New Delhi, June 22: Amid a row over the statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an all-party meeting on the India China border standoff, senior Congress leader and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that the PM should be mindful of the implications of his words and declarations on our Nation’s security as also strategic and territorial interests.

In a statement issued here, Dr Manmohan Singh, noting that China is brazenly and illegally seeking to claim parts of Indian territory such as the Galwan Valley and the Pangong Tso Lake by committing multiple incursions between April 2020 till date, said the Prime Minister cannot allow China to use his words as a vindication of their position.

‘At this moment, we stand at historic crossroads. Our Government’s decisions and actions will have serious bearings on how the future generations perceive us. Those who lead us bear the weight of a solemn duty. And in our democracy that responsibility rests with the office of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister must always be mindful of the implications of his words and declarations on our Nation’s security as also strategic and territorial interests,’ Dr Singh said.

Noting that China is brazenly and illegally seeking to claim parts of Indian territory such as the Galwan Valley and the Pangong Tso Lake by committing multiple incursions between April 2020 till date, Dr Singh said the Prime Minister cannot allow China to use his words as a vindication of their position.

‘China is brazenly and illegally seeking to claim parts of Indian territory such as the Galwan Valley and the Pangong Tso Lake by committing multiple incursions between April 2020 till date. We cannot and will not be cowed down by threats and intimidation nor permit a compromise with our territorial integrity. The Prime Minister cannot allow them to use his words as a vindication of their position and must ensure that all organs of the Government work together to tackle this crisis and prevent it from escalating further,’ Dr Singh said.

Stressing the need for unity as a nation Singh said, “We remind the Government that disinformation is no substitute for diplomacy or decisive leadership. The truth cannot be suppressed by having pliant allies spout comforting but false statements.

‘This is a moment where we must stand together as a nation and be united in our response to this brazen threat.’

Dr Singh said that the PM should ensure justice for soldiers who died in Ladakh.

‘We call upon the Prime Minister and the Government to rise to the occasion, to ensure justice for Col B Santosh Babu and our jawans who have made the ultimate sacrifice and resolutely defended our territorial integrity.

To do any less would be a historic betrayal of the people’s faith,’ he said.

Paying tributes to the 20 Indian soldiers killed in the border clash with China in the Galwan Valley, Dr Manmohan Singh said, ‘We, the Nation, lost twenty brave soldiers in the Galwan Valley, Ladakh on June 15th-16th, 2020. They laid down their lives in the ultimate act of sacrifice, valour and duty to our country. Our brave hearts defended the motherland till their last breath and for that we owe them, and their families, our eternal gratitude. However, their sacrifice cannot be allowed to be in vain.’

The statement by Dr Manmohan Singh comes amid a controversy over the statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an all-party meeting on India China border standoff.

New Delhi, Jun 22: Continuing his tirade again Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the India China border stand-off, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday wondered why was the Chinese media praising Mr Modi’s comments at the All Party meeting.

In a post on social media, Rahul, quoting a report published in a Chinese daily about China’s perception of PM Modi’s speech after an all-party meeting on India China border stand-off, said,’China killed our soldiers. China took our land. Then, why is China praising PM Modi during this conflict?’

A report in Chinese government-mouthpiece Global Times had praised the remarks made by the Prime Minister at the All Party meeting, called in to discuss the situation at Galwan Valley, with respect to China.

During the meeting, PM Modi had referred to the Galwan Valley violent-face-off and said, “Na wahaan koi hamaari seema mein ghus gaya hai aur na hi koi ghusa hua hai, na hi hamaari koi post kisi doosre ke kabze mein hai (Neither has anyone from there entered our side of the border, nor is any of our post in control by anyone).”
In its report, Global Times said that the statement validated China’s position that Indian troops were responsible for the violent face-off and that Galwan Valley was Chinese territory.
The news organisation welcomed PM Modi’s statement and quoted Chinese experts as saying that this will help in restoring bilateral ties.

