New Delhi, June 18: India added highest 12,881 fresh COVID-19 cases on Thursday, taking the tally to 3.66 lakh, while the death toll reached 12,881 as 334 more patients succumbed to the contagious disease.

Of the fresh cases, maximum 3,307 were registered in Maharashtra, followed by 2,414 in Delhi, 2,174 in Tamil Nadu, 550 in Haryana, 516 in Gujarat and 507 in Uttar Pradesh.

In fatalities, highest 114 people died again in Maharashtra, followed by 67 in Delhi, 51 in Tamil Nadu, 27 in Gujarat and 18 each in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

India’s recovery rate stood at 52.95 per cent, however, death rate increased to 3.51 pc.

The rising number of cases is more attributed to enhanced testing with 1,65,412 samples tested on Thursday, as per Union Health Ministry.

The Health Ministry has given permission to CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute(CDRI) Lucknow to conduct phase III control trials antiviral drug Umifenovir. As per the ministry, the drug acts in preventing entry of virus into human cells and also by priming the immune system.

J&K preparing a long term ‘Steady State Strategy’ to tackle COVID 19

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, June 18: Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam while taking stock of efforts in a marathon meeting toward mitigating COVID-19 threat, has directed Deputy Commissioners to continue strict perimeter control and complete lockdown in red zones and containment zones to control spread of corona virus from these areas. He maintained that stringent surveillance is to be undertaken to ensure wearing of masks by all at public places.

The Chief Secretary complimented Deputy Commissioners and their teams under the guidance of Administrative Secretaries to have put in exemplary work in identification of cases, containment strategies and IT enabled transit management system which is being applauded at various national forums. “These strategies have been successful in keeping J&K safe in comparison to neighbouring states”, he added.

The Chief Secretary impressed upon Deputy Commissioners to step up monitoring and reporting of cases in the light of NHM data and take adequate precautionary measures to contain the spread at sensitive areas, besides, gearing up medical facilities for expected surge in COVID patients.

The Chief Secretary congratulated the district administrations in conducting one of highest number of tests for early detection of COVID and ensuring second lowest fatality rate in the country. He further impressed upon Divisional Commissioners to ensure full utilisation of existing 8000 per day testing capacity through daily monitoring.

Informing the approval of ‘Rapid Antigen Detection Test’ by Indian Council of Medical Research, which is a low cost, low intensity but high sensitivity test; Chief Secretary asked DCs to augment the existing quota and rigorously test vulnerable people especially in red/ containment zones.

The Chief Secretary maintained that to ensure universal testing, the new test kits along with additional Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs)  will also be provided to private clinics and surgery hospitals, adding that it will check corona infections in patients undergoing treatment at these facilities.

Calling for smart and targeted testing, Chief Secretary directed utilization of data from Swasthya Nidhi survey and Arogya Setu app to identify clusters reporting symptoms similar to COVID followed by intensive testing. Srinagar and Anantnag districts were asked to expedite and complete Swasthya Nidhi surveys.

With regard to capacity enhancement of hospitals for accommodating higher numbers of symptomatic patients, it was directed that positive but asymptomatic patients be immediately shifted to COVID care centres. To further reduce fatality rate, instructions were issued to immediately hospitalise the critical and vulnerable patients including children, old aged, pregnant ladies, patients with Influenza like Illness (ILI), Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) and co-morbid conditions.

The Chief Secretary asked DCs to work out ‘Health Card’ plan wherein regular testing can be ensured in order to effectively monitor corona infection among service providers- hoteliers, shop keepers, mandi associations, grocery shops etc. “This will result in early detection of infection and will check spread of disease from their operations”, he added.

He directed DCs of Kathua, Jammu, Udhampur and Ramban under the supervision of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu to submit a proposal of installing testing booths especially for truck drivers where they can be tested and given ‘corona negative’ certificate with 10/15 days’ validity as  ‘Health License’. He maintained that health license can be an effective tool to track the movement of truck drivers in cases where they turn corona positive days after exposure, besides assisting in contact tracing.

