Category: Union Territory

Press Trust of India

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday asked the government to bring a bill in Rajya Sabha proposing restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking during the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Azad said, “I appeal to you, if Jammu and Kashmir has to progress and if we have to fight our enemies at the borders, we need to take our own people into confidence and give them love.”

He said the government should “bring a bill in the House and statehood to be restored” adding that legislative assembly elections must be held after statehood is restored for Jammu and Kashmir.

He said any measure that upsets the people residing in the Northeast and border areas, including Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Punjab, should not be taken.

Referring to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Azad said she taught him that “we cannot fight on multiple fronts with Pakistan and China”.

The Congress leader claimed that the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are not happy as outsiders can now buy their land and work there, unlike in the past.

Arguing against Jammu and Kashmir being converted into a Union Territory, he also claimed that the law and order situation in Kashmir was 100 times better when it was a state as compared to now, militancy was at its lowest and development works were at their best, irrespective of whichever government was in power in the state.

He alleged that tourism industry in Kashmir was now finished, along with education as schools and colleges are closed for almost two years, while it also lags behind in key parameters like health.

However, Azad congratulated the Narendra Modi-led government for executing the long standing demand that panchayati raj system be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking after him, A Navaneethakrishnan of the AIADMK expressed gratitude to the prime minister for enacting the Tamil Nadu Protected Agricultural Development Zone Act, addressing the apprehensions of farmers in the Cauvery delta.

The Act prohibits all kinds of activities that are harming agriculture in the Cauvery delta, he said, adding that as many as 15 members from both Houses are from the Cauvery delta area.

In 2019, the Centre revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Srinagar: Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has reacted to the series of tweets of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba wherein she alleged that Waheed Parra is being persecuted and tortured.

In a statement to KNT, police stated that: “Recent comments about CID investigations in the public domain through social media are unfortunate for two reasons: for being factually incorrect and making CID officers vulnerable to increased threats and enhanced risks. It is also fraught with the risks of adversely influencing the witnesses and the course of investigation. It is factually incorrect that an under investigation person was tortured. CID investigations are done professionally and as per law.”

“Each and every arrested person is presented before competent court periodically as per law. Every arrested suspect has access to health care and doctors. It is neither proper nor lawful to discuss and pass verdict like remarks in the public domain about ongoing complex investigations.”

“CID is answerable to the courts on all aspects including whether amenities and rights available to a person under custodial investigation and his legal obligations to cooperate in the investigation are being complied.”(KNT)

Hurriyat demands Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s immediate release

Press Trust of India

Srinagar: The moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference on Wednesday alleged that its leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was still under house arrest and demanded his release.

The amalgam contested Union Minister of State G Kishan Reddy’s statement in Parliament that no person is currently under house arrest in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement issued here, it claimed that a police vehicle has been permanently stationed outside the Mirwaiz’s Nigeen residence since August 2019 and he is not allowed to move out.

If that is not house arrest, then what is? If he (Mirwaiz) is not under house arrest, then why is he not allowed to come out of his house? Mirwaiz will complete one-and-a-half years under detention on February 5, the Hurriyat said.

It said instead of such misleading statements’, the authorities should immediately end the house detention of the Mirwaiz and also release unconditionally” others arrested on the eve of August 5, 2019

Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of Minister for Home Affairs Reddy said the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been fully integrated into the mainstream of the nation after the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state.

The minister said various measures were taken in the interest of security and public order which included preventive detention of certain persons.

“Since August 1, 2019, 613 persons including separatists, overground workers, stone pelters, etc. were detained at various points of time. Out of these, based on regular review and ground situation, 430 persons have been released till date, he said in a written reply to a question.

The minister also said that the Jammu and Kashmir administration has further reported that no person is under house arrest in the UT.

Press Trust of India

Srinagar: The air traffic to and fro Kashmir was affected on Wednesday due to bad weather as most parts of the valley received fresh snowfall, officials said.

The snowfall began during the night and continued at many places when last reports came in, the officials said.

The snowfall affected the flight operations at Srinagar airport in the morning, delaying several flights.

Flight operations were hampered due to accumulation of snow on the runway and poor visibility due to bad weather, the officials said.

While the runway was cleared of snow, the visibility was low about 800 metres — for the flight operations to take place, they said.

The officials said the decision on the resumption of the operations at the airport would be taken after the weather improves.

However, they said, the bad weather caused flight delays and many flights have been rescheduled.

Government amends earlier order

Traffic to move from Jammu towards Srinagar tommorow: Traffic Authorities

Srinagar: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has amended the earlier order on dry-day on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway stating that the highway will remain closed on Fridays during the month of February for maintenance and repairs of the road.

In a fresh order, a copy of which lies with the News Agency Kashmir News Observer-(KNO), R&B Department under No PW(R&B)/Plan/NH-44/67/2020 dated 03-02-2021, that read: “That every Friday falling on every 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th of February 2021 would be traffic dry day on NH-44 for undertaking major repairs and maintenance works on NH-44.”

