Category: Union Territory

Kamala Harris will speak out on issues that are important to her, says the maternal uncle of the U.S. Vice-President-elect.

A man offers sweets to Balachandran Gopalan, U.S. Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris’ maternal uncle, in New Delhi on November 8, 2020. | Photo Credit: AP

Speaking to The Hindu, G. Balachandran, policy commentator and technology expert, said here on Sunday that Ms. Harris was raised by her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who participated in the civil rights movement in the U.S. in the 1960s, and she may choose to speak out on human rights-related issues in India.

“She will speak out if she is moved by something. You may not want her to say that but she will say, ‘I am sorry but I will have to say this,’” Mr. Balachandran said.

He said Ms. Harris would not keep quiet if she disagreed with something happening in India. Ms. Harris, he said, drew from the rich legacy of civil rights championed by her mother, a biomedical scientist, who left a strong impression on her.

“Shyamala contributed immensely to the legacy of human rights in the U.S. Her contribution on that front is much greater than that of Kamala’s,” said Mr. Balachandran, who worked as a consultant at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. He maintained that the election result had sent a message of hope to the world.

The Biden-Harris campaign had maintained that India should restore civil and political rights in Kashmir, and Ms. Harris had indicated her disapproval after the August 5 decision last year on ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. When asked about the issue, Ms. Harris had said, “We are all watching.”

Mr. Balachandran felt his niece could speak on the present situation in Kashmir as well.

“Do not think that just because India has done something … she will keep quiet on that. She has spoken on issues like Kashmir earlier,” he said.

‘Global issues’

Speaking out on issues of global relevance will be the hallmark of the Biden-Harris administration as the election mandate is for bringing the U.S. into the global mainstream, as opposed to the policy of President Donald Trump, who had withdrawn the country from many of the international and multilateral obligations.

“The result is inspiring a lot of people all over the world because it indicates that the U.S. will return to the global mainstream, which is a good thing,” said Mr. Balachandran, who said the entire Indian part of Ms. Harris’s family is planning to attend the swearing-in on January 20.

“I attended the swearing-in ceremony when she became a Senator and I will be in Washington DC this time as well. All of us will be there when she takes the oath of office,” Mr. Balachandran said.

He is the brother of the Chennai-born Shyamala, who passed away in 2009.

With inputs from The Hindu

(Expect for the headlines, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Srinagar: in a significant development, the Finance Ministry has cleared a separate industrial policy for Jammu and Kashmir to boost its economy.

The industrial bodies who had a meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last month had sought a separate industrial policy for Jammu and Kashmir.

In this regard, Union Finance Minister has cleared the Industrial Policy for Jammu and Kashmir.

“It will now go to the Cabinet for final approval. Government also has to seek approval from the State Election Commission as J&K is under Model Code of Conduct in view of district development council elections,” a senior official told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

The official said the Union Finance Ministry has incorporated suggestions from the industrialists of Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier in the meeting last month, various industrialists had told the Finance Minister that it was necessary that JK has a separate Industrial policy.

“Most of the policy making happens in the closed room environment with no connection with the actual situation and this is gravely affecting the industry sector in JK,” one of the participants had told the meeting.

“JK industry, especially the MSMEs are reeling under economic distress for the past one year. There is an urgent need for incentives. If MSMEs are helped, unemployment to some extent can be arrested,” another industrialist had said.

Similarly, they had also raised that PSUs in the state are in a bad condition, but they have a huge potential if right attention and help is given.

“Incentives were urgently needed for the revival of the industry in JK . The past year has seen a lot of suffering, unemployment is growing, artisans don’t have much work, industries and MSMEs are in bad shape. A pile up of inventories has been happening,” they told the meeting.

Sources said the building of Industrial Estates, IT Parks, Medi-cities, tourism sector are among few highlights of the Industrial Policy which will be a comprehensive one aimed at attracting large scale investments in Jammu and Kashmir to make it an industrial hub. (KINS)

Says ‘our staff face resistance and being manhandled’

Srinagar: Authorities at Power Department have sought assistance from the police department to stop power theft in Kashmir.

