SRINAGAR, FEBRUARY 17: Secretary, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Pandurang Kondbarao Pole today took stock of arrangements being made for Maha Shivratri across Jammu and Kashmir.The departmental review meeting was attended by Director, FCS&CA, Bashir Ahmad Khan, Joint Director, Fayaz Ahmad, ADs, and representatives from Relief Commissioner’s office, among other concerned officers.During the meeting, various arrangements related to availability of essential commodities, adequate provision of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs and other supplies were discussed. He directed concerned officers to ensure that Kashmiri Pandit devotees from different areas shall get all facilities from the Department. He also asked district administrations to ensure availability of sufficient stocks of ration and other commodities for KP devotees.
Navin Choudhary, Pandurang Pole take stock of public grievances at Srinagar
SRINAGAR: Principal Secretary, Education and Technical Education Department, Navin Kumar Choudhary and Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Pandurang Kondbarao Pole, today took stock of people’s grievances during a day-long public grievance camp held at Banquet Hall, Srinagar.
During the programme, a large number of deputations and individuals from Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Kupwara among other areas of Kashmir region met the Administrative Secretaries and highlighted their issues.
During the camp, several service matter cases were also taken up. The deputations sought an early redress from the Government.
Administrative Secretaries assured the deputations and individuals that all their issues would be looked into for redressal. They said that addressing people’s developmental problems was primary concern of the Government.
Joint Director, FCS&CA, Kashmir and other senior officers were present during the day-long camp.
Cong, NC To Stay Away From Elections, BJP To Field Candidates In All Seats
Srinagar: With the election body’s announcement on holding Panchayat elections in the vacant seats of Jammu and Kashmir, two main political parties, National Conference and Congress is unlikely to contest polls citing detention of their leaders.
However the People’s Democratic Party is undecided yet while Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has decided to field candidates in all seats.
J&K Chief Electoral officer Shailendra Kumar made the announcement on Thursday and declared the dates for Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
He also said elections will be contested on party basis.
Close to 60 per cent of the total Panchayat seats in Kashmir remained vacant even after the last Panchayat elections due to lack of participation in the electoral process.
“Our leaders are in jails. I am also put under house arrest in Jammu. There is no reach for us to reach places in Kashmir where these polls are being held. No security is being provided then how can we contest polls,” J&K Congress chief G A Mir told KNS.
Mir said that unless and until they will not release the leadership and other senior party workers from the detention the party will not contest the by poll panchayat elections. He further said that 75% of panchayat elections has also done and rest 25 percent election our party will put the decision on the people.
Seconding Mir, another Congress leader G N Monga said there was security only for BJP leaders.
“Leaders from other parties are either house arrest or behind bars,” Monga said.
National Conference Senior leader and provisional Secretary Showkat Mir said that they won’t contest upcoming Panchayat by polls because it not possible at the time when the president of the national conference is under detention. He further said that 11000 total number of panchayats are vacant, and NC wont contest the election until their leaders will not be released.
“These elections are only for participation of BJP. Our leaders are behind bars. How can we contest these polls,” he asked.
Senior PDP leader Nizamuddin Bhat said that they were not able to meet leaders to take a decision on polls.
“I can say anything only when we meet. We are trying to contact our leaders but we are not able to meet. Some of our senior leaders are in jails,” Bhat said.
Senior BJP leader Ashok Koul however said they will fully participate in these polls. “We are hopeful of winning all the seats,” Koul said.
Koul on Sunday also arrived in Kashmir to launch an election campaign for these polls.
BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur said they will field candidates in all seats. “We are hopeful of winning all these seats,” Thakur said.
The Panchayat elections will be held in eight phases in March.
Hundreds of politicians including the Abdullahs and Mehbooba Mufti were detained or arrested in August as part of the centre’s massive clampdown after its decision to end special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the constitution and split it into two union territories.
The Panchayat elections were conducted in November-December 2018 for 4483 Panchayats with a Sarpanch for each Panchayat Halqa and 35029 Panches in Jammu and Kashmir.
In Kashmir out of 20093 Panch and Sarpanch seats, only 6162 Panches and 1366 Sarpanches were elected in the polls while 12565 constituencies have remained vacant.
In Jammu, 15800 Panches and 2289 Sarpanches were elected where 166 seats have remained vacant. While in Ladakh, 45 seats are vacant where 1414 Panches and 192 Sarpanches were elected.
National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party boycotted the polls.
Elections for Block Development Council were also conducted in Jammu and Kashmir.(KNS).
NIA Stumbles Upon ‘Evidence’ Of Terror Funding Through Cross-LoC Trade During DySP Case Probe
Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has stumbled upon “evidence” of funding of terror groups through cross-border trade during its probe into the case of Deputy Superintendent of Police Davinder Singh who was caught escorting militants out of Kashmir Valley, officials said on Sunday.