New Delhi, June 22: If a war does break out between India and China, an ‘exited’ Pakistan could jump into the fray as well with the ‘tacit’ support of Nepal-hence, India should develop a multi-pronged strategy to counter the ‘ caucus.’

This was observed here on Monday by experts, belonging to Defence and other major fields, amid reports of External Affairs Minister level meeting between India and China on Tuesday to discuss the Ladakh situation.

” Pakistani guns and mortar opened up on Kupwara soon after the Galwan valley killings and most Indian strategists and politicians tend to see the military threat from Pakistan in isolation,” the experts said.

They said there is a power differential between India and the China-Pakistan axis, and to address this, India cannot afford to be isolated and should get into closer security alignments with the US and other major Western powers , including Russia.

Mentioning about Nepal’s ‘encouragement’ to any such ‘misadventure,” they pointed out that residents of Uttarakhand villages bordering Nepal that can catch the frequency of radio stations in the neighbouring country are being treated to a sudden surfeit of anti-India songs that call for return of areas in “Uttarakhand that have been included in Kathmandu’s new map.

New Delhi , June 22: Corps Commanders of the Indian and Chinese armies met Monday for the first time after the Galwan Valley incident in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed in violent clashes with Chinese troops.

XIV Corps Commander Lt General Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military District Commander Major General Liu Lin met at Moldo on the Chinese side of the border with Chushul.

The two commanders had first met on June 6 to discuss a roadmap for de-escalation on the Line of Actual Control, but the circumstances have changed since the showdown in Galwan Valley.

China had been demanding a second round of meeting between the Corps Commanders for some time now, but India was waiting for action on agreements reached at the June 6 meeting. India wanted disengagement at Patrol Points 14, 15 and 17A in Galwan Valley and Hot Springs before a second meeting. There is no word yet on what transpired at the meeting on Monday, but Army sources said the Indian side would continue to insist that troops return to April locations — before the start of the faceoff at multiple points along the LAC. Division Commanders have met at least eight times since the standoff began in early May.
As the Corps Commanders discussed the situation on the ground, the Army held a detailed operational briefing in Delhi. Army chief General MM Naravane attended the detailed review of the situation on the ground with Army commanders on Monday morning, as part of the second leg of the Army Commanders’ Conference.

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, June 22: Kashmir on Monday reported two more deaths due to COVID-19, taking the fatality count due to the virus in J&K to 85.

One among them, a 58-year-old resident of Kokernag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, died at CD hospital here

“He was shifted from GMC Anantnag on June 19. Having thyroid problem coupled with bilateral pneumonia, the patient was on ventilator and died at around 4 p.m.,” Dr salim Tak, Medical Superintendent CD hospital, one of the exclusive facilities for the management of the covid-19 patients in Valley, told GNS.

Earlier, a 65-year-old man from Kakpora Pulwama with underlying health conditions died at SMHS hospital here.

Dr Nazir Choudhary, Medical Superintendent the hospital said that the patient had “bilateral pneumonia”. “He was admitted on June 21 and died on the same day. His sample returned positive,” he added.

So far, 85 people have succumbed to the virus in J&K—ten from Jammu and 75 from the Valley.

Srinagar district with 19 deaths has the highest fatalities followed by Baramulla 13, ten each in Shopian  and Kulgam (10), Jammu (7), six each in Budgam and Anantnag, Kupwara (5), Pulwama (four) while one death each has been reported from Bandipora, Doda, Udhampur and Rajouri. (GNS)

Soldiers, paramilitary men, cops, doctor among new cases
Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, June 22: Twenty-five travelers were among 132 fresh COVID-19 cases reported in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, taking the number of cases to 6088.

The fresh cases also include at least three army soldiers and as many three RCC (GREF) men besides a doctor and a Health worker.

149 more patients—49 from Jammu division and 104 from Kashmir were discharged, taking the number of recovered ones to 3531. Till date, 2472 patients are active positive while 85 have died.

Giving district wise break up, official sources said Srinagar and Shopian reported 22 cases each, Budgam (20), Baramulla (18), Kupwara (13), Kulgam (12), Pulwama (10), Poonch (5), Bandipora (3), two each in Kathua  and Anantnag while one each has been reported from Jammu, Rajouri and Doda.