Addressing the concern of work related fatigue in staff engaged in essential services, Chief Secretary asked DCs to rebalance and rotate the teams on shift basis. He further suggested training of additional employees and volunteers to augment existing availability.

Health Department was asked to promote good habits in people by undertaking Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities regarding ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ in the times of COVID-19. Urban Development and Rural Development departments were asked to undertake mass sensitization programmes by engaging ward level and panchayat level committees in surveillance, mask regulation and awareness generation activities. It was impressed upon the departments to issue joint guidelines on COVID mitigation plans and activities.

Disaster Management Department was directed to simultaneously book the expenditure being incurred on COVID mitigation efforts to prevent over-evaluation of funds.

Administrative Secretaries of departments of Health & Medical Education, Housing & Urban Development, Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj and Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) participated in the meeting.

Divisional Commissioners of Jammu, Kashmir and all Deputy Commissioners attended the meeting through video conference.

‘At Pampore, militants have taken refuge inside a mosque; voice calling, mobile internet services snapped in Pulwama, Shopian’

Jehangeer Ganai

Srinagar, June 18: Two unidentified militants were killed in separate encounters in South Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian districts in 24-hours. Both operations are underway, security officials said Thursday.

Officials told KNO that encounter broke out between security forces and militants at Meej area of Pampore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district early morning after joint teams of forces cordoned of the area on the basis of a tip-off about presence of militants.

“One of the militants was killed in an initial exchange of fire when he tried to take shelter in a chow shed. Two others, managed to flee from the spot who later took refuge in a mosque at Meej village of Pampore,” an official said.

They said that in Meej village repeated announcements are made on loudspeakers by the police and army asking militants to come out,” an official said, adding that security forces have not “opened any fire at the mosque keeping in view the sanctity of the religious place.”

As the security forces were busy in an encounter at Meej area, another gun-battle broke out at Bandpawa area of Chitragam in Shopian, police officials said.

This is second encounter in less than 24 hours in south Kashmir districts. A police official said that acting on a specific lead about the presence of militants, joint teams of Police, Army and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in the afternoon at village Bandpawa in Chitragam Tehsil of Shopian district.

“As the joint teams of forces zeroed in on the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them which was retaliated, triggering an encounter,” the official said.

A senior police officer also said there was an exchange of fire between forces and militants in the area. “In the ensuing encounter, one unidentified militant has been killed and the operation is underway,” a police official said.

In both the southern districts—Pulwama and Shopian, mobile phone internet services have been snapped as a precautionary measure. Locals of these districts said that voice calling on all platforms except BSNL have also been snapped by the authorities.

 
Administrative secretary School Education department writes to Directors

Tasaduq Hussain

Srinagar, June 18: The administration in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir have asked authorities of School Education department to submit details about student enrolment and teacher postings in each government school in Srinagar / Jammu cities and adjoinings .

In a move aimed at implementing Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu’s directive, Principal Secretary, School Education department  Asgar Samoon has written to Director School Education Kashmir and  Jammu to submit list of government schools in Srinagar and Jammu cities

He has also asked them to submit details about number of students enrolled in each school and number of teachers posted in each of them with stay period/ tenure.

The exercise is being carried out to implement LG G.C. Murmu’s directive on rationalisation of teachers in government schools of J&K.

According to KNO in a meeting chaired by him on May 5 here, Murmu had directed authorities to “rationalise teachers in government schools and ensure availability of adequate number of teachers in all schools before the opening of schools to improve the quality of education especially of elementary level.”

The process of rationalisation of teacher-student ratio in government schools was initiated by former Education Minister Naeem Akther in 2015.

He had justified the policy on the grounds that “the students of the government schools are finding it difficult to compete with their counterparts in the private educational institutions only because of failure of the respective Governments to properly utilize the available resources”.