There have been severe power cuts since the Durbar (highest seat of governance) shifted to Jammu.

An official of Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) said if people use electricity judiciously and pay as per the consumption then there won’t be power cuts.
“We are trying to adhere the curtailment schedule as approved by the government,” the official said.

Authorities at KPDCL have written a letter to district administrators seeking police assistance during the inspections to stop power thefts.

As per the letter, a copy of which accessed by news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), reads, “This is to bring to your kind notice that our field staff has been manhandled at various places in the past while carrying out inspections and were forced to withdraw inspection halfway. As such, it is requested to kindly extend necessary magisterial and Police support to the inspection squads constituted at different levels for tackling any law and order problems and to achieve the desired outcomes without any hindrance.”

The official said the department has taken several measures to stop the misuse of electricity in the Valley.

“We have formed various teams who are conducting inspections to stop power pilferage. Various departments including police have been told to give assistance to stop power theft. All those who resort to power pilferage will be heavily fined besides that FIRs will also be lodged where power theft grossly take place,” the official said.

Government has issued a power curtailment schedule according to which there is a three-hour curtailment for metered feeders and four-hour non metered feeders.

The increase in power curtailment both in metered and non-metered areas of the Valley has evoked strong public outrage.   “Ours is a non-metered area and there are around eight hour power cuts in a day,” Mohammad Altaf, a resident of Mehjoor Nagar said.

Similar complaints are also pouring in from metered areas where there are abrupt power cuts around six to eight hours in a day. “We witness frequent power cuts from the last few weeks. We are bound to get 24 hour electricity supply as per the rules but the Power Department often resorts to power cuts of around six-hours in a day,” Nazir Ahmad, a resident of Shalimar said.

People said when meters were installed in their areas, the department had promised round-the-clock supply. 

As per the official figures of the Power Department, the peak power demand during the winters is 2100 MWs as of 2019-2020 against the agreed load of 1520 MWs. (KINS)

Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) Tuesday demanded release of Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq.

A statement issued to news agency KINS said, “An extraordinary meeting of Jammu & Kashmir Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) was held on Tuesday at the historic Mirwaiz Manzil, Rajouri Kadal, presided over by renowned religious scholar and founding administrator of Darul Uloom Raheemiya Bandipora, Moulana Muhammad Rehmatullah Sahib in connection with the continued arbitrary house arrest of MMU president Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq since August 2019.”

As per the statement the representatives who participated included, Anjuman Himayat-ul-Islam patron Moulana Showkat Hussain Keing; Agha Syed Muhammad Hussain of Anjuman Shari’e Shi’an Budgam; Mufti Nazir Ahmad Qasmi, Sheikh-ul-Hadeeth and head Darul Uloom Raheemiya; Mufti Muhammad Yaqoob Baba Al-Madni, Head Mufti Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadeeth Jammu & Kashmir; Moulana Ali Akbar, principal Anjuman Tableegh-ul-Islam; Moulana Abdul Haq Owaisi, general secretary Himayat-ul-Islam; Mufti Ghulam Rasool Samoon of Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid; Moulana Fayaz Ahmad Raheemi; Moulana M S Rehman Shams and several others.

“The participants conveyed their strong dismay that due to the continuous house arrest of the Mirwaiz, the pulpit of Jamia Masjid is silent which otherwise reverberated with Qaal Allah Wa Qaal Ar Rasool (SAW) and the grand masjid would be abuzz with social reform activities,” it reads.

“This arbitrary house is a matter of concern for the Muslims of the valley and for all the religious organisations across the valley,” statement said, “All MMU representatives during the meeting strongly demanded the immediate release of the religious leader of J&K and Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq so that he fulfils his responsibilities the Institution of Mirwaiz enjoins upon him.”