Sources said that among the cases, 69 were confirmed at SKIMS Soura, 69 at CD and 32 at SKIMS Bemina.

Dr. G H Yatoo, Nodal Officer Coronavirus Control Measures at SKIMS told GNS that out of 2434 samples processed at the viral diagnostic lab today, 69 returned positive for the virus.

Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS Soura, told GNS that 20 are from Shopian, 12 from Kulgam, ten from Srinagar nine from Pulwama, eight from Budgam, three each from Kupwara and Bandipora, two each from Baramulla and Anantnag besides one from Kulgam.

The Shopian cases include six females (42, 32, 04, 23, 33, 08) and five males (10, 38, 27, 44, 42) from Kiloora , male (35) and female (33) from Checki Sangren, two males (42, 31) from DPL Shopian, male (38, 24) from Kadgam, male (18) from Reshipora  and two males (57, 41) from Zainapora.

The Budgam cases include male (48) from Shankerpora , six males (41, 60, 28, 54, 48, 40) from Chararipora and male (45) from Humhama while cases from Bandipora include male (29) from 45 Bn Sambal, male (27) from Sultanpora and female (55) from Papachan.

The cases from Pulwama include female (32) from Drusoo , male (30) from Trich, male (70) from Ugergund , two males (24, 21) from Bellow , two males (31, 33) from DPO Pulwama, male (46) from Khankah Bagh Pampore and male (60) from Dadsara.

The 10 cases from Srinagar include female (28) from Habak, two males (48, 54) from Eidgah, male (20) from Khanyar , male (NA) from Jawahar Nagar , male (38) from Soura , female (25) from Sonwar , male (26) from Hazratbal male (40) from Kralpora  and female (26) from Pirbagh.

The 12 cases Kulgam include male (30) from Qasba  Khull , male (68) from NS Pora, female (38) from Sransoo , male (44) from 9 RR Kulgam, female (32) from Kanchara , female (50) from Yaripora, male (32) from Munad Guffan, female (33) from Adpora , two males (42, 70) from Watigam , two female (70, 12) from Dianipora Kulgam while cases from Anantnag include female (67) from Nai Basti and male (21) from Anchdura.

The cases from Baramulla include male (20) from Singpora and male (19) from Pattan while Kupwara cases include Kupwara (20) from Handwara, Kupwara (32) from Main Market Kupwara and female (40) from Zakir Textile Kupwara.

Dr Riyaz Untoo, Principal SKIMS Bemina, told GNS that out of 463 samples processed at the hospital’s lab, 22 tested positive for COVID-19, 17 from Srinagar and five from Budgam.

The Budgam cases include two females (70, 28) and two males (46, 50) from Chadoora and 10-year-old boy from Warhama Beerwah.

The Srinagar cases include male (33) Kalashpora Naidkadal,  male (30) from Chaira, four males (24, 28, 26, 25) from Beerwah, male (45) from Kunzar, male (28) from Narbal, three females (45, 29, 26) and as many males (50, 26, 20) from Lalbazar, male (25) from Khayam, female (32) from Narkara and female (27) from Babapora Zoonimar.

The cases confirmed at CD lab include male (62) from Wadipora Zachaldara, two males (38, 15) and two females (39, 65), male (NA) Health Worker from Nageen Sopore, female (42) from Achbal Baramulla, male (31) from Watlab, male (48) Area Marketing Officer Fruit Mandi from Arampora Sopore, female (29, ANC) from Tujar Sharief, male (25) Horticulture Fruit Mandi Sopore from Tarzoo Sopore, three males (38, 25, 18) and two female (35, 21), male (17) Service Provider from Khojabagh , male (33) Health worker from Baramulla , male (65) from Rohama Baramulla, male (65) from Shopian, male (55) from Natipora Srinagar, male (70) from Shopian, male (65) from Qazigund, male (23) from Gagal Lolab, male (50) from Hayan Kupwara, two males (56, 23) from 109 RCC (GREF), male (34) from 115TA C/O 190 RCC GREF, male (35) from Ijara Boniyar, male (42) from Kanlibagh  and two Male (25, 22) from BB CANT Srinagar.  (GNS)

Ladakh, June 22:  Ten more persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Ladakh on Monday, taking the total number of cases in the Union Territory to 847, health department officials said.

