New Delhi, Sept 13: The Monsoon Session of the 17th Lok Sabha is all set to begin from Monday, amid unprecedented health and safety measures, as the country grapples with the raging COVID-19 pandemic that has seen a rising graph of infections over the past week.
On the eve of the Monsoon Session, which will continue till October 1, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited the Parliament Complex on Sunday, to take stock of health security measures and other preparations.
Earlier in the day, Birla chaired the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), held in Parliament House Annexe. He told the media that it was emphasised in the meeting that, in such exceptional circumstances, there should be a more meaningful and positive discussion on legislative subjects during the Session, while taking care of health-related protocols.
He said that all parties assured maximum cooperation and all MPs are committed to fulfilling their constitutional obligations.
For the first time, the Monsoon Session will not have Question Hour and only a curtailed Zero Hour, a move resented by the Opposition parties.

The tradition of holding an all party meeting before the session was also done away with. On its part, the government has listed 23 new Bills for introduction, consideration and passing of which will aim to replace ordinances.
The Opposition parties have made their intentions clear of cornering the BJP-led NDA government on the fall in GDP, unemployment and border tension with China in Eastern Ladakh.
Reviewing closely every point from the Building Gates to the Lok Sabha Chamber, the Speaker also directed the officials to address some requirements that were felt necessary.
Thermal cameras, sanitizers, masked personnel and social distancing will be regular features during the session, which will have 18 sittings in all. The two Houses — Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha — will have turn-wise sittings of four hour each during the two halves of the day.
Birla instructed the officials to provide sanitizer to every employee posted at the gates. He also visited the Chamber, Corridor, Inner lobby, Outer lobby, Waiting Hall, Media Stand, and other places in the Complex and reviewed the arrangements.

Srinagar, Sep 13: National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah will attend the monsoon session of Parliament starting Monday, more than a year after J&K’s special status was abrogated.
“Yes, I am going to attend Parliament. Though they have kept no provisions to ask questions but we will have to sit four hours daily,” Farooq told a national daily. “Nevertheless, I will raise our issues there,” he added.

During the debate on revocation of Article 370 last year, several opposition leaders had demanded that Farooq Abdullah be allowed to attend Parliament.
The monsoon session will be held between September 14 and October 1 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The last parliamentary session was cut short on March 25 following the viral outbreak. The government has decided to do away with the Question Hour and instead only written replies will be given.

New Delhi, Sep 13: Braving the Novel Coronavirus threat, more than 15.97 lakh candidates appeared on Sunday for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), conducted on 3,843 exam centres across the country.
Despite opposition from a section of students, the twice-deferred medical college entrance exam was held under the shadow of COVID-19, from 1400 hrs to 1700 hrs today.
‘NTA informed me that around 85-90% students appeared in #NEET exam today. I sincerely thank all Chief Ministers and @DG_NTA for proper arrangements made to facilitate student participation. #NEET participation reflects the tenacity and grit of young #AtmaNirbharBharat,’ Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.
On Saturday, Dr Pokhriyal had wished students luck and asked them to follow the safety norms during exams.
Candidates appearing for the exam had to observe social distancing norms, wear a mask and gloves, while writing the test.
On Friday, the Health ministry issued safety guidelines, asking the NTA to arrange a special isolation room for candidates found symptomatic/affected with COVID-19.
A section of students had opposed holding the exam during the pandemic, while Chief Ministers of Opposition-led state governments had approached the Supreme Court, seeking deferment of the exam.

Formerly, the All India Pre-Medical Test, NEET (Undergraduate) is an entrance examination in India for students, who wish to study undergraduate medical courses and dental courses in government or private medical and dental colleges in India.

Jammu, Sep 13: Principal and Dean of Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu, Dr Nasib Chand Digra on Sunday offered voluntarily retirement and dashed a letter to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Kumar Sinha.
Speaking to media here at a press conference, Dr Digra said that he is possessing super-specialty degree from prestigious PGIMER Chandigarth in the surgical discipline and have 30 years blemish free career as renowned Surgeon and Head of Surgery Department twice in the recent past.
“I was appointed as Principal GMC Jammu on May 1, 2020,” said the Principal adding that unfortunately during very first month of taking over as Principal GMC Jammu, facing extra burden of tackling COVID-19 pandemic, he was also assigned the duties of HOD/Surgery citing MCI Rules that in actuality do not allow Principal of any Medical College to act as Head of the Department,” he said.
“The HOD ship was thrusted upon me that have caused lot of extra burden on me. However, my request of giving charge of HOD to some other senior faculty member of the department did not accede to,” he said adding that in last four months, he had been put under huge undue pressure to take some pending decisions of his predecessor which can have long term repercussions on the Chair and the institution.
“Such interferences into the internal working of the GMC Principal office shall create huge space for anarchy, indiscipline and further demeaning of the office,” he rued and said that the work culture in GMC and inter personal relations are already on deterioration modes that needs to be taken care of and such orders shall act as stumbling blocks in stopping deterioration in GMCs.
“If my services are not
being liked by anybody, I offer to get Voluntary Retirement from the Service,” Dr Digra addressed to the Lieutenant Governor.