The participants of the meeting also expressed strong resentment over the growing wave of Islamophobia at the global level wherein Islam, Muslims and Qur’an are being deliberately targeted, statement reads.

“They made it clear that Islam is not only a religion which preaches humanity above all, but it’s history is witness that it always advocates peace on the globe, and considers the whole of humanity as a single entity. As such, there is a dire need for religious scholars and youth to spread this message of Islam and fulfil their responsibilities in view of the Uswa-e-Rasool (SAW),” the statement said.

The meeting also deliberated upon the serious challenges faced especially by the youth who are being pushed to mental agony and other miseries due to the prevailing situation.

“It was stressed that under such grave circumstances people , especially youth must fight with conviction the present challenges by adopting Uswa-e-Rasool (SAW) and forging unity among their ranks and file,” it said.

At the end of the meeting Moulana Rehmatullah Mir Sahib presented a resolution which was passed unanimously.(KINS) 

Jammu: Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department, Manoj K Dwivedi Tuesday took a review of progress under package for relief and revival of industry announced by Lieutenant Governor on the basis of a report of the Committee constituted for the same, here at a meeting.

The Commissioner Secretary dealt with all the points of action pertaining to the Industries & Commerce Department, comprising Directorate of Industries & Commerce, Handicrafts and Handloom Department, J&K SIDCO and J&K SICOP. He underscored the need for creating awareness among the industrial fraternity regarding the benefits announced by the JKUT Government under the said Package.

Dwivedi impressed upon the officers present in the meeting to enable ease of doing business. “The steps taken by the department on this behalf should not merely remain on papers, but the effect should be seen on ground”, he added.

He also underscored the need to address Artisan distress and called for creating market demand for their products. He asked the department to explore the possibility of procuring handicraft goods from artisans through Corporation like JK Industries and SICOP and making these goods available to various Government Departments ensuring their marketability.

He emphasised the need for securing 20 percent procurement of locally manufactured goods along with 20 percent price preference in all procurements on e-tendering and GeM portal.

The Commissioner Secretary urged the Director, I&C-Jammu and Director, I&C-Kashmir to arrange a Buyer-Seller Meet with the Army for enhancing the market reach of local products.
He impressed upon the Committee constituted for suggesting Diagnostic study regarding solving problems related to Industries to submit its report well within the prescribed time frame.

The meeting was attended by Mohammad Harun, MD J&K SIDCO; Anoo Malhotra, Director, Industries & Commerce, Jammu;  RC Kotwal, Director-Finance, Industries and Commerce Department; Vikas Gupta, Director Handicrafts and Handloom  Department, Jammu; Aadil Fareed, Deputy Secretary and  DP Singh, General Manager, SICOP, besides other officers from the allied departments.

Director, Industries & Commerce, Kashmir, Mahmood Ahmed Shah, and  Director, Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, Masrat Ul Islam, also attended the meeting through video conferencing.

The Comm. Secretary exhorted all the Departments to make all out efforts for implementation of the Package with a view to support the industry and be ready to make sure that Industries from J&K are ready for increased market demand in the Post Covid period. He directed the officers to submit all requisite proposals within a week. (KINS)

We are asking them why our land is being sold, why jobs are snatched from our youth

Srinagar: National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah Tuesday said those who raise voices against “BJP’s policies are labeled as anti-national” by the BJP leaders.

“Jammu and Kashmir has been pushed backwards since Article 370 was abrogated. At that time, BJP leaders tried to mislead people of Jammu that the region will prosper after abrogating Article 370. See now the situation in Jammu and Kashmir,” he told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

He said, “Those who are raising voices against BJP’s policies are labelled as anti-nationals. We are asking them why our land is being sold, why jobs are snatched from our youth. Where are 50,000 jobs which were promised at the abrogation of Article 370?”

Farooq Abdullah is camping in Jammu for last several days where he has been meeting people from various walks of life.

