Kashmir.Watch

Author: hamid

  • Will do a retake of Imran Khan and Kejriwal if youth support me: Shah Faisal

    Srinagar: Shah Faesal who recently resigned from the Civil Services Friday said that Hurriyat can’t provide him a chance to express himself as they don’t believe in electoral politics. He said that youth have lost interest in politics due to kind of politics that is being conducted in Kashmir.

    Addressing a jam packed press conference here in Kashmir capital Srinagar, Shah Faisal said that he must thank all the well wishers who has supported me in this amazing journey.

    “This service has given me an opportunity to understand the problems of the state and serve the people at gross root level.”

    “In last few years there have been some circumstances within the state and rest of the country which made me realize that there is time to speak up. By today’s resignation I am putting across a small act of defiance to remind the central government of its responsibilities towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir.” “I am resigning in protest against the lack of political initiative to assuage the hurt feelings of people of Kashmir. Lack of a credible political initiative from Central Government and denial of justice to the people of Kashmir has resulted in the massive escalation of violence in the Valley due to which lot of lives have been lost in recent years. I wish to remind to Central Government that it is important that the right to life of the Kashmiri youth be respected. At the same time, if we look at the recent years we have seen serious attacks on the special identity of Jammu and Kashmir.”

    “The constitutional arrangement which exists between state of Jammu and Kashmir and Union of India and the articles like 370 and 35A have been constantly invoked for electoral gains in India.”

    “One more important source of my rejection with the present government is the failure of the government to facilitate the homecoming of Kashmiri Pandits to the Kashmir Valley.”

    Shah Faesal according to news agency CNS said that: “Kashmiri Pandits are an important element of our diverse culture and unless you create a situation and circumstance favourable to their return in Valley, they will not be able to come back. It has also failed to bring peace in border regions of the state including RS Pora, Rajouri and other areas where loss of life is a regular feature.”

    “Outside the state we have seen that there are constant attempts to undermine the regional integrity of the state. And an attempt is being made to pit one region with the another- Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley which are equal in character and any attempt to play one region against another needs to be resisted.”

    “When it comes to factors outside the state the rise of lynch mob nationalism has led to extreme marginalization of the of both ideological and religious minorities of the country. It has become a source of extreme rejection for me.”

    “I also wish to express that curbs are being placed on the free speech of individuals in the country. A culture of hate and intolerance are being used to win elections in India. The credibility of important institutions like NIA, RBI and CBI are being undermines and these have the potential to deface the edifice of the constitution of India. Today when I spoke up, I am feeling extremely relieved. I wish to make an appeal to the people of India that they need to come to the rescue of the people of Kashmir. It’s time we work together and counter hateful communal elements to ensure tolerance and peace. I will be expecting the support from people across the country.”

    “I will go to people and its time to reimagine the politics of Jammu and Kashmir. Its time that we destruct the politics of Jammu and Kashmir the way it has been happening.”

    When asked why he can’t be like Imran Khan of Pakistan and launch his own party, Shah Faesal said that he is deeply inspired from Imran Khan and Kejriwal. “We know that we are operating in a conflict zone and it’s not very easy for us to work in that space that has lost legitimacy in last few years. I wish if the youngsters of the state will give me that kind of opportunity I will be very happy to do a retake of Imran Khan and Kejriwal in the state.”

    In response to a question, Shah Faesal thanked Engineer Rasheed for inviting him. He said that he will meet the youth and arrive at a consensus before taking any decision to join any party.

    Shah Faesal said that: “mainstream politics should be re-imagines and we need to tell the truth to the people. As of now, I don’t have any plans to join any existing political party. As of now I am planning to go to the field and listen to youngsters, people and stake holders and then only will take decision.”

    “In response to a question, Shah Faesal said that he will be very happy to contest upcoming elections and in fact I believe that parliament and legislative space is an important space. We need well meaning and right people in politics. Its just that in recent years due to de-legitimization of electoral process, because the way it has been conducted, we have lost the trust and our youth are not attracted towards it. I think we need to change that attitude.”

    When asked whether he will like to fight elections as Independent candidate, Shah Faisal said that he will take the decision only after talking to people.

    “Over the launch of his own party, Shah Faisal said that his only worry at this stage is that there is lot of trust deficit among youngsters. The moment you start a party, people say that this is a party sponsored by the Agencies. The moment you go Independent, people say he is an Agency person. The moment you join the existing political party people have problems in that as well. Unless there is a consensus I won’t take any decision. From tomorrow I am going to meet people and try to understand them.”

