Category: Union Territory

Srinagar, Mar 13: BJP Spokesperson and Chairperson of Waqf Development Committee of Ministry of Minority Affairs Dr Darakhshan Andrabi on Saturday expressed anguish over the “blasphemous statements and acts of the criminal Waseem Rizvi” and demanded that he should be booked under Public Safety Act so that such nonsense is stopped once for all.

“His statements are blasphemous. He is a criminal who wants to divert the public attention from his criminal cases by this dangerous and criminal out-pour. The Quran is a divine book which teaches peace and brotherhood. Nobody has the authority or power to edit the contents of the Holy book,” said BJP leader.

“Waseem Rizvi is under scanner of CBI for some severe criminal cases and he is using his dirty tactics to get respite from being convicted. Government should arrest him immediately and book him under PSA. This act is as dangerous as terrorism and India cannot tolerate any kind of religious blasphemy at all,” said Dr Andrabi. She said that expression of speech and freedom has its own limits.

Dr Andrabi said that faith is very sensitive and nobody can be allowed to enjoy the privileges of publicly expressing the personal insanity and mental disorder and create a law and order situation. “I have talked to the Minister of minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi regarding the issue and later contacted concerned law-enforcing agencies and was assured that he will soon be booked,” said Dr Andrabi.

She said that the Supreme Court should immediately dismiss the plea submitted by this lunatic keeping in view the sentiments of crores of people within the country. She has appealed to the public to maintain calm and peace as taught by Quran and the great prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

Srinagar, March 13: Encounter has started between militants and government forces in Rawalpora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday.

Reports reaching GNS that a joint team of Police and Army launched a cordon and search operation in Rawalpora.

As the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering off an gunfight.

A senior police officer also confirmed to GNS about exchange of firing between militants and security forces.

As per the sources two to three militants are believed to be trapped.(GNS)

Srinagar: Condemning the anti-Quran remarks by an anti Islam element, Waseem Rizwi, Islamic Fraternity (IF) has appealed all the Islamic scholars and leaders to expose and brought this anti-Islam element to justice.
President IF, Muhammad Aamir said that there is no power on earth that can amend even a single word of Quran and those who tried, failed disgracefully.
“Quran is the word of Creator, the Supreme Power of Heavens and Earth. Neither can any change His work nor is there any power on earth that can make amendments in His book. Enemies of Islam tried hard in the past to amend the Quran but Allah disgraced them by ruining their all plans. This anti-Islam element (Waseem Rizwi) will meet the same fate,” he said.
He said that the Holy Quran stood all the attacks by its enemies only because Allah has promised in his Book: “He has revealed the Quran and He will protect it”.
“These Verses form base of Muslim faith. Only a disgraced and a namesake Muslim like Rizwi will refuse to believe in that,” he said.
Saying that the blasphemous comments have not only deeply hurt the sentiments of Muslims but has angered the whole Muslim Ummah, he said that if Government of India is sincere towards Muslim community, they should immediately arrest and take strict action against him.
“Now is the time for GoI to show how much they respect Muslim Community. If a namesake anti-Islam element like Rizwi who attempted to tarnish the image of Islam by attacking sacred scriptures, is let free without any punishment, Muslims will lose faith in Indian justice system,” Aamir said.

Says won’t allow anyone to hurt religious sentiments of any particular community

Srinagar: The Kashmir unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has filed a complaint against former chairman of Shia Waqf Board, Waseem Rizvi for hurting the sentiments of Muslim community by speaking against the holy Quran.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Manzoor Bhat, who was recently given additional responsibility of party in charge for Kashmir province, said that they have filed a complaint at Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar’s officer against Waseem Rizvi for his anti-Quran remarks.

He said the party will ensure strict action against those who are involved in hurting the religious sentiments of any community and nobody will be allowed to speak against any community or their holy book. The party has sought FIR against Rizvi.

“We have filed a complaint and want the accused to be dealt with strictly so that no one will be allowed to interfere or make the remarks that would hurt the sentiments of any particular community,” Bhat said while appealing the people to maintain communal harmony as displayed from time to time—(KNO)

No night long prayers held, Holy relic displayed after Fajr prayers amid rains, Emotional scenes as devotees breakdown; no night-long prayers held, We tried our level best to facilitate devotees, Admin officials

Srinagar: Amid COVID-19 pandemic and inclement weather conditions, Shab-e-Mehraj, the night of ascent when the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) ascended to the highest levels of heavens, was on Friday observed with religious fervor across Jammu and Kashmir.

Notably, Muslims every year observe the Shab-e-Mehraj on 27th of Rajab (Islamic calendar), the night the Holy Prophet (SAW) embarked on a special journey to meet Allah Almighty, crossing seven skies riding the heavenly ‘al-Buraq’.