Pertinent to mention, in an earlier order the J&K government had modified the previous order and had decided to suspend the Traffic movement on Srinagar- Jammu national highway on every Thursday.

An official also said that that the order has been re-modified and dry day for the month of February will be on every Friday.

“Meanwhile traffic will be allowed tomorrow on Srinagar-Jammu highway from Jammu towards Srinagar”, an official said—(KNO)

Srinagar: Dr. Nisar ul Hassan on Monday urged the J&K government to end the practice of winter vacation for doctors in the valley saying the long break caused immense hardships to patients.

Dr Nisar ul Hassan said in a statement that it was “ironical that senior doctors in Kashmir valley are allowed for holidaying en masse at a time when their services are needed the most”.

“Come winter, senior doctors abandon their places of work to evade the harsh winter of the valley and go on sojourn within and outside the country,” he said in a statement to news agency KINS.

The Doctor said every year, faculty of referral hospitals go for two month winter vacation leaving patients to fend for themselves.

The patients, he said, “are left to die due to non-availability of senior doctors during harsh winter when Kashmir remains cut-off from rest of the world” adding that “hundreds of patients, every day turn up at these hospitals from far flung areas only to be told that senior doctors are on leave.”

With doctors on leave, there is problem in conducting outpatient and inpatient services in hospitals, Dr Nisar said.

He also alleged that planned surgeries are cancelled and procedures are further delayed due to the winter break. 

“In absence of senior doctors, hospitals are run by junior doctors who find it difficult to cope with the rush of patients and are unable to handle complicated cases,” he said.

Dr Nisar said winter brings more patients to hospitals but they are “left uncared as doctors are on holidays”.

He said the number of heart attacks and strokes doubles in winter and there is increased mortality among these patients due to non-availability of senior doctors.

The Doctor said there are increased numbers of pneumonia cases and hospitals are “flooded with asthmatics and chronic lung disease patients during winter”, Dr Nisar said.

Besides, there are far more fire-related cases and fair amount of accident cases due to slip or skid on icy streets, he added.

He further said that in view of the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic this year, “many severely ill patients related to the virus continue to get admitted in hospitals.”

Although SKIMS hospital has cancelled winter vacation for doctors in view of Covid-19 crisis this year, doctors at GMC Srinagar and its associated hospitals are “enjoying winter holidays,” Dr Nisar said.

Srinagar: The frozen Dal Lake has made life harder for inhabitants of the famed water body in Srinagar.

The Dal Lake has frozen several times in the past during chilly winters. However, this year, it has restricted tourists to roam in the Dal Lake. Life of those dependent on water transport has become equally very difficult.

“A lot of tourists have come here to see snowfall. Due to the frozen lake, we are not able to row boats. Many tourists feel disappointed after not taking a Shikara ride due to the frozen lake,” Mohammad Yusuf, a Shikara owner told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

However, people believe that things would get better in the coming days when frozen water starts melting due to increase in temperature.
More than 40,000 people live on Dal Lake including Shikara owners, houseboat owners, vegetable growers, businessmen dealing with handicrafts, and fisherfolk. Tourism, agriculture, and fishing form the backbone of the economy on the lake.

There are more than 4500 registered Shikaras owners. However, at present less than 800 are associated with it as others have switched to other jobs due to decline of tourist arrivals post August 2019.

“We are entirely dependent on tourism. Our sector was badly hit post abrogation of Article 370, then COVID pandemic and now we have been affected due to frozen lake,” he added.
Kashmir has been under intense cold since the second week of January. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a low of minus 8.8 degrees celsius, which was the coldest temperature in 30 years.

Last week, Javid Ahmad, 40, an inhabitant of the lake had to purchase home necessities from the market, which is a kilometer away from his home. Normally, it would take him 15 minutes to reach there on the boat.

“It took me more than two hours to break the ice and then to reach the market. This winter has been a hardest ever for us in the last three decades due to freezing of the lake. Not only our livelihood has been hit, we are even not able to buy things,” Ahmad said, who deals with Kashmiri handicrafts.   

Similarly, vegetable growers would sell their produce at the floating vegetable market on the Dal Lake early in the morning. However, these days they are finding it difficult to reach to vegetable gardens and then sell in the market.
Vegetables including tomatoes, carrot, turnips and Nadru (Lotus root) traded in this floating market are supplied to Srinagar and many towns across the Kashmir valley.

Ghulam Mohammad, a 55-year-old fisherman would catch three kilogram of fish each day. However, he said for last 10 days since the lake is frozen, he caught less than 12 kilogram of fish. “When we are not able to roam around the lake how can we catch the fish? To catch fish, we have to break ice for hours,” he said.

There are also photographs of the frozen Dal Lake with selfie taking tourists and locals are trending on social media.