    “When asked why he doesn’t join Hurriyat Conference, Shah Faesal said: “I am a man from the system and I have an experience and specialization in the Governance. I am not essentially trained in politics, so I will be happy to do something in an Institution where I can use my skills as an administrator. I wish I could do that elsewhere as well but because Hurriyat doesn’t give me that kind of opportunity very rightly because they don’t believe in electoral politics. We have to accept the difference of opinion. So I think, at this moment, maybe I may not be able to do that.”

    Shah Faesal said that different narratives are being fed to the people of India about Kashmir. “People of India are being fed with narratives that youth in Kashmir are jobless, they are drug addicts and have suicidal tendencies. My narrative is that there are sentiments in Kashmir. We have to propagate this narrative which is absolute truth.”

    Shah Faesal said that he will do a different kind of politics. “In Harvard, I witnessed how great people with lucrative jobs have resigned and brought change in the society. Harvard taught me it is very easy to leave the jobs and give sacrifices.” (CNS)

  • Pakistan woman takes 32 years to create this Quran

    The creator of the Quran which is being displayed at The Holy Quran Exhibition in Medina took 32 years to make it.

    Creator Akhtar finished the Quran in January, 2019

    She was 30 when she started working on the Quran

    Around 300 metres of cloth and close to 25,000 metres of thread were used

    A woman from Pakistan, Naseem Akhtar, has produced a creative Quran. The religious text of Islam was written by Akhtar using needles and threads.

    Akhtar hails from Gujarat in Pakistan. She was 30 years old when when she took up the production of this novel Quran. She completed the Quran in January, 2019. It took her 32 years to make this magnificent copy of Quran.

    Naseem Akhtar, for the first 15 years, spent her days writing the Quran on pieces of White Irish fabric by hand. Another 17 years were then spent to create these words using needles and black thread.

    Around 300 metres of cloth and close to 25,000 metres of thread were used to create the Quran. The compilation consists of 10 bindings; each contains three paragraphs of Quran.

    These 10 bindings weigh 55 kilograms. The Quran created by Naseem Akhtar using needles and thread is put out for display at The Holy Quran Exhibition in Medina, Saudi Arabia (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: KSA).

    © India Today

  • Psychology behind video Gaming

    Arshad Ali Askari

    Video gaming is like a non-financial kind of gambling from a psychological point of view,” said Griffiths, a distinguished professor of behavioral addiction at Nottingham Trent University. “Gamblers use money as a way of keeping score whereas gamers use points.”
    He guessed that the percentage of video game players with a compulsive problem was likely to be extremely small—much less than 1 percent—and that many such people would likely have other underlying problems, like depression, bipolar disorder or autism.
    Psychologists however, estimated that 2 to 3 percent of gamers might be affected.
    Griffiths said playing video games, for the vast majority of people, is more about entertainment and novelty, citing the overwhelming popularity of games like “Pokemon Go.” PUBG Etc
    “You have these short, obsessive bursts and yes, people are playing a lot, but it’s not an addiction,” he said.
    Psychologists said parents and friends of video game enthusiasts should still be mindful of a potentially harmful problem.
    “Be on the lookout,” he said, noting that concerns should be raised if the gaming habit appears to be taking over.
    “If (video games) are interfering with the expected functions of the person—whether it is studies, whether it’s socialization, whether it’s work—then you need to be cautious and perhaps seek help,” they said.

    Negative Effects of Video Games
    Most of the bad effects of video games are blamed on the violence they contain. Children who play more violent video games are more likely to have increased aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and decreased prosocial helping, according to a scientific study (Anderson & Bushman, 2001). Also according to Dmitri A. Christakis of the Seattle Children’s Research Institute, those who watch a lot of simulated violence, such as those in video games, can become immune to it, more inclined to act violently themselves, and are less likely to behave emphatically. Another study suggests that chronic exposure to violent video games is not only associated with lower empathy, but emotional callousness as well.
    This, however, is still hotly debated because there is also evidence that shows that excessive use of video games does not lead to long-term desensitization and lack of empathy. A 2017 study published in Frontiers in Psychology, for example, didn’t find any long-term effects of playing violent video games and empathy. Another study from University of York found no evidence to support the theory that video games make players more violent, and another study suggests that there is no increase in the level of aggression of players who had long-term exposure to violent video games..

