Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: Amid speculations about reopening of Colleges and Universities in Jammu and Kashmir, the authorities on Tuesday said the decision to reopen the educational institutes will be taken only after the government issues new guidelines.

Top official of the Higher Education Department told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that it has not received any intimation by the government regarding the reopening of Colleges and Universities so far.

“As of now, we have not got any intimation with regard to reopening of Colleges and Universities from the government,” the official said.

The official further informed KNO, “Until the government will issue any new guidelines, we cannot take any decision as to whether we will reopen the institutions or continue with online mode.”

“The colleges however are open for research, guidance and counsel even the students are visiting the college to collect the notes and study material and the regular class work has not been started yet,” the official said.

Pertinently, the University of Kashmir (KU) in October said the academic activities of the ongoing academic session will continue even during the winter vacations in order to compensate the academic losses due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier in September, the University Grants Commission (UGC) ordered Universities and Colleges to commence classes for the new academic session 2020-21 from November-01 for first year Undergraduate and Postgraduate students.

UGC also directed the Universities and Colleges to complete the admission process by October-31—(KNO)

Jammu: BJP J&K spokesperson Brigadier Anil Gupta on Tuesday hit out to parties of Gupkar Declaration, saying the group is meant for thrusting decisions of handful of political parties to common masses.

Talking exclusively to Kashmir News Service (KNS), BJP leader while hitting out to regional political parties including NC, PDP and others said they want to continue ‘Khandani Raj’ in J&K and for that matter Gupkar Declaration is meant for the purpose. “Gupkar Declaration is meant for continuing Khandani Raj in UT while these parties are thrusting their decisions upon common people”, he said.

About election, Gupta said that it is the job of Election Commissioner who can take a call. “We are politicians and can’t decide when elections are conducted. Right now delimitation process across UT is underway and till its completion, there seems no headway to elections”, Gupta added.

He said Government of Jammu and Kashmir has decided to conduct DDC elections which will be a reason for strengthening democracy at grass root level.

Gupta condemned the comments of French President Emmanuel Macron about Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and said what he did, was condemned one and all.

“BJP has denounced the remarks of French President. His remarks hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the globe. Same Hindus living in Bangladesh are being harassed but nobody has shown any concern”, he said.

Lashing out on Congress party, Gupta said that Rahul Gandhi has been silenced over persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. “Congress is playing double game and didn’t utter a sympathy with Hindus being harassed outside India”, he said.

“When there was agitation on CAA in country, Congress took undue advantage of the situation and endorsed its support in fanning trouble. But when Hindus outside country are being harassed the party is keeping silence”, BJP spokesperson said.

Gupta added that all human beings are brother to each other. “Our forefathers are same. Our blood is red. We can’t be divided on the basis of religion. If people are practicing their respective religions that is their personal choice”, he said adding till all humans will not live together, humanity can’t prosper and develop. (KNS)

Srinagar: In a major concern, the unemployment rate has reached to 25 percent in Jammu and Kashmir, which is double the national average.

Jammu and Kashmir has 65 percent population under the age of 35 years. While as per official figures accessed by news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), 25 percent youth are unemployed in J&K, which is double the national average.

“We are facing many challenges. Unemployment is a major concern in J&K. For a single post, thousands of aspirants are applying,” an official told KINS.

To curb on unemployment, the official Jammu and Kashmir administration has set up 2025 its target to create employment opportunities and end unemployment in the new Union Territory.

The official said that J&K government has sought support of the national-level investors and industry experts in creating robust infrastructure and employment avenues for the youth of J&K.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has also said government would take measures to end unemployment in J&K.

“I believe in concrete plans and immediate execution. My idea of Institutional Mechanism under Mission Youth is to ensure that we have a concrete framework and a definite time-line to execute it on the fertile ground that we have prepared,” he recently said.

The Lt Governor also beckoned the industrial leaders to partner J&K in formulating and implementing the programme successfully on ground as he assumed that best designs are not what looks good on paper but what works best when implemented on ground.

In the domestic Ease of Doing Business ranking and State Reform Action Plan he said, “We are moving up. By minimizing regulatory burdens, J&K have scored over states like Kerala and Odisha in September’s ranking by the central government.”

He has urged that ways and means should be searched for providing the sustained support to youth as the piecemeal approach has not done any good in the past. Our youth has struggled due to many reasons as lack of avenues regarding job prospects, skill up gradation, recreation abetted by poor educational standards, skill sets are taking toll on them, he added. (KINS)

Srinagar: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that party had fought battles against surrendered militants & POTA and right now it will fight for restoration of Article 370 and resolution of Kashmir issue from the front.
According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Mehbooba was talking to reporters after meeting with several youth came from several parts of valley.

“I met several youth today who apprised me about political and economical situation of their respective areas. What I observed New Delhi has devastated the structure of Jammu and Kashmir by their anti-Kashmir and anti-people policies”, Mehbooba said.

She said that after Article 370 was abolished by Modi led BJP Government last year, Central Government didn’t stop its brutalities here but resorted to more “anti-people” policies like introducing Domicile Law, amendment in Land Laws & employment rules and others.