Meanwhile, authorities have issued an advisory asking people not to roam around on the frozen waters of the lake. The Srinagar district administration in an advisory asked people not to walk or play on the frozen parts of the Dal Lake. “We have clearly asked the people not to venture out on the frozen parts of Dal Lake as there is melting of the frozen parts happening. This can be dangerous. We have deployed quick reaction teams at the lake,” said Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary. (KINS)

Rajouri: Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and President Peoples Democratic Party Ms Mehbooba Mufti Monday said that ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was tearing apart the very spirit of India to build its organisation in furtherance of its vindictive and fanatic political agenda.

In a statement given to PTK She said, “Journalists and columnists are being booked for reporting facts, farmers are being targeted and defamed for seeking their rights, students and minorities are being pushed to walls. NIA, CBI, ED and every agency was being used to settle political scores and curb democratic voices”.

Ms Mehbooba was addressing workers convention in this border township for the first time after abrogation of special status of erstwhile state. She was accompanied by General Secretary and former MLC Surinder Choudhary, former legislators Master Tasaduq Hussain and Firdous Tak, Vijay Dogra, former VC, Rajinder Manhas, Satpal Charak, Parvaiz Wafa, Varinder Singh Sonu, Abdul Qayoom Dar, Mohd Iqbal Shah, Tazeem Dar, Advocate Showkat Hussain, Anjum Mirza, Advocate Ahsan Mirza and others.

“The sole purpose of this brazen use of muscle power and government machinery to squeeze political space in the country is aimed at strengthening BJP as organisation”, she said adding “Unfortunately this is being done at the cost of India’s interests both internally and externally”. She said that the plans of fanatic forces to enforce majoritarianism have not succeeded anywhere in the world and it is bound to fail here too.

Terming Armed Forces Specials Powers (AFSPA) as a blot on the democratic values of this country the former chief minister counted several instances with the absolute powers under the law were misused and innocent lives lost. “Three innocent youth from Rajouri were abducted and killed in cold blood in Shopian to win medals. The details emerging as how the encounter was staged sends shivers down the spine”, she said adding that in recent such encounters across Kashmir very young people have been killed in so called encounters in contrary to the claims of families of the deceased.

Reiterating her stand about the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, abrogated by union government, Ms Mufti said that her party shall carry forward the struggle even if it is left alone to fight. “I have made it clear that my personal struggle is only for restoration of dignity and honour of people. My party and our workers have pledged to be with me in the fight which is surely going to be long and tough. I want to assure you that we shall not give up and I am confident that the day will come when New Delhi will restore everything forcibly and unconstitutionally snatched from us along with interests”, she said while urging people to stand firm and united.

Highlighting Mufti sahab’s special focus on Rajouri she added “Mufti sahab was an ardent believer of doing politics for the sake of greater goals and good. It was his broader vision which foresaw the economic fillip that Mughal Road will induce to the districts of Rajouri and Shopian apart from connectivity. While everyone was thinking of schools he planned big institutions like Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University in Poonch- Rajouri area. His yearning for realising the dream of resolution of the Kashmir issue even saw him putting everything at stake and joining hands with BJP to work towards the resolution of the vexed issue. He always chose to fight and risk it big in the hope of providing relief and in the interest of the people of J&K,” Mehbooba added. (PTK)

Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha lauded the Central Government for announcing the project.

“I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modiji and Union Home Minister Amit Shahji for announcing a new gas pipeline project for the development of Jammu and Kashmir in Budget 2021. I congratulate Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamanji for an inclusive and growth-oriented historic budget for Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” said Sinha on Twitter as per news agency KINS.

The key announcements in the Union Budget for the power infrastructure sector include the extension of Ujjwala Scheme to cover 1 crore more beneficiaries, the addition of 100 more districts in the next 3 years to the city gas distribution network and setting up of an independent Gas Transport System Operator.
The Finance Minister announced a ₹ 3,05,984 crore electricity distribution reform scheme over 5 years in order to empower electricity distribution companies (discoms). The major features of the scheme include prepaid smart metering, feeder separation and up-gradation system.

Sitharaman also announced the Hydrogen Energy Mission 2021-22 for generating hydrogen from green sources. (KINS)

Jammu: All the educational institutions excluding below 9th have reopened in Jammu after remaining off for over 11 months.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration announced the decision on Sunday. In the decision, the administration mentioned that schools, colleges, higher educational institutions, technical or skill institutions are allowed to open from February 1.

Educational institutions need to follow the Covid-19 SOPs, reads directions issued by the Union Ministry of Education as well as departments of school education, higher education, and skill development of the J&K government.

Schools in Kashmir division for class IX to XII will reopen as per schedule after the winter vacation. Schools in Kashmir are closed for winter vacation till February 28.

“In case of elementary classes, teachers shall attend schools from February 1 for preparation. Students should physically attend classes from February 8,” said an order issued by BK Singh, administrative secretary to the government.

However, standard operating procedures shall have to be followed in letter and spirit as per the suggestions of the district disaster management authorities. (PTK)