Srinagar, Sep 23: National Conference president and former J&K chief minister has said that at this moment the Kashmiri people do not feel and do not want to be Indian.
He even went so far as to say that they would rather be ruled by the Chinese, a point he reiterated when he was asked if he really meant this, a New Delhi based media outlet The Wire reported.
Abdullah, who heads the National Conference party and had been the most prominent ‘pro-India’ face in Jammu and Kashmir for the past four decades, also described the Kashmiris as slaves who were being treated like second class citizens.
Abdullah said it was complete rubbish for the Bharatiya Janata Party to claim that the people of Kashmir have accepted the August 2019 changes just because there have been no protests.
He said if the soldiers on every street and Section 144 were to be lifted, people will come out in their tens of lakhs. Abdullah also said that the new domicile law was intended to flood the Valley with Hindus and create a Hindu majority. He said this has further embittered the Kashmiri people.
Asked as to how Kashmiris view the Central government and, in particular, Prime Minister Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, Abdullah said they were deeply disillusioned. He said they had no trust in the Central government. The trust that once bound Kashmir to the rest of the country has completely snapped, he added.
Abdullah revealed details of his meeting with the Prime Minister roughly 72 hours before August 5, 2019 when the constitutional changes in Kashmir were announced.
He had met the Prime Minister seeking assurances about the continuation of Articles 370 and 35A. He asked the prime minister why there were so many troops in the Valley and whether this was because of any perceived military threat.
Abdullah suggested the prime minister deliberately went out of his way to give him the impression the massive increase in troops was for security purposes. He said Modi did not say a word about Articles 370 and 35A. Consequently, Abdullah emerged from that meeting believing the two Articles were not in danger.
When asked, he agreed that the prime minister had misled and deceived him.
Abdullah told The Wire that on August 5, 2019, when the constitutional changes were suddenly announced, the National Conference and all other mainstream political parties stood badly discredited in Kashmiri eyes. Speaking of himself, he said he seemed to have fallen between two stools. The Centre viewed him as a traitor and arrested him. Kashmiris, on the other hand, saw him as a servant of India and said things like this ‘serves Abdullah right’. They chided him and taunted him for having said “Bharat Mata ki jai.” This left him deeply shaken and upset.
However, after 7-8 months in detention his standing and that of his party and other mainstream parties has been considerably restored in Kashmiri eyes. People now realise they are not “servants of India”, he said.
Abdullah said that the National Conference and, in fact, all the other parties that had come together to issue the Gupkar Declaration of August 2019, which was reiterated on August 22 this year, were committed to restoring the dignity of Kashmiris. He said this meant reinstating Articles 370 and 35A and restoring statehood. He said he would fight for this – but always peacefully – till his last breath.
Abdullah said that he had faith in the Supreme Court and hoped that it would stop postponing the petition his party has brought and hear it expeditiously. In the interview he, in fact, appealed to Supreme Court judges to hear the constitutional case quickly.
Asked why he had not raised this matter during the present session of parliament, which ends on Wednesday, September 23, he said he was not given time. He said he had gone to meet Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, along with MPs from Congress, Trinamool, DMK and the Communist Parties, and the speaker had assured them time for a discussion would be allocated. But that never happened. Asked if he believed the government had intervened and told the speaker not to give time, Abdullah said he did not know but agreed that the speaker had not kept his word.

Abdullah told The Wire that in the greater interest of Kashmir, the Mufti and Abdullah families have buried their past differences and come together. He said, today, Mehbooba Mufti was politically close to both his son Omar and himself. He said that he was in touch with her frequently, every week.
In one of the more angry moments of the interview, Abdullah asked why Mehbooba Mufti has not been released. “Is she a criminal?” he thundered.
Asked if her incarceration has begun to affect her, Abdullah asked a question in return: “How can it not? She is a human being after all.”
Abdullah added that whether the National Conference will contest the next state elections is a decision that will be taken, first, democratically within the National Conference itself and he, as president, will not impose his personal thinking. The decision will also be taken in concert with all the other Gupkar parties, he said.
Abdullah said his son Omar Abdullah’s announcement in a recent Indian Express article that he would not contest elections whilst Kashmir remains a Union Territory is Omar’s personal decision and not the position of the National Conference. However, he added that if Omar does not wish to contest, that is his right. Of himself, he said, he would abide by whatever decision the party took collectively. (KNS)