    On the other hand, The American Psychological Association (APA) concluded that there is a “consistent correlation” between violent game use and aggression, but finds insufficient evidence to link violent video play to criminal violence. An open letter by a number of media scholars, psychologists and criminologists, however, find APA’s study and conclusion to be misleading and alarmist. Many experts including Henry Jenkins of Massachusetts Institute of Technology have noted that there is a decreased rate of juvenile crime which coincides with the popularity of games such as Death Race, Mortal Kombat, Doom and Grand Theft auto. He concludes that teenage players are able to leave the emotional effects of the game behind when the game is over. Indeed there are cases of teenagers who commit violent crimes who also spend great amount of time playing video games such as those involved in the Columbine and Newport cases. It appears that there will always be violent people, and it just so happen that many of them also enjoy playing violent video games.
    Some experts also believe that the effect of video game violence in kids is worsened by the games’ interactive nature. In many games, kids are rewarded for being more violent. The act of violence is done repeatedly. The child is in control of the violence and experiences the violence in his own eyes (killings, kicking, stabbing and shooting). This active participation, repetition and reward are effective tools for learning behavior. Indeed, many studies seem to indicate that violent video games may be related to aggressive behavior (such as Anderson & Dill, 2000; Gentile, Lynch & Walsh, 2004). However, the evidence is not consistent and this issue is far from settled.
    In 2018, an analysis of 24 studies involving 17000 youngsters from countries including the U.S., Canada, Germany and Japan and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found those who played violent games such as “Grand Theft Auto,” “Call of Duty” and “Manhunt” were more likely to exhibit behavior such as being sent to the principal’s office for fighting or hitting a non-family member. According to Jay Hull, the study’s lead author “If your kids are playing these games, either these games are having a warping effect on right and wrong or they have a warped sense of right or wrong and that’s why they are attracted to these games. Either way you should be concerned about it.” Hull’s previous research suggests players may also practice riskier behaviors such as reckless driving, binge drinking, smoking and unsafe sex.
    Kids can be addicted to video gaming. The World Health Organization in June 2018 declared gaming addiction as a mental health disorder. A study by the Minneapolis-based National Institute for Media and the Family suggests that video games can be addictive for kids, and that the kids’ addiction to video games increases their depression and anxiety levels. Addicted kids also exhibit social phobias. Not surprisingly, kids addicted to video games see their school performance suffer. MRI scans reveal that addictive video games can have a similar effect on kids’ brains as drugs and alcohol. A series of studines by California State University found that the impulsive part of the brain, known as the amygdala-striatal system was more sensitive and smaller in excessive game players. According to Professor Ofir Turel, heavy game players between 13 and 15 whose self-control system is not yet well-developed can have increased susceptibility to other forms of addiction and can be more predisposed to impulsive and risky behaviors later in life.
    A 2017 study from the Université de Montréal suggests that playing action video games like Call of Duty may actually harm the brain. Most study participants mainly use an area of the brain called the caudate nucleus. These players navigate through the game terrain using in-system navigation tools or on-screen GPS, relying on navigational “habit” instead of active learning. It appears that this causes an increase in the amount of gray matter in their caudate nucleus, while it decreases in the hippocampus. Reduced gray matter in the hippocampus has previously been linked to higher risks of brain illnesses, including depression, schizophrenia, PTSD, and Alzheimer’s disease. However players who play games that requires players to navigate using spatial strategies like the 3D Super Mario games have increased grey matter in the hippocampus.
    Too much video game playing makes your kid socially isolated. Also, he may spend less time in other activities such as doing homework, reading, sports, and interacting with the family and friends. On the other hand, a study by researchers at the North Carolina State University, New York and the University Of Ontario Institute Of Technology points out that gamers usually do not replace their offline social lives with online game playing, but rather it expands them. In fact, among gamers, being a loner is not the norm.
    Some video games teach kids the wrong values. Violent behavior, vengeance and aggression are rewarded. Negotiating and other nonviolent solutions are often not options. Women are often portrayed as weaker characters that are helpless or sexually provocative. On the other hand, a University of Buffalo study suggests that violence and bad behavior played in the virtual world may be contributing to better behavior in the real world. Gamers who play violent games may feel guilty about their behavior in the virtual world and this may make them be more sensitive to the moral issues they violated during game play.
    Games can confuse reality and fantasy.
    Academic achievement may be negatively related to over-all time spent playing video games. Studies have shown that the more time a kid spends playing video games, the poorer is his performance in school. (Anderson & Dill, 2000; Gentile, Lynch & Walsh, 2004). A study by Argosy University’s Minnesota School on Professional Psychology found that video game addicts argue a lot with their teachers, fight a lot with their friends, and score lower grades than others who play video games less often. Other studies show that many game players routinely skip their homework to play games, and many students admitted that their video game habits are often responsible for poor school grades.
    Although some studies suggest that playing video games enhances a child’s concentration, other studies, such as a 2012 paper published in Psychology of Popular Media Culture, have found that games can hurt and help children’s attention issues — improving the ability to concentrate in short bursts but damaging long-term concentration.
    Dr Philip A Chan and Professor Terry Rabinowitz, writing in the Annals of General Psychiatry, concluded that: “Adolescents who play more than one hour of console or Internet video games may have more or more intense symptoms of ADHD or inattention than those who do not.” This negative effect may lead to problems in school.
    Video games may also have bad effects on some children’s health, including obesity, video-induced seizures. and postural, muscular and skeletal disorders.
    When playing online, your kid can pick up bad language and behavior from other people, and may make your kid vulnerable to online dangers.
    Kids spending too much time playing video games may exhibit impulsive behavior and have attention problems. This is according to a new study published in the February 2012 issue of the Journal of Psychology and Popular Media Culture. For the study, attention problems were defined as difficulty engaging in or sustaining behavior to reach a goal.
    According to Catherine Steiner-Adair, a Harvard-affiliated psychologist and author of the best-selling book “The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationship in the Digital Age”, if kids are allowed to play “Candy Crush” on the way to school, the trip will be quiet, but it’s not what kids need. “They need time to daydream, deal with anxieties, process their thoughts and share them with parents, who can provide reassurance.”

