NEW DELHI: Assurances of restoration of statehood at “early opportunity”, no demographic change and release of all political prisoners in “due course” were the takeaways from Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s meeting with a political delegation of the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party here on Sunday.
Expressing confidence that “visible changes will be seen on the ground in the next few months, the home minister also assured the delegation that the NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take all steps for the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir”.
The political delegation, which is the first one after the abrogation of special status on August 5 last year by the Centre, had called on the prime minister on Saturday.
Engaging with the delegation on about 40-odd issues raised by them, the home minister emphasised that there is no intention of the government for demographic change in the region and “all such talks have no basis at all”.
In a similar assurance as given by the prime minister to the delegation, Shah said the government will work with all sections of the society to realize the hopes of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir at an early opportunity, an official statement said.
Shah referred to the prime minister’s address to the nation after the abrogation of Article 370 and said that and even he, himself in his speech in Lok Sabha on August 6, 2019 expressed the same.
The home minister said this is also good for India’s interest, as the region is a border area, the statement said.
He assured the delegation that Jammu and Kashmir will have a better domicile policy than other states in the country and also said that a reasonable economic development policy will be drafted soon after widespread consultation.
Shah said his government is open to suggestions and feedback from all political parties and individuals for overall development of Jammu and Kashmir.
Allaying the apprehensions of the delegation on restrictions, Shah said all decisions on relaxations are based on ground realities and not due to any pressure.
He referred to steps like release of people from detention, restoration of internet, relaxation in curfew and said that “even political prisoners will be freed in times to come as the main objective of the government is that not a single person should die, be it a common Kashmiri or security personnel”.
Many political leaders were detained after August 5 last year when the Centre revoked special status of Jammu and Kashmir and Divided it into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
He emphasised that there is no discrimination in implementation of central laws in Jammu and Kashmir and interests of all sections will be taken care of.
He said that a land bank had been created in the union territory and the government would soon come out with an industrial policy to ensure rapid economic development.
He expressed hope that in next four years, Jammu and Kashmir will have three times more investments than Rs 13,000 crore that it has received in last 70 years.
There is a huge potential and investors are also willing to come forward. This will also solve the problem of unemployment in the region, he added.
On the issues of reservation, the home minister said that a commission will be set up soon and reiterated that no injustice will be done to Gujjars, nomads and other communities. On the issues concerning JK Bank, he assured the delegation of personally looking into the issues.
Shah said that he will also ask the Lieutenant Governor to appoint a senior nodal officer to meet the people twice in a week to address their grievances. He also asked the delegation to provide feedback to the nodal officers in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Emerging after the nearly two-hour meeting with the home minister, Altaf Bukhari, a businessman-turned-politician who led the delegation of the party, said the home minister allayed fears of demographic changes in Jammu and Kashmir and also assured of early return of statehood.
The JK Apni Party chief also raised various other issues, including autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, age relaxation of youths from union territory appearing in Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams, relief in horticulture and agriculture, besides the tourism sector.

SRINAGAR: Dr Farooq Abdullah who tasted freedom after facing detention under Public Safety Act for over 7 months, Sunday pitched for the release of political leaders in Kashmir.
Several delegations arrived at his Gupkar based residence in Srinagar to meet Farooq Abdullah. Davinder Singh Rana, Surjeet Singh Salathia and others met him on Sunday.
Many reporters also thronged at his residence to know about his latest point of view regarding prevailing Kashmir situation and the meeting of Prime Minister Modi with newly floated political party of Jammu and Kashmir politicians.
Farooq Abdullah declined to talk on the subject but demanded the release of political prisoners. “I appeal all the political parties to unite and ask for the freedom of all detainees lodged in outside jails,” he said.
“Before we allow politics to divide us, I appeal to all political leaders in the state to unite behind the call to the union government to bring back all detainees from Jammu and Kashmir from prisons outside the state pending their release.”
“While we would like to see them all released as soon as possible, pending that they should be shifted to JK. This is a humanitarian demand and I hope others will join me in placing this demand in front of the government of India,” he concluded.
Later on Farooq Abdullah issued a statement to press that read: “I have consciously avoided making any political statements since I was released from detention on the 13th of March. While I believe a free & frank exchange of political views is essential so that we can take stock of the momentous changes that J&K has seen after 5th August 2019 we are still some way away from an environment where such political discourse will be possible. This is especially so considering the number of people detained in August last year who remain in jails outside J&K.
“I am acutely aware that compared to hundreds of Kashmiri families I have been far more fortunate. I was detained at home & my family had access to me. Yesterday when I went to meet my son Omar, also detained under the Public Safety Act, I had to travel a kilometre from my home to be able to see him. For families of most of the detainees meeting their loved ones is not nearly as easy. Their loved ones have been detained in jails spread across a number of states. They get two visits a month for which they have to spend large sums of money they can ill afford traveling to & staying in the vicinity of these prisons.”
“The already onerous financial burden is made worse by the health risk they now face because of COVID-19. At a time when people are being advised not to travel these families are being forced to put their lives at risk in order to meet their loved ones for a few short but very precious hours.”
“Before we allow politics to divide us I appeal to all political leaders here to unite behind the call to the union government to bring back all detainees from J&K in prisons outside pending their release. While we would like to see them all released as soon as possible, pending that they should be shifted to J&K. This is a humanitarian demand & I hope others will join me in placing this demand in front of the government of India.”