The officials said NIA investigators grilled self-styled commander of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen militant group Syed Naveed Mushtaq Ahmed alias Naveed Babu, who was caught with Singh, about the funding of the organisation and the way they had been in touch with their masters in Pakistan.
The agency has stumbled upon “evidence” of terror financing through cross-LoC trade during Naveed Babu’s questioning, they said.
The NIA had registered a case against unknown people in connection with the trade across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir in 2016 and carried out raids at trade facilitation centres in Salamabad in Kashmir’s Baramulla district and Chakan-da-bagh in Poonch district of Jammu.
During its probe in the past four years, the NIA had been unable to find the final beneficiary of the money received from traders, the officials said, adding that after Naveed’s questioning the agency had got a vital link.
The officials said that some more people were likely to be picked up for questioning in the case as the probe in the DySP’s case has brought the four-year-old case to focus.
Recently LoC trade organisation president Tanveer Ahmed Wani was arrested by the NIA and was being questioned.
The cross-LoC trade, started in 2008 as a confidence building measure between India and Pakistan, was stopped in April last year by the Centre citing “funnelling of illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency”.
“The action has been taken after reports that the cross-LoC trade routes are being misused by Pakistan-based elements for funnelling illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency, etc.,” the government had said then.
The officials said that they did not rule out the possibility of arrested police officer Singh having knowledge about the funding pattern through trade as he had been associated with Naveed Babu for long.
Singh was arrested last month along with Naveed, Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Rafi Ahmed Rather and Irfan Shafi Mir, who claims to be an advocate. He is at present in judicial custody.
The officials said that if need be Singh and others could be summoned in connection with the LoC trade case as well.
Sedition case: Three Engineering Students From Kashmir Released
Bengaluru: Three Kashmiri engineering students, arrested on sedition charges were released after execution of a bond under Section 169 of the CrPC, police said on Sunday.
The three students studying in a private engineering college here were arrested on Saturday for raising pro- Pakistan slogans and posting it on social media on the first anniversary of the ghastly terrorist attack that left scores of CRPF soldiers dead at Pulwama in Kashmir.
The students were released after they executed a bond under 169 CrPC, wherein they come back whenever they are summoned, Hubballi-Dharwad police commissioner R Dilip said.
Section 169 of the CrPc is involved when the investigating officer is of the view that there was no sufficient evidence to produce an accused before a court for remand.
On the media reports about bail given to the Kashmiri boys, the police commissioner said they got confused.
He said the police were handling the matter sensitively because the case itself was sensitive with national ramification, which may lead to trial by media.
We Are Firm On Art 370, CAA Decisions, Says PM
Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said his government had taken decisions on Article 370 abrogating special status for J&K and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in national interest.
“These decisions had been pending for decades but we took them in national interest and we will remain firm on them,” he said while addressing a function in Varanasi after unveiling a statue of BJP ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya.
The Prime Minister said that Deendayal Upadhyaya always focused on the last man in the line with his ‘antyodaya’ concept.
“Our government is working on his concept of self-reliance and self-service. Our schemes like free gas connections and toilets cater to the poorest of the poor,” he said.
He said that the soul of Deendayal Upadhyaya would continue to inspire and bless them so that they could continue to work for the poor.
“Projects worth Rs 25,000 crore have either been completed or are in the process of being completed in Varanasi and this is due to the blessings of Lord Shiva who has given me the responsibility of serving you. Projects worth Rs 12,000 crore that have been launched today include hospitals, schools, roads, flyovers and water projects. We are trying to turn western Uttar Pradesh into a medical hub with improved connectivity,” he said.
Modi said that when “we talk of a five trillion dollar economy in India, we must remember that tourism is a major part of it”.
“Besides nature, heritage tourism has a strong role to play in achieving the goal. Also, along with Varanasi other holy sites are being developed using new technologies. The Kashi Vishwanath temple complex will soon get a new attractive look. The Ram temple in Ayodhya will also turn into reality because the trust for construction has been formed,” the Prime Minister said.
He pointed out that Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who recently visited Varanasi and Sarnath, was extremely impressed with the city.
The Prime Minister hoped that the Deendayal Upadhyaya memorial will continue to inspire generations to come.
The Prime Minister earlier flagged off the IRCTC’s Maha Kaal Express through video link. The train will connect the three Jyotirling pilgrim centres of Varanasi, Ujjain and Omkareshwar.
A two-day exhibition — ‘Kashi Ek Roop Anek’ – was also inaugurated by the Prime Minister at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Hastakala Sankul where he interacted with buyers and artisans coming from different countries of the world including America, England and Australia.