He had claimed that 5000 schools across Jammu & Kashmir have less than 20 enrolments.

Nasir Azam

Srinagar, June 18: The administration of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir on Thursday revoked Public Safety Act(PSA) detention orders of PDP ideologue Naeem Akther and National Conference Member Parliament Muhammad Akbar Lone’s son.

In two separate orders, J&K Home department today revoked detention orders of Akther and Hilal Akbar Lone who were detained in August last year after Centre abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated J&K into Union Territories. Akther and Lone were last political detainees lodged respectively at M-4 government accommodation on posh Gupkar road and MLA Hostel Srinagar, which were declared as subsidiary jails by the government.

After serving six months’ preventive detention under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), both were booked under PSA in February this year

It is worthwhile to mention that news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) had exclusively reported earlier this month that government would revoke PSA detention orders of six politicians including Akther and Lone.

They were released two days after J&K High Court quashed PSA of NC general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar.In its observations, the High Court said that ‘activities’ cited as grounds for Ali Mohammad Sagar’s detention were normal for a politician in a democracy

After August 5, 2019, the government detained more than 40 politicians including three former Chief Ministers- Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah- and top politicians like Sajad Gani Lone.

With today’s development, former CM Mehbooba Mufti is the lone politician who remains detained under PSA at her Fairview residence, which has also been declared as subsidiary jail. Besides, nearly 15-20 mainstream politicians including PC Chief Sajad Gani Lone remains under house detention.

‘Public money looted during past 2-years’

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, June 18: BJP Kashmir Unit on Thursday urged Lieutenant Governor Administration and Director Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu and Kashmir to investigate all major contracts in Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) from the past two years as public money was allegedly looted on the name of development.
Party’s Kashmir Media In-charge and senior leader, Manzoor Bhat in a statement alleged that several scams have been surfaced in SMC, which need to investigate as public money have been openly misused for fake development slogans.

He said even the majority of the  SMC Corporation alleged that sanitize material including chemicals and other-equipment were used as sub-standard during the Covid19 pandemic in the city.
“Lakhs of rupees were wasted on public toilets and individual latrines and blue-eyed people were provided these facilities as compared deserving categories,” Bhat alleged.
As per Bhat majority of the contracts in SMC were being provided to blue-eyed persons that needs to investigate and independent investigation.

He said that party has a clear stand against corruption and these things would not be tolerated anymore in the SMC. “Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, SSP Srinagar should also intervene in the matter, so that such elements would be exposed,” he said.
As per the Bhat in building permissions also basic principles were violated and which need to be investigated under the frame of municipality law.
“Hundreds of the buildings including hotels, restaurants and other structures have been constructed haphazardly in Srinagar and in which crores of rupees were grabbed,” he said.
“Permissions granted by SMC from the past two years need to reverified and investigated as public money was looted on the name of development,” Bhat said.
Bhat also hoped that the administration would look into the issues, so that people would get a sigh of relief from corruption in the city.

‘Don’t befool youth; revoke SRO 202 completely’

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, June 18: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday took a strong exception to a self-destructive stand taken by the JK Bank before the J&K High Court and asked it to declare long awaited results of a recently cancelled selection process, if it claims to be an autonomous financial institution with no interference from the government.

In a statement Bukhari said the argument of JK Bank’s counsel in a petition filed by the job aspirants seeking results, suggests that the JK Bank is not a State, nor an authority, or instrumentality of the State within the meaning of Article 12 of the constitution.

“If the JK Bank is really an autonomous financial institution as argued by its counsel, how come, it accepted the State Administrative Council (SAC) decision that left the hopes of lakhs of aspirants in tatters and demoralized those promising candidates who put their blood and sweat in the exams for consecutive two years?” Bukhari asked.