While one person had died of COVID-19, 136 others have been cured and subsequently discharged from various hospitals in the region, a wire agency reported.

Out of the 10 fresh positive cases — eight were from Leh and two from Kargil, taking the number of active positive cases in the twin districts to 710, the officials said, adding that Kargil has the highest number of positive cases at 557 while Leh district has 153 cases.

New Delhi, June 22: India’s Covid-19 tally stood at 4,25,282 on Monday after 14,821 fresh infections and 445 deaths, the highest so far, were reported in the last 24 hours, the Union health ministry data said.

With this India’s death toll has mounted to 13,699, it updated.

In some relief, the country’s recovery rate, the ratio of the number of patients recovered to the number of patients infected, also went up to 55.77 per cent as 237,195 patients were discharged from the hospitals till Monday.

There are 174,384 active Covid-19 cases and 237,195 people have been cured of the disease.

M S Nazki

Jammu, Jun 22: A 37-year-old army soldier was killed along Line of Control in Naushera sector of Rajouri in Jammu division on Monday.

“Pakistan troops initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars along LoC in Krishna Ghati and Naushera sectors of Poonch and forward sectors in Rajouri” official sources said, adding, “the firing was retaliated befittingly.”

In the meanwhile, they said, the gunfire exchange at Kalal area of Naushera sector resulted in injuries to one Havildar of 3/5 GR attached with 24 MLI.

The injured soldier, Deepak Karki (37), they said, was evacuated to a medical facility. However he succumbed to the injuries on the way.  (GNS)

Calls for hassle free issuance, count of G2C e-service reaches 27

Precious Kashmir News

JAMMU, JUNE 22: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu today launched e-Application-cum-issuance of Domicile Certificate, developed by Jammu and Kashmir e-Governance Agency (JaKeGA), here at the Raj Bhavan.

With the launch of this service, the count of the Government to Citizen (G2C) online services reached 27. It is an addition to the UT Government’s e-governance initiatives to speed up public delivery mechanism through minimal human intervention, besides ensuring efficiency, transparency and reliability of such services.

BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Bipul Pathak, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor & Administrative Secretary of Information Technology department; G N Ittoo, Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla and other senior officers were present, in person and through video conferencing.

Aaliya Tariq D/o Tariq Ahmad Langoo from Sopore, Baramulla became the first recipient of domicile certificate through e-mode today. The PRC holders and other applicants can apply for issuance of domicile certificate online by providing Aadhaar number and receive the certificate through online mode. PRC holders will be able to receive their Domicile Certificate through this application without visiting any office.

The Lt Governor observed that the UT Government has taken this people friendly initiative to provide Domicile Certificate through online mode across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Domicile certificates must be issued within stipulated time frame and any laxity or malpractice on the part of the issuing authority shall invite strict administrative action, he added.

He directed for upgradation of IT network connectivity in all Districts, particularly border and hilly Districts, for the hassle free issuance of Domicile Certificate in the UT.

He advised for updation and customization of the application in future with services like SMS alert and further directed for utilizing services of Community Information Centres (CICs) and Common Service Centres (CSCs) across the UT to assist the applicants as a nodal point for filling up the e-application form and provide them with necessary technical support.

The Lt Governor also called for opening of more Aadhaar Registration Counters in the underserviced areas and rural pockets to ensure hassle free Aadhaar generation and updation in these areas so that people without Aadhaar number get Aadhaar as well domicile certificate quickly.

Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor, Bipul Pathak, briefed the Lt Governor about the salient features of the application and informed that the necessary training has been imparted to the officers concerned with the process of issuance of Domicile Certificate.