Challenges “illegal” detention of her mother
Srinagar, Sep 23: Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has again filed a petition seeking release of her mother. Mufti in her petition has made Union of India and Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as parties to the petition. In her prayer in the petition, Iltija Mufti has prayed for appropriate orders/directions in the captioned Writ Petition seeking inter alia a
writ of habeas corpus. “The captioned Writ Petition under Article 32 has been challenging the order dated 05.02.2020 (hereinafter, the “Detention Order” or the “Impugned Detention Order”), issued u/s 8 (1) of the Jammu & Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 (hereinafter, “the PSA” or “the 1978 Act”) for preventively detaining Ms. Mehbooba Mufti (hereinafter, “Detenu”), the former Chief Minister of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, and also former Member of Parliament and the President of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (JKPDP), a registered political party recognised by the Election Commission of India. The Petitioner is the daughter and next friend of the Detenu,” it reads.
The prayer of the Mufti also reads : This Hon’ble Court was pleased to issue notice in the captioned Writ
Petition vide order dt. 26.02.2020 subject to the Petitioner filing an affidavit stating that no other Petition has been filed by anyone else in any forum including the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir seeking a similar relief. A true copy of the Order dt. 26.02.2020 is annexed herewith and marked as ANNEXURE-A-1 (At Pg 16). The Petitioner herein complied with the order on the same day and filed the Affidavit stating that to the best of her knowledge no other petition or proceedings has been filed before any forum seeking similar relief.”
The petitioner has raised the issue of non- respondance of J&K Government to the earlier notice of the Supreme Court, “Till date the Respondents have not filed any reply or counter-affidavit to the captioned Writ Petition. The detention order impugned in the captioned Writ Petition has been extended was approved by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir vide order dt. 14.02.2020, and received confirmation on 26.02.2020 from the Government following the opinion of the Advisory Board. The Writ Petition was scheduled to be listed on 18.03.2020. However, it was not listed owing to the then impending nation-wide lockdown relating to COVID-19 containment efforts. On 27.04.2020 even as an urgent Application for Directions by the Petitioner herein (which was subsequently numbered CM. No. 60019/2020) was pending, the Detenu was shifted from the subsidiary jail in which she was detained to her home in Fairview, Gupkar Road, declaring the latter as a temporary subsidiary jail.” “The Impugned Detention Order, which expired on 04.05.2020 was extended by another three months vide. Order dt. 05.05.2020 without any fresh grounds being given to the Detenu.The Impugned Detention Order, which was extended until 04.08.2020 was further extended by three months vide Order dt. 31.07.2020
without any fresh grounds, until 04.11.2020,” she prayed. “The Petitioner has also preferred an Application to amend the captioned Writ Petition to include the prayers of quashing the
aforesaid confirmation and extension orders dt. 26.02.2020, 05.05.2020 and 31.07.2020 respectively – on the same grounds as those laid out in the captioned Writ Petition as none of the said orders betrayed any fresh grounds of detention of the Detenu,” petition reads. “That Application also has the said annexed therewith and are not being annexed herewith for the sake of brevity. It is submitted that the Writ Petition prays for a writ of habeas corpus and relates to personal liberty of the Detenu and her right to constitutional remedy under Article 32 would be rendered illusory if the hearing on the Petition to quash her illegal and unconstitutional detention is delayed indefinitely. It is therefore urged that this
Hon’ble Court treats this writ of habeas corpus as an urgent one for early hearing and disposal,” it added.. Iltija Mufti has not only challenged Mehbooba Mufti’s psa order but equally challenged the extensions . Speaking to KNS, she said “her detention is illegal and unquestionable in a democracy. A key opposition leader has been jailed for over a year without recourse to trial.” Regarding the cold response of state Government towards the Notice of Supreme Court on the detention of Mehbooba Mufti, she said, ” bringing to sc’s notice that despite its order in feb , J&K Adminstration is yet to even file a reply and shows you the respect they have for courts and SC.” She also informed KNS that she has brought to notice of court the treatment former Chief Minister has received “where she has been deliberately kept out of bounds for party people and attend to her duties as J&K PDP president.”(KNS)

Jammu, Sep 23: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has regularised/promoted more than 550 officers at the level of SP and Dy. SP, and granted/predated selection grade of Dy. SP in favour of more than 300 officers, including about 440 serving officers. This humongous exercise has finally paved the way for the smooth career progression of the Gazetted cadre of J&K Police, putting to rest more than three decades old seniority disputes and resultant litigations, which had restrained the long-pending regularisations/promotions and release of selection grade.

The Lt Governor Manoj Sinha observed that the J&K Police has been at the forefront to tackle the challenges posed by terrorism, displaying exemplary bravery and courage while at the same time, ensuring a secure environment for law-abiding citizens.