    Arshad ali askari (Lecturer psychology)

  • Officer, porter among three Army men killed on LOC

    Srinagar, January 11: Three Army men including an officer were on Friday killed while three others sustained injuries on Line of Control in Rajouri district.

    Sources told KNO that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion took place near LoC in Naushera Sector(J&K) in which an Army Officer and a soldier got grievously injured. “Immediate resuscitation and medical aid was provided, however, they succumbed to the injuries,” Army said.

    Meanwhile, Army said that Pakistan violated the ceasefire, saying that in the incident by Pakistan troops in Sunderbani Sector, an Army Porter namely Hem Raj resident of Dadal Sunderbani was shot at and grievously injured.

    “The injured porter was provided immediate resuscitation and medical aid, however, he later succumbed to the gunshot wounds,” Army said.

    Army later promised all possible assistance to the family of slain Army Porter.(KNO)

  • Mirwaiz Umar Farooq warns agitation against any tinkering with state subject law by Indian Supreme Court

    Srinagar, Jan 11: APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressing the Friday congregation at Jama Masjid Srinagar said that people of Jammu and Kashmir will resist tooth and nail any move aimed at changing the demographic composition of the State, which this time is being done by New Delhi through the judicial route by challenging the State Subject Law in Supreme Court of India, as it will have a huge bearing on the disputed nature of the state and our movement for self determination. He said leadership is keenly watching with concern and will lead the people’s agitation if any move to roll back these provisions is allowed. He said people also have to remain alert and updated on these developments.
    Mirwaiz said that since the case regarding Article 35 A is coming up for hearing soon Joint Resistance Leadership is in consultation with all on the matter and is looking at the form of protests that will be observed against it and people will be informed on it very soon.
    Mirwiaz also lambasted the authorities for slapping three youth of Bandipora Tauseef Lone, Abdul Samad and Suhail Parray under draconian PSA and shifting them to Kotbalwal prison in Jammu, terming it as highly authoritarian move. He said that such injustices and coercion by the authoritarian State is pushing our pushing youth to take up arms and when the same youth are killed in gunfights, the Indian State hails these killings terming it as “Badi Kamyabi” (big success)
    On the occasion, Mirwaiz also launched the Year 2019 /Hijri calendar by Anjuman- e-Auqaf Jamia Masjid under the aegis of Mirwaiz Foundation. The calendar has daily Namaz timing on it. Mirwaiz said that great care and meticulous attention to detail have been employed to provide the Salah and Siyaam Meeqat in the calendar along with identifying Islamic and other culturally relevant dates of reverence.
    Though the cost of the calendar is Rs 100 it will be not be charged and will be free. For those willing to pay for it , their proceeds will go to Dar ul Khair, working for providing economic support to the underprivileged.

  • Ensure safety of girl students: DC Budgam Sehrish Asgar to private tutorials

    Stresses on quality education, fee waiver for poor students

    Srinagar: Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Syed Sehrish Asgar today directed private coaching center owners operating in the district to ensure safe and secure atmosphere for the girl students in their institutions.