The word ‘Mehraj’ is derived from Arabic word Urooj, which means height, or ascension. During Mehraj, the command for five daily prayers (Salaat) was also given to the Holy Prophet (SAW).

Thousands of devotees from the different parts of the Valley thronged Dargah Hazratbal shrine, housing the relic of the Prophet (SAW). However, unlike previous years, no night long prayers were held at Dargah Hazratbal shrine and at the historic Jamia Masjid.

Nonetheless, the devotees offered mandatory Friday congregational prayers at Hazratbal shrine and had a glimpse of the holy relic after all the prayers today.

Emotional scenes were witnessed at Hazratbal shrine when the holy relic was displayed after every prayer especially after the Friday congregational prayers during which they raised their hands for prayer.

Special prayers were held at almost all the shrines and local Masjids here in Kashmir where the religious clerics highlighted the importance of the night and its blessings. The teachings and aspects of the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) were also highlighted during the Friday sermons and Ijtimas.

Officials told KNO that it was expected that a huge gathering will be witnessed at Hazratbal shrine, but the congregation in view of the inclement weather conditions remained low. A shrine management official said that they tried their level best to facilitate the devotees amid incessant rains. “Thousands reached the shrine and had the glimpse of holy relic. The holy relic was displayed after every prayer of the day. It will be displayed for devotees tomorrow also (March 13) after every prayer,” he said.

Meanwhile, the traffic department had made arrangements for the smooth passage of the vehicular movement in view of the Shab-e-Mehraj. The department had also issued traffic advisory for smooth passage of the traffic.

The district administration besides appealing for following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), had made special arrangements for the devotees—(KNO)

Kashmir March 12: Many government employees in Jammu and Kashmir have deactivated their social media accounts after authorities decided to scrutinize their accounts.

A recent circular issued by J&K’s General Administration Department has asked all the administrative secretaries, divisional commissioners and heads of departments to get security clearance of government employees from the J&K Police’s criminal investigation department (CID).
The heads of government departments have been asked to provide details of social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc) of employees whose verification has not been carried out.
“Many individuals with dubious character antecedents and conduct have been paid salaries and other allowances, without obtaining their mandatory CID verification,” the GAD circular says.
Fearing trouble many employees have deactivated their social media accounts. “I have posted a number of times against government’s policies like price rise, difficulties people faced when Kashmir received major snowfall and roads were not cleared for weeks. I don’t want to face any trouble so I deactivated my Facebook account,” an employee of Education Department told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
There are around five lakh government employees in Jammu and Kashmir.
Another employee of Srinagar Municipal Corporation expressed similar apprehensions.
“I have deactivated my account as I fear if the government does not like some content I shared on Twitter and Facebook,” the employee said. “I will open new accounts so I could at least post birthday wishes to my friends and my pictures,” he said.
Earlier, in February, 2021, the government issued an order, asking collectors to submit details of all employees who will complete 22 years of service or attain the age of 48 by December 2021. The order also sought details about the involvement of employees in political activity or in cases of law and order.
Earlier in December 2017, Jammu and Kashmir government banned employees from posting anything critical about the administration even on their private social media accounts.
“No government employee shall engage in any criminal, dishonest, immoral or notoriously disgraceful conduct that may be prejudicial to the government on the social media,” an order issued by the commissioner secretary of the general administration department in 2017 reads.
A senior official in the General Administration Department said they have identified some employees who were drawing salaries without obtaining the mandatory police verification certificate.
“Once you are in government you have to follow service rules. Government employees can’t criticize the government’s policies. Government is not against using of social media but employees have to use as per service rules,” the official added. (KINS)

Srinagar, Mar 12: The Power Department has decided to come out with a new curtailment schedule from March 15 if there is improvement in weather in next few days.