He said that lakhs of job aspiring youth from across Jammu and Kashmir had applied for different posts advertised by the JK Bank in 2018. “Even after conducting the examination in a very transparent and fair manner under Inter-Banking Personnel System (IBPS) for which the bank was lauded by the then Governor S.P Malik, why did the Bank management accepted scrapping of its selection process ordered by new dispensation using a pretext of legal infirmities?” Bukhari questioned.

He remarked that the ruthless decision of cancellation of selection process taken by the SAC without proper application of mind not only jeopardized the interests and functioning of the JK Bank but also dashed hopes of lakhs of qualified, jobless youth of J&K in a single go.

“Since the JK Bank has now claimed to be an autonomous body, who among the government and Bank management is responsible for sullying the careers of lakhs of youth of J&K? Who is going to compensate the job aspiring youth who appeared in the cancelled examination process for their over two years’ time?  If there were any irregularities in the recruitment process, why didn’t the then government ask IBPS to upload results on their own website rather than handing the same to JK Bank immediately after the selection process concluded?” the JKAP president stressed.

Bukhari also asked that if there were any legal infirmities present in the advertisement, why didn’t the then government wind up the process during tier-1 itself and saved the time and energy of lakhs of youth who along with their families are still hopefully waiting for the results.  “Everything comes with remedial measures. The present government should not make SAC decision a point of prestige and rectify its wrongs by declaring the results for the lakhs of aspirants who have pinned their expectations with the JK Bank selection list,” Bukhari demanded.

Meanwhile, the JKAP president demanded complete revocation of SRO 202 saying that the present government in J&K has continued with draconian provisions of this SRO which are detrimental to the interest of employees. “Although the government has amended the clause of SRO 202 thereby reducing the probation period from five to two years, the other controversial clauses in SRO continue to hang like Sword of Damocles over the employees in J&K,” he observed.

He said that the government should completely withdraw the SRO 202 as its other clauses refrain the government from providing the increments to the new employees for first two years of probation besides they will not be entitled for any allowances till their probation period is over.

“Similarly, the old appointees beside the recruits under new recruitment policy would be governed by the hostile clauses of SRO 202 making all such employees non-transferable at least for five years. If this SRO 202 continues, these employees would not be promoted in the first five years of their services as well. This is unprecedented and no such rules exist anywhere in the country except for J&K. This dichotomy needs to be removed forthwith,” Bukhari demanded.

The JKAP president said that by reducing the period of probation from five to two years only, the government has retained and continued with the harsh clauses of SRO 202 in the new recruitment policy.  “The youth of J&K not only feel ditched by the present dispensation but seem to be genuine in nurturing apprehensions about double standards and contradictions in government of India’s approach towards people of J&K,” Bukhari said, while appealing the union home minister to intervene and alleviate these misgivings. (CNS)

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, June 18: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) senior leader and former minister Ghulam Hassan Mir on Thursday termed the government decision of creating two functioning secretariats instead of full Darbar Move from Jammu to Srinagar a deliberate attempt to create administrative anarchy in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement Mir said the decision reflects that the government is more inclined to keep a section of officers and employees in good humour rather than working for the welfare and interests of the people of both the regions of J&K.

“Retaining half of the administrative departments in Jammu civil secretariat and shifting few departments to Srinagar capital that too after a huge delay, is a cruel joke with the people of J&K. This decision is not only bound to create chaos and confusion among the people but will also lead to anarchy within the administration,” Mir observed, while demanding immediate withdrawal of this order.

The JKAP leader in his statement, remarked that it seems the present dispensation in J&K is hell-bent to create a deep wedge between the people of two regions by playing a measured mischief with the apparatus of the governance in J&K.

“While the temporary deferment of the scheduled Darbar Move from Jammu to Srinagar was understandable because of the COVID crisis, but bifurcation of the administrative departments this year reflects some nefarious designs being implemented which will prove detrimental not only to the interests of people of J&K but to the whole of the country,” Mir cautioned.

