC) election and by-elections for Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (ULB).
The security was reviewed in an officers meeting held at Police Control Room Kashmir here on Monday, a police spokesperson said.
Advisor Bhatnagar appreciated Jammu and Kashmir Police and other forces in maintaining peace, stability, and law and order in Jammu and Kashmir.
He reiterated the importance of maintaining a close watch on the inimical elements and stressed the need to maintain real-time coordination between the different Security Force agencies for the peaceful conduct of the elections.
The DGP while speaking on the occasion said there is a need to be more vigilant and cautious in view of the possibility of attempts by militants to disrupt the democratic process in J&K. “Continuous attempts are being made by elements across the border to create trouble here,” he said.
He directed the officers to devise the security plans and depute the security personnel as per the requirement. He emphasized for making the effective use of drones to monitor the the situation in and around the polls stations.
Complimenting the J&K Police personnel, security forces, intelligence agencies for achieving the highest degree of synergy and coordination in handling the internal security situation, he said that forces need to continue coordinated efforts to accomplish this important task efficiently and peacefully.
The DGP also stressed for efficient arrangements for the mobility and accommodation of forces deployed for elections. He stressed upon the officers to keep a vigil on the ground situation and ensure that people would exercise their franchise freely. He said the personnel on the ground should be briefed regularly for better results. He said joint efforts by the stakeholders should be put in for timely action to deal with any situation.
The officers briefed the advisor and the DGP regarding the preparedness in their respective jurisdictions. “SSP Srinagar, SSP Budgam and SSP Ganderbal gave powerpoint presentations regarding security arrangements and other preparatory measures for the upcoming elections in their respective districts,” the spokesperson said.

He said before the Advisor and the DGP joined the meeting, detailed discussions were held by IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar along with IG CRPF Charu Sinha with the District SSP and CAPF commanders regarding ground situation and specific deployment requirements for conduct of the upcoming event.

Neyaz Elahi
Beerwah, Nov 16: At a time when Mehbooba Mufti is claiming that Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration was formed solely to safeguard the identity of J&K people and there is a bigger cause to fight for than to bicker over DDC elections, her counterpart in National Conference Omar Abdullah allegedly managed to sideline PDP district president for Beerwah Nazir Khan to contest DDC elections on the PAGD ticket.

Much embarrassment to the PAGD, District President Beerwah for PDP, Nazir Khan filed his nomination papers at DIET Beerwah as an independent candidate on Monday.
“Omar Abdullah played politics and without informing Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti nominated NC candidate who has no ground in Beerwah, just to weaken my position,” Nazir Khan told News Agency Kashmir News Trust.
Nazir Khan now became the 2nd Independent candidate after Akhtar Ali from Hayatpora Beerwah who is also in the fray. Besides Khan and Ali, there is PAGD’s NC candidate Muhammad Ashraf Lone from Poonchgund, BJP’s Showkat Wani from Loolipora, and PDF candidate Javaid Beigh from Sonpah Beerwah.
Sources said that during a PAGD meeting that was held on Sunday at the residence of Farooq Abdullah, it was unanimously decided to field PDP’s Nazir Khan from Beerwah for District Development Constituency elections. Sources added that PDP even handed over an authority letter to Khan, but to the shock of Khan, his name was missing from the list published by PAGD.
“Omar Abdullah played a game. The same Omar who claimed that those should die of shame who will still play politics, again played politics now. PADG knew it well that I have strong ground in Beerwah. I have support of Narbal and Beerwah BDC’s while BDC Khag was also my supporter who was killed in a militant attack,” Nazir Khan said.
Khan confirmed that he has filed his nomination papers and will contest as an independent candidate. When asked he is violating the rules of PAGD, Khan said there is no merit in Alliance. “I do believe in PAGD and support its stand, but the way Omar Abdullah backstabbed me and played politics has badly hurt me. PADG has fielded a ‘weak’ candidate and I think Omar wants BJP should win Beerwah seat,” he said.
Khan claimed that he received ‘Authority Letter’ from PDP at 8pm on Sunday night but Omar Abdullah changed the list of Peoples Alliance of Gupkar Declaration.

Srinagar, Nov 16: The post/news revealing that Muzzafar Hussain Beigh is going to contest the forthcoming District Development Council polls from Baramulla’s Kanli Beui, is absolutely fake, Safina Beigh said on Monday.
While talking to the Kashmir News Bureau, Safina Beigh said, “it is untrue information presented as news to the people of Kashmir and it is funny that many have fallen for it”.
“Muzzafar Hussain Beigh has no such intentions and has nothing to do with this news,” Muzafar Beigh’s wife added.
Surely a mischievous person generated the news during these election times, she said, adding, “We’ve written to Cyber Police to look into the matter and will find out the person who has generated this fake news”.
Pertinently, People’s Democratic Party patron Muzaffar Hussain Beigh resigned from the party on Saturday. He was associated with the party since its inception in 1998.