Jammu, Sep 13: Joint teams of Army, J&K Police and para-military forces, in the month of August, have killed 18 militants of different outfits in separate operations across Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.
‘Major Combat and Search Operations (CASO) have been launched as part of ‘Operation All Out,’ especially post Abrogation of Article 370 and undoubtedly, we achieved major success,’ Defence sources told UNI.

They said that alone in the month of August, 18 militants were killed and 108 Over Ground Workers were taken into custody.
Sources further said that one militant also surrendered in the month of August, while between August 13 to 20, two major hideouts were also busted.
Giving more details, they said that Pakistan also violated the ceasefire for 430 times, adding that so far till August 31, 2020, 165 militants have been killed, as compared to 152 in 2019.
Meanwhile, the militants apprehended in 2020 in August was 27 but in 2019, the figure was 43, so far, one militant have surrendered and last year, three laid down the arms, the local recruited militants killed and apprehended was 93 and in 2019, the figure was 120, source added.

Infiltration bids foiled in August was ten and in, 2020, it was eight times, sources said and added, “number of militants waiting at the launch pads to infiltrate in South and North of Pir Panjal, are between 300 to 350 and this number keeps on fluctuating.”
Army sources also said that Pakistan is desperately trying to smuggle weapons and stores, as most of the ‘Tanzeems’ (outfits) have run out of weapons.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sep 13: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has extended his heartiest congratulations to Aryan Gupta and Naveed-Ul-Amin from Jammu and Kashmir for cracking the prestigious JEE Mains exam with flying colors.
Aryan Gupta of Jammu has scored an outstanding merit of 99.77 percentile to emerge as a topper in entire Jammu and Kashmir while Naveed-ul-Amin from Kashmir has also scored an imposing 99.23 percentile.

In his message, the Lt Governor observed that the youth of J&K inherently are very capable & ambitious and the UT government is committed to providing them with the best enabling environment to facilitate and nurture their capabilities.
The Lt Governor underlined that their success is not only a matter of pride for the entire J&K but it will also inspire many more youngsters to prepare, compete, and excel at National and International levels. He wished all the qualified candidates success in their future endeavors.

Asks former legislators to vacate accommodation in a week
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sep 13: The Estates Department has served fresh eviction notices to former legislators asking them to Vacate government accommodation in a week.
A former legislator termed the fresh move by the Estates Department as “political vendetta and as part of larger conspiracy by the ruling party to silence the opposition.”
“How can pluralistic voices flourish when ruling party is muzzling the opposite voices. This doesn’t speak of healthy trend in a democracy,” the former legislator told KNS.
Another former minister, who is under house arrest, said, “”Government has kept us under house arrest in same accommodations for which we have received eviction notices. If they had such plans, why they shifted us from jail to house arrest?”
Another former legislator said, “ After downgrading our security now they are pushing us out of our accommodations. It seems to be a plan to erase the existing leaders from the mainstream camp so that BJP leaders can have a field day in J&K.”
“All former legislators have been asked to vacate official residences immediately. We have received orders from higher authorities to vacate all these leaders from official residences. All those who are not in government have to vacate the official residences,” an official said.
Former Minister Naeem Akhtar has vacated the government accommodation after a notice was served to him.
Meanwhile, former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah has stated that he would be vacating his official residence soon.

Jammu, Sep 13: A CRPF man on Sunday morning shot himself and his wife to death with service rifle and injured sister-in-law in a fit of anger after altercation with the family in Gharota area here on the city outskirts.
Police here said that CRPF official posted in Jammu region killed his wife, himself and left his sister-in-law seriously injured after he entered into a verbal dual with family members early this morning.
They said that CRPF official identified as CT/GD Madan Singh Chib, who was attached with Sector Headquarters, entered into an argument with his wife and sister-in-law over some issue after which he fired at his wife and sister-in law and later shot himself dead.
“His wife died on the spot while his sister-in-law sustained injuries and was hospitalised,” police said.
They said that 8-year-old daughter of the CRPF man, present on the spot, had a narrow escape and she is safe.
Meanwhile, a CRPF official said that an inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the reason which prompted him to open fire.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sept 13: The Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, K K Sharma Sunday reviewed preparations being done for organizing conferences for implementation of National Education Policy (NEP)- 2020 which would be held on 20th and 21st September at Srinagar and Jammu respectively through Video Conferencing in which the President of India would be addressing Virtually.
The meeting was held in relation to the initiative taken by the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir for organizing two conferences at the capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu of Academicians and others involved in education to discuss the road map for implementation of NEP -2020.
The conferences would involve Vice Chancellors of Universities and College Principals to seek their views on better implementation of the NEP 2020 and also serve for exchanging ideas related to Education.