The JKAP leader said the Lieutenant Governor G.C Murmu should come clear on the rationale behind this decision. Mir observed that on the face of it, this decision seems not fulfilling any of the interests of the people except for keeping a section of the officers working in the civil secretariat happy.

“The government should explain to the people whether the bifurcation of administrative departments would be a permanent feature of annual Darbar Move henceforth or it is a one-time order for this year taken under the garb of reducing the financial implications involved in shifting of Darbar from one capital to another,” Mir asked.

He said that apparently this decision has been taken on the intervention of some oblivious characters who because of their unmindful and narrow considerations do not want peace to prevail in J&K especially in Kashmir valley.

“The delay in Darbar Move to Srinagar has already increased the psychological gap between the people of two regions and has added to the woes of people in Kashmir who feel deserted by the present dispensation. Now the bifurcation order has come as a shocker for the people who see perilous intentions behind this move. The government must come clean on this issue and remove ambiguities on loyalties in its functioning,” he demanded.

He said the practice of moving the seat of governance including the civil secretariat between Srinagar-Jammu and vice versa involves emotional and political sensitivities in Jammu and Kashmir. “This age-old practice of shifting government offices between the two Capitals would ensure the equitable socio-political empowerment of the people. Now it will be gross injustice with the people of both regions if they are handed over to an incapacitated seat of governance,” he added.

Mir said urged the Lieutenant Governor G.C Murmu to take an immediate call on this important issue and order shifting of Darbar with all administrative departments besides his own Rajbhawan office to Srinagar without any further delay.

Washington, June 18: Former US National security advisor John bolton’s new book ‘The Room Where It Happend’ claims that US president Donald trump sought China’s president help to win the election.

The allegations refer to a meeting between Mr Trump and President Xi Jingping at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, in June last year.

According to a report by BBC, referring to the incident the john wrote, ‘Trump, while having a conversation with Xi turned the conversation to the coming US presidential election in 2020, alluding to China’s economic capability and pleading with Xi to ensure he’d win”.

“He stressed the importance of farmers and increased Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat in the electoral outcome.”

When Mr Xi agreed to make discussions on farm products a priority in trade talks, Mr Trump called him “the greatest leader in Chinese history”.

The US Government has taken legal action to prevent the book’s release, with Mr Trump saying that it threatened national security by revealing “highly classified information”.

“He broke the law as much as it’s going to be broken,” Mr Trump told Fox News, calling Bolton a “washed-up guy”.

“It’s highly classified information and he did not have approval.”

He delivered a similar message about the book earlier this week to reporters at the White House.

New Delhi, June 18: After it got elected unopposed as a non-permanent member of the 15 member United Nations Security Council (UNSC), India on Thursday said it will bring its unique strengths and perspective to the Security Council.

Addressing the media persons online, Secretary West in the Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup said, “As the world’s largest democracy, a major contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and a strong votary of the rights of developing countries, India will bring its own unique strengths and perspective to the Security Council.”

India will act as a voice of reason and moderation and a firm believer in respect for international law and peaceful settlement of disputes. In fact, India has all the credentials to serve on the UN Security Council, Swarup said.

He also thanked Afghanistan as it had withdrawn in “our favour in 2013 for which we thank the Government of Afghanistan.”

Further, the secretary added that “Our work in the Security Council will be guided by Prime Minister’s call for a ‘Reformed Multilateralism’ and dynamic 5-S vision for foreign policy, namely: Samman (Respect), Samvad (Dialogue), Sahyog (cooperation), and Shanti (Peace) to create conditions for universal Samriddhi (Prosperity).

Through this approach, we seek to move toward a ‘New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System’, – in short, NORMS, he added.

India was elected with overwhelming support, garnering 184 votes out of 192 to become a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the term 2021-2022.

The two-year term will begin from January 1, 2021. This will be the 8th time that India will be serving in the Security Council.