    The DC made these remarks while chairing a meeting of the owners/heads of the coaching centers here.

    The DC warned that there will be zero tolerance against indiscipline and asked heads of the coaching centers to install CCTVs and keep close eye on anti- social elements at their centers.

    Stressing on quality education, the DC warned that action will be taken against the coaching centers for failing to meet the criteria set by the Education Department. She also directed them to provide all facilities including separate washrooms for male and female students, proper seating and heating arrangements, adequate space, drinking water, library and reading room facilities to the students.

    The DC directed that all coaching centers operating in the district must get registered with the education department else the centre violating the norms will not be allowed to operate.

    She asked the coaching center owners to apply for registration in time and directed concerned to expedite registration formalities.

    The DC warned the owners of coaching centers against misleading students by titles of the nationally acclaimed (brand names) of coaching institutions.

    She said action will be taken against such coaching centers for “misusing” brand titles.

    The DC enquired from the owners about the arrangements, intake capacity, time schedule and fee structure for different classes and courses.

    The DC further urged them to accommodate poor students on complimentary/concessional rates and take fee from the students installments.

    Among others, the meeting was attended by District Education Planning Officer, Farooq Ahmad Raina and owners/heads of scores of private coaching centers operating in Magam, Narbal, Beerwah, Khag, Budgam, Char-i-Sharief, Chadoora and in Khansaheb areas.

  • Grenade lobbed at 132 bn of CRPF Lal Chowk

    Srinagar, January 11: Suspected militants on Friday evening lobbed a grenade on 132 bn of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in business Hub Lal Chowk. Official sources told KNO that suspected persons lobbed a grenade in this evening at 132 bn of CRPF at Palladium Gully Lal Chowk.

    However, they said that no loss of life or injury was reported in the incident while the area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers.

    Panic gripped in the Lal Chowk after the explosion took place this evening. Witnesses said that the shopkeepers run for the safety this evening.

    The shopkeepers have also shut their shops following the incident, they said.(KNO)

  • NC will always be known for Betrayal, Ikhwan and Taskforce: PDP

    ‘Since 1931, party did no good for JK, brought militancy by rigging polls in 1987’

    Srinagar, Jan 1: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has questioned the recent statement of NC General Secretary, asking that if the party betrayed people’s mandate, why national conference offered its unconditional support to the PDP recently to form the government.
    “The problem is that the national conference still believes that it can hoodwink people as it used to in late 80s. Sagar sahib has probably forgotten that the trend of assassinating people’s character by singing street songs, leveling baseless allegations and making bizarre claims is gone forever. The youth of today are well aware about the doings of their leadership, their actions and what lies inside the closets. NC would do better if it reads what is written on the wall in bold letters,” said senior PDP leader and MLC Mohammad Khurshid Alam in a statement.
    He added that history bears testimony to the fact that it is national conference that has been betraying peoples trust since 1931.
    Alam said that at times the party supported state’s accession with India months before Maharaja Hari Singh actually signed the accession instrument and later it was the same party that after showing people green pastures in plebiscite front threw itself into Congress’s lap in 1975 and signed another accord of treachery.
    “After coming to power in 1996, the party surpassed all records of tyranny and made catch and kill a normal routine in Kashmir. Creation of Ikhwan and task force are NC’s remarkable achievements and people still remember how NC leaders used to advocate killing of militants on the spot as there was no space left in jails. Just compare the state taken by Mehbooba Mufti as the chief minister of the state at the time of Rasana case and how NC pushed the gruesome Shopian episode under the carpet,” Alam said.
    He added that the turbulent situation in the state being witnessed at present is the outcome of the blunders committed by the national conference as the party came to power in 2009. “NC has perhaps forgotten the Shopian, Machil, Bumai encounters, killing of Tufail Matoo and Wamiq Farooq in cold blood, turning jails into juvenile homes by bundling kids no older than 12 years in torture centers and killing 120 people. All such incidents are still fresh in people’s minds,” Alam said.
    He added that on the other hand, the PDP while being in government compelled the government of India to withdraw thousands of cases against the protestors, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was made to announce a unilateral ceasefire with Pakistan and offer dialogue with Hurriyat. “Had Mehbooba Mufti made compromises, she would have been sitting on the Chief Minister’s chair at the moment. The spike in violence that the state has been witnessing ever since Mehbooba Mufti resigned, is a proof in itself that BJP in actual since day one wanted to turn Kashmir into a theatre of war and it was Mehbooba Mufti alone who stood like a wall in front of the BJP and prevented it from fulfilling their agenda in Kashmir.