Mughal Road, Sgr-Leh highway remain closed for 3rd day

Srinagar, Nov 16: After the two-day wet spell across Kashmir, the weatherman here has predicted improvement in the weather conditions from Tuesday morning, saying that the higher reaches of Kashmir would receive fresh snowfall on November 19.
The higher reaches of the Valley continued to receive snowfall while the plains received rainfall for the second consecutive day today, bringing the temperature further down in the Valley.
Amid intermittent rainfall in plains, the occasional sunshine was also witnessed in Srinagar and other adjoining districts today.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director Meteorological department (MeT), Mukhtar Ahmad told KNO that the weather conditions would improve across the Valley from tomorrow (November 17).
He said that the weather would mostly remain dry till November 24, but there is possibility of light snowfall in the higher reaches on November 19.
Ahmad further stated that the minimum will go down while the maximum temperature will rise in coming days.
Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, which remained closed for a few hours, was thrown open again for vehicular movement.
Officials said that the highway was closed for some time after fresh landslides following which the men and machinery were pressed to clear the roads. He added that after clearing the rods, the vehicles were allowed to ply again.
Notably, the Mughal road continued to remain closed for the third straight day today in wake of the fresh snowfall in the areas.
The 434-km long Srinagar-Leh highway continued to remain closed for the vehicular movement for the third straight day.
Officials said that the fresh snowfall started on higher reaches of Ganderbal district on Saturday, thus forcing authorities to close the Srinagar-Leh highway after slippery conditions of the roads.
The road was closed for traffic on Saturday evening and is still closed, said officials.

Srinagar, Nov 16: Ten civilians were rescued by the joint teams of police and army at Sinthan Pass to Chowgam stretch who were stuck due to heavy snowfall in the area during the intervening night of November 15 and 16, officials said.
They said that a team of Army and police rescued ten civilians from Sinthan Pass to Chingam, who were stranded due to continuous snowfall on the intervening night of November 15 and 16 and were in urgent need of help.
“The rescue team walked for five hours along NH 244 to reach the civilians during the night, in zero visibility conditions and then brought them down to Sinthan Maidan where they were provided with food and shelter,” the officials said.

Srinagar, Nov 16: The armies of India and Pakistan on Monday exchange gunfire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

An official said that the Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation along LoC today evening and fired mortars and other weapons.
“Pakistan initiated an unprovoked Ceasefire Violation along LoC in Tangdhar Sector, Kupwara District today evening by firing mortars & other weapons,” officials said, adding that “befitting response is being given.” (KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 16: Suspected militants hurled a grenade at the residence of a police officer adjacent to police station Shopian in south Kashmir on Monday evening but it failed to explode and was later defused, official sources said.
They said that later a bomb disposal squad of police reached the spot and destroyed the device safely.
Earlier, suspected militants made another abortive bid to target a police post in Kulgam district.
A police official told GNS that the militants hurled the grenade at a police post in Frisal area of the southern Kashmir district.
However, the grenade missed the target and exploded outside the boundary wall and no damage to life or property was reported in the incident.

Meanwhile the area has been cordoned off to nab the assailants, the official added. (GNS)

New Delhi, Nov 16: As Delhi witnesses yet another surge in COVID-19 cases, and a further spike due to cold is being predicted in the coming months, the upcoming winter session of Parliament may be merged with the Budget session.
Sources told CNN News18 an official communication and decision will be taken after a meeting between Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu. The winter session usually starts around the end of November and continues till mid-December.
It is being said the winter session would be merged with the Budget Session, scheduled to begin around the end of January. The Union Budget is presented each year on February 1.

The Budget session was also curtailed earlier this year amid the looming threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per convention, three sessions of Parliament are held in a year. The Constitution mandates there should not be a gap of six months or more between two sessions.
During the Monsoon Session of parliament, nearly 40 MPs had tested positive for the virus, while over 400 staff of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were also infected. The session was cut short by eight days and concluded on September 24.
The Rajya Sabha did not have winter sessions in 1975, 1979 and 1984 so far. Number of sessions held year-wise till 2019: six sessions in 1991, five each for seven years, four each for 31 years, three each for 27 years and two each in 1952, the first year of RS, and again in 2008.
In 2008, each session was held in two parts covering periods corresponding to budget, monsoon and winter sessions. In 2020, two sessions have so far been held.