The JKP, however, has been besotted with seniority disputes over a long period of time. The Home Department has undertaken a comprehensive exercise, keeping in consideration the cardinal principles and judicial pronouncements, to address the issue that had been plaguing the Jammu & Kashmir Police (Gazetted) Service for the last three decades.

In the current round, more than 550 officers whose regularization/promotion was pending from different dates since 2007 at the level of SP and at the level of Dy. SP, have been regularized/promoted, as also selection grade of Dy. SP has been granted/predated in respect of more than 300 officers. This includes nearly 440 serving SPs and Dy. SPs. The retired officers will also benefit from pay fixation. These figures need to be seen in the backdrop of a total of 268 SP level and 575 Dy. SP level posts (including reserves). This exercise has led to the regularisation of all the officiating SPs and completing the groundwork for finalising the seniority list at the level of Dy. SP right up to the present date.

While congratulating the officers, the Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha lauded the effort of the Home Department and said the efficiency and good governance is the key to execute reform on vital fronts.

“We are proud of our Police Force. They have always shown the highest professionalism and the greatest perseverance in handling cross-border terrorism and making a concerted effort in maintaining peace in Jammu and Kashmir. I strongly feel that it’s our collective responsibility to address the issue of career progression, well-being of police, and welfare of their families”, the Lt Governor said.

In the first phase, in September 2019, 600 plus officers were given a specific date of regularisation as DySP/SP and 153 officers were promoted/ regularised as DySP. Also, SP level regularisation was finalized up to 2007 while in respect of Dy. SP, tentative seniority as in 2009 was notified.

This tentative seniority was finalised in February 2020, setting the stage for the next round of regularisation as well as for officiating promotion on 28.02.2020 of 73 officers as SP, which had been stalled since 2015. Further, despite COVID, officiating promotions of 22 officers to Dy. SP level were also effected on 18.05.2020.

The resolution of these seniority disputes will pave the way for the smooth career progression of the Gazetted cadre of police i.e. at the level of Dy. SP and SP.

Advisor Baseer , political parties condemn killing

Srinagar, Sep 23: The chairman of Block Development Council (BDC) Khag was on Wednesday killed by suspected militants in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, official sources said.

The incident comes on a day when Jammu and Kashmir administration decided to hold elections for vacant panchayat seats in the Union Territory (UT).
Official sources said that suspected militants fired at Bhupinder Singh outside his residence at Khag in Budgam late in the evening. “Singh was critically injured in the firing,” they said, adding he was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead.
They said the suspected militants managed to escape from the spot, adding security forces have been rushed to the area and a search operation has been launched to nab the attackers.
In a statement issued here, the Lieutenant Governor’s Advisor Baseer Khan condemned the killing and said that those behind the killing are the enemies of humanity and will be brought to book. He said that every effort will be made in bringing the culprits to justice.
The Advisor also expressed solidarity with the bereaved family members of Mr Singh and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.
Terming the killing as highly unfortunate, inhuman and barbaric, Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said such acts of violence can never achieve anything except for bringing more miseries to the people.
He said the use of guns on innocent civilians since 1990s have only brought death and destruction to J&K and have further pushed the people to a dead end. Bukhari said the recent spree of killings of Panchayat representatives in Kashmir is a dastardly act by the elements inimical to peace and prosperity of J&K.
Meanwhile, National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, Bharatiya Janata Party and Peoples Conference also condemned Singh’s killing.
Meanwhile, suspected militants fired upon security forces in south Kashmir’s main Pulwama town on Wednesday morning.
Official sources said that militants fired upon on security forces in main town Pulwama. However there was no loss of life or injury reported, local news agency GNS reported.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Sep 23: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has strongly condemned the killing of BDC Chairman from Khag Budgam,Bhupinder Singh.
Bhupinder Singh succumbed to his injuries after being shot by militants.
The Lt Governor has expressed anguish over the killing and said that the heinous act is an attempt to spread fear and vitiate the atmosphere of peace and progress. He said there can be no justification for such attacks.
The society does not have any space for perpetrators of violence and those involved in this cowardly act shall be brought to justice, he added.
In a condolence message, the Lt Governor has conveyed his deepest sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.