SRINAGAR: Govt of India on Sunday appointed incumbent Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer A Khan as the fourth Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Jammu and Kashmir, Girish Chandra Murmu.
The document sent by the Deputy Secretary to Government of India, Anandi Venkateswaran to Chief Secretary J&K reads that “the undersigned is directed to convey approval of the competent authority in this ministry to the appointment of Shri Baseer Ahmad Khan, IAS (JK-2000), as Advisor to Lt. Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir for effective discharge of his functions as Lt. Governor during the period of the notification SO3937 (E) dated 31st October, 2019 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.”
“The appointment will be effective from the date from which he assumes charge”, the order states.
“The Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is directed to issue necessary orders with regard to the terms and conditions of his appointment under intimation to this ministry,” the letter issued by the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, department of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs reads. (KNS)

JAMMU: Pakistani troops on Sunday yet again violated the ceasefire by firing unprovoked along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Defence spokesman here said that Pakistan violated ceasefire in Kirni and Qasba sectors of Poonch this afternoon.
“Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by small arms firing and shelling with mortars along LoC in Kirni and Qasba sectors in District Poonch,” he added.
The spokesman said that Indian Army is retaliating befittingly while no injury or damage has been reported so far on the Indian side.

ANANTNAG: Government Forces shot dead four militants inside a hideout in Watergam area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Acting on a specific input, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Army cordoned off the area in the night. As the government forces zeroed in on the house, where the militants were present, the militants opened fire triggering the encounter.
Militants were hiding in a washroom of the house owned by one Fayaz Ahmed and they didn’t get opportunity to settle themselves. All the four militants died inside the narrow hideout.
The photographs that are viral show government forces dragging slain militants with the help of ropes out from the narrow hideout.
Police sources said that input about the hideout and the presence of militants was received from the area, but it took almost whole night to locate the actual house and for that purpose the area was brought under cordon and thorough searches of the residential houses were carried out.
Forces used explosives to destroy the hideout and recovered the bodies of four militants and some arms and ammunition. Three militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba and one Jaish-e-Muhammad.
Police sources identified the slain militants as Umar Amin Bhat son of Muhammad Amin Bhat, a resident of Sopat Tengapora Kulgam, Muzaffar Ahmed Bhat alias Abu Talha son of Muhammad Amin Bhat of Sopat Tengapora Kulgam, Gulzar Ahmed Bhat son of Muhammad Salam Bhat of Tarigam Kulgam and Sajad Ahmed Bhat son of Muhammad Ahsan Bhat of Sherpora Frisal Kulgam.
Umar Amin, 22 years old slain militant was having a B.Tech degree from Jalahandar Punjab. He had joined LeT ranks in April 2019. His relative told KNT that after finishing his B.Tech, Umar arrived in Kashmir but joined militant ranks and never visited his home.
“Umar and Muzaffar are from same village and neighbours. Muzaffar had joined LeT in December 2017 and was a close associate of Lashkar Commnader Naveed Jatt. Before joining militancy, he owned a bakery shop.”
Another slain militant Gulzar Ahmed Bhat was 22 years school dropout who had joined JeM in October 2018. Sajad Ahmed Bhat (27) was a wood cutter before joining militancy in April 2019.
A Police spokesman issued a press release informing that during the search operation, the hiding militants fired upon the joint search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the encounter, four militants were killed. The killed militants have been identified as Muzaffar Ahmed Bhat (District commander of proscribed militant outfit LeT) son of Mohammad Amin Bhat, Omar Ameen Bhat (affiliated with proscribed militant outfit LeT) son of Muhammad Ameen Bhat, both residents of Sopat Tangpora, Kulgam, Sajad Ahmed Bhat (affiliated with proscribed militant outfit LeT) son of Muhammad Subhan resident of Tengbal Frisal and Gulzar Ahmed Bhat (affiliated with proscribed militant outfit HM) son of Abdul Salam Bhat resident of Hirpora Tarigam, Kulgam.
Two AK 47 rifles, two pistols, ammunition and other incriminating materials have been recovered from the site of encounter.
As per police records, militantist Muzzafar had a history of militant crime cases since 2017. He was involved in 7 different cases U/S 7/25 Arms Act, 302 IPC, 18, 19, 20, 39 ULAP Act. Militantist Gulzar Ahmad Bhat was involved in a case U/S 13, 18, 38, 39 ULAP Act of PS Kulgam. Militantist Sajad Ahmad was also involved in a case U/S 13, 20 ULAP Act. Similarly, militantist Omar was involved in 3 FIR’s U/S 13,16, 18, 20, 39 ULAP Act. (KNT)