‘Kashi Ek Roop Anek’ showcases products from over 100 artisans from all over Uttar Pradesh. Artists and weavers at the event will also be imparted skills for improving the quality and branding of their wares suitable to the larger national and international markets.
Delhi Gave New Politics For Building 21St Century India: Kejriwal
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday took oath as Chief Minister of Delhi at Ramlila Maidan and thanked the people of the city for the mandate saying the national capital gave birth to a new kind of politics for building a 21st century India.
Kejriwal took the oath of office for the third time along with his Cabinet ministers from the previous term.
Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Rajendra Pal Gautam and Imran Hussain take oath as Cabinet ministers.
Lt. Governor Anil Baijal administered oath of office and secrecy to the AAP leaders.
A total of 50 people from diverse backgrounds were also invited to the swearing-in ceremony, they were called ‘Dilli Ke Nirmata’, for their contribution towards the development of Delhi.
Kejriwal, addressing the public for the first time after the oath ceremony and the second time since the AAP got a massive mandate of 62 of 70 seats here, also said that the AAP government wants to work with the Centre to develop Delhi into a world-class city.
Kejriwal, who has been striking an emotional note during the campaign for the Assembly polls, continued being ‘Delhi’s son’.
“Your son has taken the oath of office for the third time today. This is not my victory, this is your victory. In the last five years, we have tried to increase the pace of development in Delhi, and we will continue to do so in the next five years,” said the third-time Chief Minister.
He even said that people can tell their families in the native place that they “do not need to worry because your son is the Chief Minister now.”
Kejriwal reiterated that he is the Chief Minister of every person in Delhi irrespective of their affiliations to other political parties.
“I have never discriminated against them in the last five years. I have worked for everybody, and never discriminated against people who did not vote for me.”
He repeated the campaign line that the two crore people of Delhi are his family.
“You can come to me without any hesitation and I will complete all your work irrespective of your affiliation, caste and whether you are rich or poor.”
He asked people to join hands saying Delhi needs a lot of improvement.
“I cannot do it alone, I need your support in making Delhi the most developed and beautiful city in the world. I want to work together with everybody. It is obvious to have scuffles between various political parties during elections. We have forgiven our opposition for whatever remarks they made against us.”
He requested the opposition parties to forget what happened during the election.
“I want to work together with all the parties for the development of Delhi. I want to work together with the Central government to make Delhi a world-class city,” he said.
Kejriwal said that the people of Delhi have given birth to a new kind of politics in the country during the Delhi election, which is the politics of work and performance.
“This is the politics of schools, hospitals, 24-hour and cheap power supply, water, roads, women’s security, corruption-free Delhi, and politics of a 21st century India. This new politics is being discussed all over the country. Governments across the world have started constructing Mohalla clinics, schools, hospitals. State governments across the country have started providing free electricity. You are being talked about all across Delhi,” said Kejriwal.
Taking a jibe at the opposition for attacking him for freebies, Kejriwal said everything precious in the world is free, including a “mother’s love”.
“Do I start charging people for education and health? Do I start charging patients for their operations? That is not possible.”
CAT To Have Jurisdiction Over UT Of J-K: Jitendra Singh
New Delhi: The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will soon be covered by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and it will have jurisdiction to handle disputes and other issues related to the UT services there, Union Minister Jitendra Singh here on Sunday.
CAT so far had jurisdiction only over central services issues in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the annual conference of CAT, he said the tribunal will soon cover the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and will also have jurisdiction to handle disputes and other issues related to the non-central and UT services there.
The Union Minister for PMO said that in due course of time, an exclusive bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal will be set up in Jammu and Kashmir and till then the Chandigarh bench of the tribunal may attend to the service disputes and other cases from the Union territory.
The Centre on August 5 had abrogated Article 370 provisions of the Constitution which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and divided it into two Union Territories.
Singh also disclosed that very soon more members will be appointed to the CAT. the process is already going on and shall be completed soon, he said.
One of the requirements projected by the CAT chairman is vacant posts in the tribunal, which presently has only 39 members against the total strength of 66.
The government is seriously working to fill the vacant posts, he said.
Singh lauded the working of the CAT, its chairman and its members, and said that in spite of increasing workload and the rise in the number of cases with the passage of time, the disposal rate is 100 per cent.
He, however, expressed concern over the number of appeals going to High Courts and Supreme Court against the CAT decisions and this, to some extent, defeated the very purpose for which the tribunal had been envisaged.
The conference was presided over by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and attended, among others, by Supreme Court judge N V Ramana, Justice of Delhi High Court Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel, CAT chairman Justice L Narasimha Reddy among others.