Leaders of Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration recently also held a meeting in Jammu at Dr Farooq Abdullah residence. They also decided to contest DDC elections jointly.

At least seven political parties have formed the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration for restoration of Article 370 which the Centre abrogated on August 5 last year.

The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration has also given it a formal structure with Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti its president and vice president, respectively.

Traditionally bitter political rivals, the National Conference, People’s Democratic Party have decided to keep their individual rivalries in suspended animation and fight together to get Article 370 restored.

The Centre revoked the special constitutional status of the state and also bifurcated it into two union territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

These parties had reaffirmed their commitment to the declaration and vowed to fight unitedly against the Centre’s decision to alter the region’s status under Article 370 of the Constitution. (KINS)

Reviews security arrangements for DDC elections, Panchayats/ULB By-Polls

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Tuesday reviewed the security arrangements with respect to the ensuing District Development Council (DDC) election and by-elections for Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (ULB).

Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor received ‘Guard of Honour’ at his maiden visit to the Armed Police Headquarters here Tuesday.

Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, RR Bhatnagar; Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam; Secretary Home, Shaleen Kabra; Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh, ADGPs and IG Jammu were present in the meeting. While as IG Kashmir, DIGs, SSPs and other senior Police officers from Kashmir Division attended the meeting via video conferencing.

At the outset, Inspector General of Police Kashmir and district SSPs of Kashmir division briefed the Lieutenant Governor regarding security arrangements and other preparatory measures for the ensuing elections in their respective districts.

Speaking on the occasion, Lt. Governor stressed upon the officers to ensure free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections.

He emphasized on providing sufficient security to the participating candidates besides ensuring maximum participation of the people in the upcoming elections for DDC and Panchayats and Municipal by-elections.

“People must be facilitated during these elections so that they would feel secured to cast their ballot on the particular Election Day,” Lt. Governor said.

He said that the liaison between the different security agencies should be cohesive and strong for effective actions on the ground.

On the occasion, all district SSPs informed the Lieutenant Governor that all the arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth conduct of polling in their respective districts with deployment of forces and other security arrangements already in place.

While appreciating the role of J&K Police, Lieutenant Governor said that JK Police is one of the finest professional forces of the country besides it has a splendid history of valour and sacrifice.

“I am confident that J&K Police is capable of dealing with emerging situation while maintaining a close watch on all inimical elements to ensure peace in the region,” he maintained. (KINS)

Srinagar: Politicians in Kashmir have welcomed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for electing president and vice president of the USA.

Following the US election results, former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah welcomed Biden and Harris to be elected new president and vice president of the USA, respectively.

Mehbooba Mufti as per news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) said, “Their win gives hope to the rest of the world that Right-wing extremism and those who sow division and hatred will sooner or later be relegated to the pages of history like Donald Trump.”

While Omar Abdullah said, “To lose Bihar and the White House within days of each other would make for a pretty bad few days.”

Last October, Harris had said: “We have to remind the Kashmiris that they are not alone in the world. We are keeping a track on the situation. There is a need to intervene if the situation demands.”

Further, in a policy paper posted on Biden’s campaign website in June this year, titled ‘Joe Biden’s agenda for Muslim American community’, the President-elect had asked the Indian government to take “all necessary steps to restore the rights of all the people of Kashmir”.

The paper also stated: “Restrictions on dissent, such as preventing peaceful protests or shutting or slowing down the internet, weakens democracy.” (KINS)

Srinagar: Administration is all set to implement the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) where people can get information about ownership details of land in Jammu and Kashmir.

An official told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that the move is aimed at making land acquisition easier for public projects besides ending dubious land ownership.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir office has written a letter to Director Land Records Kashmir, a copy of which lies with news agency KINS, asking suggestions and inputs for implementation of ULPIN in J&K.

“The ULPIN shall provide flow of hibernation on any parcel of land or property to provide integrated land services to the citizens as well as stakeholders,” it reads.