JAMMU: The Government Sunday informed that 2157 no. of travellers and persons in contact with the suspected Coronavirus cases have been put under surveillance in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel coronavirus (COVID-19), 1829 persons are under home quarantine and 29 persons are in hospital quarantine while 131 persons are under home surveillance.
Further, the Bulletin said that 101 samples have been sent for testing, of which 87 tested as negative and only two cases have tested positive, so far while as reports of 12 cases are awaited till March 15, 2020. Meanwhile, 168 persons have completed their 28 days surveillance period.
According to the Bulletin, home quarantined persons and their family members are requested to cooperate with the local surveillance teams / health authorities and strictly follow the guidelines for home quarantine issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GoI.
Public in general has been requested to strengthen surveillance mechanism by making self-declaration about their foreign travel history to local health authorities. “Moreover all social, religious and political organizations are urged to avoid large gatherings,” reads the advisory.
Medical masks, according to the advisory should not be used by healthy persons who are not having any symptoms because it creates false sense of security that can lead to neglecting other essential measures such as washing of hands. “In fact erroneous use of masks or continuous use of a disposable mask for longer than 6 hours or repeated use of same mask may actually increase risk of getting infection.”
Stressing on the social distancing, the advisory urged people not to panic and avoid un-necessary travel, use of public transport; avoid crowded places and large gatherings. “People must take basic precautions for personal hygiene; frequent hand washing with soap & water; and observing coughing & sneezing etiquettes. If anyone has fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, seek medical care at the earliest.”
To avoid any misinformation, people are urged to rely only on the information released by the government through the daily media bulletin to print and electronic media.

SRINAGAR: Amid growing scare of coronavirus, Srinagar city on Sunday turned into a ghost city with empty walkways, streets, and very little transport and other business establishments. With the increase in many positive cases for coronavirus in India, administration in four districts of Jammu and Kashmir had already imposed restrictions over the gathering of more than five persons at any public place with immediate for the period of one month.
Amid fear of coronavirus in the capital city, Srinagar on Sunday wore a deserted look with less number of people were seen standing in the busiest markets of Srinagar.
Reports said all the main routes in the capital city were devoid of traffic, with very less number of vehicles were seen plying on Sunday; people wearing masks were seen almost at every place in the city.
Sunday market on the three-km long road stretch from Radio Kashmir to Lal Chowk which usually attracts thousands of customers from different parts of the valley on Sunday was deserted as vendors were not allowed to put up their stalls in the market.
Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattoo last week ordered the closure of the Sunday market as a precautionary measure because of COVID-19.
In view of the COVID-19 threat, the government had ordered the closure of all educational institution including colleges, universities across Jammu’ and Kashmir, besides control rooms and surveillance teams have been constituted in all the districts of Union Territory besides two coronavirus lab testing facilities had already been made functional in SKIMS, Srinagar and GMC Jammu.
Govt also had urged citizens especially those with travel history to affected countries such as China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, etc to self declare immediately and to report to the nearest government health facility If any symptoms are found.
Pertinent to mention here an official of SKIMS told Kashmir Indepth News Service, no patient has tested positive of coronavirus in Kashmir so far. (KINS)