Leh merchants call for half day shutdown, politicians seek apology from BJP leader
Srinagar, Sep 23: Senior BJP leader and general secretary (organization), Ashok Koul has termed the demand of extension of Sixth Schedule of Constitution for Ladakh as “nonsense.”
People’s Movement for Sixth Schedule for Ladakh, an amalgam of different political parties and socio-religious organizations, had announced its decision to boycott the forthcoming polls held by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) on Tuesday. The group said that it would boycott the polls until the constitutional safeguard under Sixth Schedule on the lines of Bodo Territorial Council is extended to Ladakh. The BJP is a signatory to the poll boycott statement issued by the organisation and yet Koul has termed the demand as “nonsense.”
Addressing a press conference in Leh, former Lok Sabha MP Thupstan Chewang, who is the chairman of the People’s Movement for Sixth Schedule for Ladakh, said Koul should tender an apology to the people of Ladakh for hurting their sentiments. Chewang said the demand of the Sixth Schedule has been signed and supported by the BJP in Ladakh and Koul should have acted responsibly.

Former LAHDC chairman Rigzin Spalbar claimed that Koul had no locus standi over the issue since he is a non-local. “Everyone in Ladakh are for it. The BJP unit in Ladakh also wants it. Koul has no locus standi over the issue. We are not demanding it for Koul. We are demanding it for ourselves. People of Ladakh are united in this. It is a matter of our future and that of our children,” Spalbar said. Koul was not available for comment.
However, BJP’s Kashmir spokesman Altaf Thakur claimed that the BJP unit in Ladakh had been blackmailed to give into this demand.
The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution makes separate arrangements for tribal areas. Fearing settlements by outsiders in Ladakh after the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A on August 5 last year, people in the region are seeking tribal status to preserve the existing demography of the region. The People’s Movement for Sixth Schedule for Ladakh was formed to press for this demand.
Merchant association Leh calls for half day bandh against Koul’s statement
Meanwhile, the merchant association, Leh, as mark of protest against the statement of BJP leader Ashok Koul has decided to observe half day bandh tomorrow and strongly condemning it terming it as irresponsible.
In statement the association said: “To condemn the unacceptable/irresponsible statement given by Ashok Kaul BJP General Secretary in regards to LAHDC Leh election boycott called by Apex Body Peoples Movement for Sixth Schedule for Ladakh yesterday, Merchant Association Leh in support of Apex Body has decided to observe half day bandh on 24 Sep 2020.”
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), who earlier advised the administration to postpone the LAHDC election in view of the spike in COVID cases in Leh, has also condemned the statement of Ashok Koul.
In a statement the party president said that, “The remarks like ‘Bakwas and nonsense is highly condemnable and it is a very shameful and unacceptable opinion and people of Ladakh will never tolerate such interferences in internal affairs.”
District Congress committee (DCC), leh in a statement issued to KNO also condemned the statement of ashok Koul and said he should take back his words and seek Unconditional apology from the people of Ladakh.
The remarks of BJP, General secretary, Ashok Koul has evoked wide resentment with people including the students body showing serious resentment against it and demanding 6th Schedule for the region besides the complete poll boycott.

Srinagar, Sept 23: The J&K Government on Wednesday ordered transfer of three KAS officers besides present Administrator, Auqaf Islamia Jammu, in the interest of administration.
As per separate orders, Pankaj Gupta (KAS), Officer on Special Duty with Advisor (S) to the Lieutenant Governor, has been transferred and shall await further orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department.
Syed Shabir Ahmad (KAS), Joint Director, Employment, Kashmir, has been transferred and posted as Officer on Special Duty with Advisor (S) to the Lieutenant Governor.
Wakeel Ahmed Batt, Administrator, Auqaf Islamia, Jammu, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of the Social Welfare Department, for further posting.
Mudassir Iqbal (Jr. KAS), presently deployed in the Finance department, has been transferred and posted as Administrator, Auqaf Islamia, Jammu, on excadre basis.

Srinagar, Sept 23: Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday observed that its bona fide efforts regarding conducting the election to the 21-Member Executive Committee of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) have “failed” due to “dithering attitude” by rival groups of the traders’ body.

A bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey also directed that the September 2 order by 4th Additional District Judge Srinagar, restraining the office bearers of KCCI from taking any decision, “shall continue to hold the field and be operative.”

“Keeping in view the prestigious nature of the organization and the stature, honour and reputation of most of its members in the society, this Court thought that it would be appropriate and in the interest of the Chamber to propose a via media to the parties to the appeal for the conduct of the election and to bring this litigation to a amicable resolution,” the court said, “Accordingly, this Court passed order dated 18.09.2020 which was followed by orders dated 22.09.2020. Initially this Court got the impression that the parties have responded positively, but then whereas the respondent-plaintiffs appeared to be prepared to go by the efforts put in by the Court in this regard, the appellant-defendants seemed to demonstrate a dithering attitude.”