The official said that ULPIN will have ownership details of the plot besides its size and longitudinal and latitudinal details.

“The unique number ULPIN would subsequently be linked to the Aadhaar and revenue court system,” the official said.

Sources said the department of land resources, under the ministry of rural development, had roll-out the pilot project in various states in September last year and following the successful completion of the pilot projects.

Sources said this would facilitate real estate transactions, help resolve property taxation issues and improve disaster planning and response efforts.

“Henceforth, all issues related to collection of taxes and ownership of the plot can be traced using one single number,” they said.

Land disputes, validity of titles and records and rightful ownership account for two-thirds of the cases pending in the country’s courts and it takes over 20 years on average to resolve them, impacting sectors and projects, shows some estimates.

Besides, land is often used as collateral for loans taken by farmers and unclear land deals inhibit their capacity to do so. Once implemented, the ULPIN will help genuine farmers to avail loans against their land.

The government has been implementing the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme for several years now that aims at digitisation of the land records and property registration process. (KINS)

Has taken oath of both J&K constitution and India as well, will hold both flags together

Jammu: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday accused New Delhi of fanning militancy in J&K after taking “anti-people” and “undemocratic” steps viz abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A) in last year.

Mehbooba who was addressing a packed press conference at party’s Jammu office said that BJP has fanned the militancy in Jammu and Kashmir while abolishing special status of J&K under Article 370 and 35(A). She said the “undemocratic” decisions of BJP government at center led to surge in militancy related activities here.

She asserted that BJP will have to return everything snatched from people of Jammu and Kashmir including rights that were taken away on August 5, 2019.

“We want every right back to J&K that were snatched by BJP Government so far including Article 370”, Mehbooba said.

The PDP chief said that Article 370 and other provisions of special status of J&K were not meant for Muslims of Kashmiris alone but were for all shades of life and were indeed brought by Maharaja rule to save the Dogra culture.

Resembling decisions of August 5, 2019 with “darkness”, the PDP chief said that the uncertain and chaotic situation that J&K witnessed after August 5, 2019 has engulfed Jammu also and people here are too much worried with the sequence of events.

To a query, Mehbooba said that the present BJP government is following an iron-fist policy and whosoever speaks against them is being booked under “frivolous” charges.

She said that youth of Kashmir is preferring to hold gun rather than going in jail forcibly. “The highhandedness of Government has pushed youth of Kashmir towards militancy and the extremism has also witnessed a rise in BJP rule”, PDP chief said.

In reply to a question related to her controversial remarks over holding national flag, Mehbooba Mufti said that she took oath of both Jammu and Kashmir’s constitution and constitution of India and will hold both flags together.

She further suggested Government of India to learn from foreign policy adopted by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and to restore normalcy on borders with Pakistan where innocent people are dying due to firing.

“I reiterate the slogan of Late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for opening of more and more border routes on Indo-Pak borders”, she said while giving reference of Late. Mufti’s statement for unification of Jammu and Kashmir as well as Pakistan Administered Kashmir besides solution of Kashmir issue.

She also said that Late. Mufti upheld national flag in Jammu and Kashmir at a time when he was socially boycotted.

While hitting hard over BJP and Government of India with allegations to snatch resources of Jammu and Kashmir, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that even the sand and clay from rivers of Jammu and Kashmir are being snatched with local people here are getting sand to the cost of twenty one thousand per vehicle and this all is due to anti-people policies of BJP.

She said that local people of Jammu and Kashmir are not getting place in employment now which is cause of concern and is worrying everyone here in Jammu also.

Regarding PAGDs decision to contest DDC polls unitedly, she said that Congress’s decision to contest polls with PAGD has already been announced by Chairman PAGD Dr Farooq Abdullah.

She however added that modalities of distribution of tickets for DDC polls under PAGD banner are yet to be finalized. (KNS)