Jem Releases Threat Video Ahead Of Trump’s India Visit
Srinagar: Ahead of US President Donald Trump’s India visit, terror outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) has released a video that calls for “revenge” and says “the killers would not be forgiven”.
The video threatens the Indian government, and says “the way you harassed the Muslims and destroyed their settlements will be avenged”.
In the video, a person citing Quran Sharif, can be heard saying: “We have heard a lot of lullabies on peace… now every excuse has gone… it’s time to see things ‘unrestrained’.”
Sources say the video and its contents are Pakistan’s attempt to show during Trump’s tour that “Kashmiris are angry after the removal of Section 370 and they are carrying out terrorist attacks”.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump are scheduled to visit India on February 24-25.
Meanwhile, security agencies have received an input related to the video that a meeting of terrorist groups was held in PoK earlier this month, and officials of ISI and Pakistan Army were also present in that meeting. It was decided in the meeting that Hizbul Mujahideen should be activated.
According to sources, it was also discussed that terrorists operating in Kashmir should be given “more responsibility” instead of Pakistani terrorists.
An order has been issued that Hibzul should take all “responsibilities of terror acts from Lashkar-e-Taiba and JeM.
Attacks are being planned on the police, security forces and common people in urban areas to create fear among Kashmiris, sources said.
Besides, attempts are also being made to carry out major suicide attacks on the convoys and camps of the security forces.
‘Dal Beautification Under Smart City Plan’,
Srinagar: With Lieutenant Governor (LG) Girish Chandra Murmu led administration making all efforts to restore the glory of Dal Lake, and taking up its beautification process under the Smart City plan, it will be interesting to see whether the government will take action against corrupt officials.
Over the years the government has spent over Rs 900 crore on restoration of the Dal Lake without any visible change in improvement of the famed water body.
The Dal Lake is famous across the world and most of the tourists visit Srinagar to see the famed lake. The government had started several projects designed to lease fresh life to the Dal Lake. These projects cost over Rs 900 crores to the government since 2002.
A major project ‘National Lake Conservation Programme’ was started in 2005 costing Rs 300 crore. The second conservation and management programme ‘Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme’ (PMRP) of 2010 costing Rs 350 crore.
The third project was for the rehabilitation of the families dislocated from Dal and Nigeen Lake. However, there is no visible change on the ground.
As per a report of Pollution Control Board, the water quality deteriorates because of untreated sewage into Dal Lake.
The PCB has submitted a report to government which showed presence of high levels of lead, arsenic, copper, and cadmium affecting the aquatic life of the lake.
A study conducted by Dr Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, who teaches at Kashmir University says, “32% of the lake falls under severe degradation, 48% under medium degradation while as 20% of the lake waters are relatively clean.”
“It faces multiple pressures from the unplanned urbanization, high population growth, nutrient load from intensive agriculture and tourism,” it reads.
Earlier, the High Court had also said that crores of rupees have been spent on Dal and no “fruitful results” have come out.
“Therefore, immediate measures are necessary before the situation is rendered hopeless. It is therefore, necessary to have an expert committee with most importantly the vision and the experience of having undertaken issues which involve wide spectrum, multi-dimensional assessment, evaluation and resolution,” the Court observed.
An official of Pollution Control Board told KNS that they have been continuously monitoring the water quality of the lake. “PCB has also submitted recommendations to the government about reasons to pollute the lake,” he said.
Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Dal Lake still remembers the time about three decades ago when lake water used to be pure enough to be consumed by people for drinking.
“At that time no filtration or treatment was being done by the government to maintain it or to keep it clean. The lake has witnessed a sea of changes in reverse direction due to urbanization and encroachment,” he laments.
He told KNS that authorities clean a portion of Dal Lake around the SKICC. “When one goes into the interiors of the lake, you will find how the famous lake is turning into a swamp,” he added.
Meanwhile the Dal Lake and its surrounding areas in Srinagar will soon be declared an eco-sensitive zone.
The famous lake has shrunk to less than half its original size with its capacity down to 40 per cent due to pollution and encroachment, government has observed.
“ In this regard the Committee of Experts (CoE) on Dal and Nageen lakes shall submit the final proposal to the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD) by 20th of February,” a senior official said.
It is to mention here that Divisional commissioner Kashmir Baseer Khan Friday said that the administration is taking up Dal beautification process under the Smart City plan.
Baseer Ahmad Khan told this during a meeting convened to review various issues pertaining to the Dal Lake.
He said that smart cards will be distributed among the Dal dwellers and directed the Srinagar Deputy Commissioner to submit a complete report in this regard to the Divisional Commissioner’s office immediately.
The Divisional Commissioner also directed the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to deploy men and machinery on the western site of Dal Lake and clear the portion of weeds by February 25.