The court said that it would be “distasteful to narrate all that what happened and transpired during this period.”

“It would suffice to say that the efforts put in by the Court in this regard have failed. That is it,” the court said.

“Since the matter stands already heard and the judgment has been reserved, the Court would, accordingly, proceed to decide the appeal,” the court as per Global New Service.

By September 22 order, the court had proposed constitution of sub committees for the conduct of the election. The court had also proposed to nominate the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar as an overall supervising officer to oversee the performance of all these tasks by the committees with the assistance of two former Principal District Judges—Javed Ahmad Kawoos and Abdul Wahid.

“Meanwhile, till the judgment is announced, the order dated 02.09.2020 passed by the 4th Additional District Judge, Srinagar, impugned in the appeal, shall continue to hold the field and be operative,” the court added. (GNS)

Visits GMC Jammu, inspects Covid-19 wards, other facilities
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Sept 23: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar Wednesday paid an emergency visit to Govt. Medical College (GMC) here and took stock of medical facilities available there in view of ongoing pandemic COVID-19 besides inspected COVID wards and other infrastructure.
The Advisor was accompanied by Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education, Atal Dullo, Principal, GMC Jammu, Medical Superintendent, GMC Jammu and other Senior Officers of the health department.
During his visit, Advisor Bhatnagar maintained that the Jammu and Kashmir government is taking every possible measures to upgrade the health infrastructure across J&K. He added that the infrastructure in GMC Jammu is being upgraded on regular basis to cater to the patient care needs amid Coronovirus pandemic.
Advisor Bhatnagar took a detailed round of the hospital and also interacted with the faculty members and other senior officers of the Health Department
. He impressed upon them to ensure that the services being provided in the GMC are up to public expectations and the concerns raised by the general public are addressed on regular basis.
While interacting with the patients and attendants, Advisor Bhatnagar said the Grievance redressing mechanism is being set up in the hospital to attend to the complaints of the patients and attendants.
He assured them that there is no shortage of beds in GMC and its Associated Hospitals besides the shortage of oxygen has been taken care of and additional oxygen supported beds have been made operational.
Later, Advisor Bhatnagar interacted with on duty doctors in the COVID isolation areas to discuss the difficulties being faced by them during the treatment of the patients and issued on spot instructions to the Principal, GMC to ensure the sufficient medical staff is available there for managing the COVID patients in the Hospital.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Sept 23: Crime Branch Jammu on Wednesday claimed to have registered a criminal case against a person for procuring his government job in Power Development Department (PDD) allegedly by means of fake and fabricated documents.
The statement said the case was registered against Sadhu Ram, son of Late Punnu Ram of Bishnah, Jammu for procuring his government job in PDD by means of fake and fabricated documents.
“A written complaint lodged by complainant Radha Krishan, son of Gian Chand of Bishnah district Jammu duly marked by Judicial Magistrate, Ist Class Jammu was received in Crime Branch, Jammu alleged that Sadhu Ram, son of Late Punnu Ram of H. No. 28 Bishnah, district-Jammu had procured government job in PDD J&K on fake name as Kaka Ram, son of Punnu Ram. He has also changed his date of birth from 1954 to 1958. He has also managed a fake school leaving certificate from Fine Wood Academy, Bhore Camp Chatha, Satwari and fake and fabricated PRC from the Revenue department through fraudulent means,” the statement said.
Taking cognizance into the matter, a preliminary verification was conducted by Crime Branch, Jammu, it said. “Documentary evidences were collected and prima facie established that accused Sadhu Ram got the job in the Power Development Department and in the service record of the said accused, his name was entered as Kaka Ram, but the name of said accused has been shown in the records of Registration of land/Cancellation for the year 1970 as Sadhu Ram, son of Punnu Ram and there is no mention of Kaka Ram. The age of said accused as per the land record of 1970 is 18 years and as such it is clear that the accused was born before 1958, not in the year 1958 as mentioned in the School leaving certificate of the said accused. Moreover, in the voter list records of Parliament, it is registered that the accused is a Non Permanent Resident of the erstwhile State of J&K. It is established that the accused was not eligible to acquire a Permanent Resident Certificate of the State and prepared fake documents i.e. PRC and School Leaving Certificate. On the basis of these documents, the said accused had procured a Govt. job in the Power Development Department by fraudulent means,” it added.
Crime Branch further stated that a formal case has been registered in Police Station Crime Branch, Jammu against the accused person and investigation has been initiated.