Sources told news agency KINS that Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan has directed officers to prepare the new schedule for supplying electricity from March 15.
Chief Engineer PDD Aijaz Ahmad Dar said they were working to frame a new power curtailment schedule from March 15.
“If there is improvement in weather then we can issue new power curtailment schedule from March 15. As there was dry weather last week, the electricity demand had reduced to 1440 MWs. Now there is drop in temperature, the electricity demand has again gone up to 1550 MWs,” Dar told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
Sources said that that peak unrestricted demand during the winter season was 2150 MW while peak demand met was 1495 MW.
However, peak unrestricted demand during the summer season was 1500 MW while peak demand met was 1435 MW.
Sources said that Rs 778.85 cr revenue was realized from various consumers by ending January, 2021. “The revenue collection was increased by 13.04% amounting to Rs. 89.83 cr more from previous year,” sources maintained.
It is to mention here that the advisor Baseer Khan recently appreciated officers for taking advance steps to tackle any issue of restoration of power supply during the winter. However, the Advisor had told officers not to lower guard as the duration of winter has not finished yet.
In a meeting the Advisor was also briefed regarding the ongoing projects including the Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition System/Distribution Management System ( SCADA/DMS) in Srinagar city which envisages remote monitoring and operation of all 33kv /11kv receiving stations in Srinagar city, Real time Data Acquisition System (RT-DAS) in rural areas by way of remote monitoring of 348 feeders of 112, 33kv/11kv receiving stations, RAPDRP Part-A, Smart Metering; CCD-MDM integration and upcoming project IPDS IT Part-A.
The advisor Khan had also reviewed the status and augmentation of the Delina, Magam, Gopalpora, Mattan and other grid stations. He was informed that all the required transformers have been transported to Delina GS which would give huge relief to the consumers of Baramulla, Magam, Beerwah and other areas. (KINS)

Srinagar: University of Kashmir yet again in a strange move has asked students to submit a fee which was waived off back in October 2020 in view of “arduous situation arisen due to Covid-19”.

The demanding of already waived off fee by the university has raised concern among students and has left them in a state of distress.

Few of these students while talking to News Agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) said that the university has come up with a notification asking us to submit the installments of fee which was earlier waived off.

“The LG’s intervention and direction least matters for the authorities at university and they keep on looting the students”, the students said.

Back in 2020 the fee was waived off after a delegation from Kashmir University Students Guild submitted a representation at the office of Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha seeking “waiving off of extra charges and concession in admission fee” on 11-09-2020 (A copy of which lies with KDC).

As such the Governor’s office directed the university to look into the matter, to which the university brought up a circular (a copy of which also lies with KDC) on 07-10-2020 which reads ” in view of arduous situation arisen due to Covid-19, the Vice Chancellor has been pleased that till the matter with regard to relaxation in the admission fee is resolved, only 50 percent of the admission fee prescribed for 3rd and 4th semester of PG programmes be realised from its first installment”.

Meanwhile talking to news agency KDC, the university Registrar, Dr Nisar Ahmad Mir said, “we have offered a 25% relaxation and the matter is still in consideration with the higher authorities”.

“We’ll look into the matter again on Monday”, he added. (KDC)

A KAS officer, who was presently posted as District Information Officer, died after suffering massive heart at his residence in Udhampur district.

Officials told GNS that the officer, Sajad Sumbria (KAS) had cardiac attack at his residence in udhampur today morning and was brought to emergency wing of district hospital udhampur at 8.20am.

“He was immediately attended by Dr Arjun, doctor on duty. Immediate ECG was done and other necessary protocols were followed.

Physician Dr Vinod and Anaesthesia consultants Dr Atri and Dr Kailu attended him but he could not be revived and was declared brought dead at 8.40am,” they said.

Sumbria also remained BDO Mandi in Poonch. (GNS)

Retailers jobless, farmers suffer losses in crores

Srinagar: Amid the bird flu scare, over 70 per cent of poultry farms in Kashmir have been closed leaving hundreds of people jobless and causing farmers losses in crores.

Poultry farmers said that last year they suffered heavy losses due to Covid-19 lockdown and this year due to the rumour mongering about bird flu in the poultry.

Tariq Elahi, a senior member of Kashmir Valley Poultry Farmers Association (KVPFA) said that despite no case of bird flu was reported in poultry, people have stopped the consumption, “due to rumour-mongering and irresponsible reporting by the media”.

“Only one case was reported in poultry in Baramulla but that too was on a shop not in a poultry farm but people started spreading rumours that there is bird flu among poultry everywhere,” Elahi said.

Elahi said most of them have started the business on bank loans and by witnessing huge losses from last two years they are unable to return the money to the bank.

“Hundreds of people have taken farms on rent but due to bird flu scare, they too have closed their farms,” he said.

Elahi said to restart the farm, one has to purchase a chick for Rs 50 to 60 which they used to purchase in between Rs 20 to 30.

“Feed costs around Rs 80 per chick for about 30 to 40 days and then in the market we have to sell it Rs 80 per kg,” he said. “How farmers will restart their farms in such circumstances when he is getting Rs 80 per kg but he has to spend around Rs 120-150 at an average on one poultry bird.”

Elahi said, farmers have requested the government to look into the matter and come up with a package for poultry farmers or at least waive off their interests on bank loans.

Avian Influenza has been reported among dead crows, domestic geese and cocks in Jammu and Kashmir besides a single case among poultry in Baramulla.

Moreover, doctors have said that it is safe to eat poultry products if it is boiled properly, however precautions must be taken—(KNO)