  • Inspired by Imran Khan, Kejriwal, have my entire life for Kashmir now: Shah Faesal

    Says ‘No plans to join any existing mainstream party, won’t join Hurriyat’

    Srinagar: The IAS topper Shah Faesal who resigned from the country’s elite service recently, Friday said that he is deeply inspired by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, stating that he would like to serve the people of Kashmir, saying his entire life is for Kashmir now.
    However, the record maker IAS officer also said that he has no plans to join any existing mainstream party ‘as of now’.
    As per Kashmir News Service (KNS) correspondent, addressing a press conference here at a hotel in Rajbagh, Shah Faesal said that he has no plans to join any existing mainstream political party ‘as of now’. He also rejected to join the Hurriyat, saying that he is the man from the system and would be happy to change things by being in the system.
    “Hurriyat doesn’t give me that opportunity as they don’t believe in electoral politics,” he said while reacting to a question asked to him over the tweet of Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. He said that Mirwaiz’s tweet was not an invitation but a suggestion.
    “I am qualified enough to become Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) or Member of Parliament (MP),” he said while reacting to a question of a journalist in a presser.
    “As of now, I have no plans to join any existing mainstream political party. My future course of action lies in the suggestions of the youth whom he is scheduled to meet from tomorrow. We will reach to consensus before taking the final decision,” he said. Referring to a query, Shah Faesal said that he is deeply inspired by Pak PM Imran Khan and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal but “as we are operating in a conflict zone and is not very easy for us to work in that space, which is not pleasant. I wish if youngsters give me support then I will be very happy to do a retake of Imran Khan and Kejriwal.”
    Asked whether he is going to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections, Shah said, “I believe parliamentary and assembly is an important space. We need well-meaning people there. Due to de-legitimization of mainstream politics, youth were not interested towards that politics. We need to change that. I would like to use parliament an important and useful tool of engagement for bringing solution to our state.”
    “I will make people believe that it is a credible institution and not to destroy people. We want destroy the politics the way it has been happening,” he added.
    He said that after resigning from the country’s elite service has no work now and his entire life is for Kashmir now.
    Reacting to a question over mixed response by denizens on social media over his joining of politics, Shah Faesal said, “The movement you started own party, people believe it is sponsored by agencies. If you contest independently then you are an agency person for them. If you join exiting party, then people have problem with that too. We will take any decision once I get suggestions from the youth. I will go to the grass-root level and will start work.”
    In reply to a question, Shah Faesal also praised the former chief minister and Nationals Conference (NC) Vice President during the presser, saying “Omar is a gracious person and supported me. Omar is a leader who guided me always. I would like to make it clear in this press conference that NC never approached me but I went to Omar Abdullah for suggestions,” he said.
    Shah Faesal in the beginning of the press conference said it is an important day of his life after serving the people from past nine years at different posts.
    He reiterated that he resigned from country’s elite service as mark of protest, saying rise of lynch mob extremism is another reason for my decision.
    The culture of undermining the institutions like CBI, NIA are part of the provocations that have resulted in my decision to resign from the IAS,” he said, adding that the return Kashmir Pandits should be made possible, which the Central government hasn’t done so far.
    He added that there were constant attacks of the identity of Jammu and Kashmir, adding that “Article 370 and 35A must be guarded to strength the bound between India and Jammu and Kashmir.” (KNS)

  • MeT predicts adequate snowfall in January

    Srinagar: As most of the places across the Valley received light snowfall this night, the weatherman on Friday expected adequate snowfall in the month of January, saying that the department has forecasted snowfall till January 13 and in between Jan 19-20.
    Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Director Meteorological department (MeT), Sonum Lotus said that there is possibility of rains and snowfall for the next two days and the higher reaches of the Valley would experience light snowfall in the intervening night of Friday-Saturday.
    Lotus added that the Valley received fresh snowfall in last night while some of the places received 5 inches of snowfall as well. He said that the Valley would receive light snowfall on tomorrow again while as the weather conditions would improve from January 13 (Sunday) afternoon.
    He also said that the department is predicting an adequate snowfall in this month, saying that there is possibility of snowfall in between Jan 19-20 as well.
    Sonum told KNS that some of the areas don’t receive snowfall as the system in not that fast, which would led to the snowfall across Kashmir and Ladakh.
    Notably, the Valley received a fresh snowfall in the intervening night of Thursday-Friday while it is the third snowfall in Kashmir from past 10 days. (KNS)