Mehbooba claimed that PDP had fought several battles in past and will continue to fight more for the interests of Jammu and Kashmir and its people.

“PDP had fought battles against surrendered militant, POTA & others, and today our fight is for restoration of identity of Jammu and Kashmir that was snatched by New Delhi on August 5, 2019 forcibly”, she said adding resolution of Kashmir issue is inclusive in our fight. (KNS)

Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir’s State Election Commissioner, Kewal Kumar Sharma would replace Hirdesh Kumar as member of the delimitation commission constituted by the Central government earlier this year for Assembly and Parliamentary segments of J&K Union Territory, sources disclosed.

Highly placed sources in J&K government told news agency- Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Sharma would now be part of the three-member delimitation commission headed by former Supreme Court Judge Justice (Retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai.

The Election Commissioner Sushil Kumar Chandra is other member of the panel.

Constituted in March this year, the panel is mandated to fix boundaries of 90 Assembly segments of J&K and reserve seats for schedule castes and scheduled tribes within them.

It has also been empowered to undertake delimitation of five parliamentary segments of J&K UT.

The Commission has been constituted under J&K Reorganization Act,2019 and Delimitation Commission Act, 2002.

Sharma, who was an advisor to J&K LG, resigned last week after his appointment as first full-fledged SEC.

It is worthwhile to mention here that Sharma, a 1983-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Mizoram Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre, was appointed advisor to the Lieutenant Governor in November last year.

During his service career spanning some 30 years, he has held key positions, including the Chief Secretary of Delhi and Goa.

He also served as secretary in the Human Resource Development Ministry before his retirement. Sharma has served as advisor to the administrator of Chandigarh too—(KNO)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported nine more covid-19 deaths in last 24 hours, taking the fatality count to 1493.

Among those who succumbed to the virus include six residents of Kashmir Valley while three others belonged to the Jammu region.

Officials told GNS that two among the victims from Kashmir Valley were from Srinagar while one each was from Baramulla, Pulwama, Ganderbal and Kulgam respectively.

They said that the Ganderbal resident was 70-year-old man from Kangan and died at SKIMS Soura, 11 days after he was admitted to the tertiary care hospital.

The victim from Baramulla, they said, was a woman from Sopore area who died at the hospital, 12 days after she was admitted.

One among other victims from Valley was a 63-year-old man from Shaheed Gunj and died at CD Hospital, one among the exclusive facilities for the management of the covid-19 patients in the Valley.

Regarding deaths from Jammu, they said, one each victim belonged to the J&K’s winter capital, Ramban and Kishtwar.

With these deaths, the fatality count has reached 1493 in J&K—993 in Valley and 500 in the Jammu region.

Srinagar district with 360 deaths tops the list followed by Jammu (259), Baramulla (146), Budgam (94), Pulwama (83), Kupwara (73), Anantnag (74), Rajouri (47), Kulgam (46), Bandipora(47), Doda (46), Shopian (35), Ganderbal (34), Udhampur (32), Kathua (31), Samba (25), Poonch (23), Kishtwar(15), Ramban (14), and Reasi (8). (GNS)

Srinagar: People’s Conference (PC) Chairman Sajad Gani Lone Monday criticized Jammu and Kashmir administration after the newly carved out Union Territory ranked second last among the UTs in the Public Affairs Index-2020.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Lone while taking his twitter handlers said “What a pathetic mismatch between figures and non-stop blabbering about administrative performance. Must say though. They have religiously threatened to perform”.

The data released by Public Affairs Centre under Public Affairs Index-2020 ranked Kerala the best governed State in the large States category while Uttar Pradesh ended at the bottom.

The city-based not-for-profit organization, headed by former Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chairman K. Kasturirangan, said in its annual report that the States were ranked on governance performance based on a composite index in the context of sustainable development. Four southern States — Kerala (1.388 PAI Index point), Tamil Nadu (0.912), Andhra Pradesh (0.531) and Karnataka (0.468) stood in the first four ranks in the large State category in terms of governance, it said.

Chandigarh emerged at the top in the category of Union Territories with 1.05 PAI points, followed by Puducherry (0.52) and Lakshadweep (0.003). Dadar and Nagar Haveli (-0.69), Andaman, Jammu and Kashmir (-0.50) and Nicobar (-0.30) were the worst performers.

Pertinently Central and UT (J&K) Governments on the first anniversary of abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A) asserted that newly formed Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has performed well on all fronts since August 5, 2019.

However the claims were contested by regional mainstream political parties, civil society, human rights bodies and others as well who repeatedly urged New Delhi to revoke the decisions taken on August 5 last year. (KNS)

Srinagar: Police on Monday claimed to have cracked October 6 attack on BJP leader from Nunar Ganderbal in which a militant and a policeman were killed.

“On October 6, (militants) carried out an attack on the District Vice President BJP Ghulam Qadir at Nunner Ganderbal in which one (militant) involved in the attack namely Shabir Ahmad Shah of Tral was neutralised on the spot in retaliatory fire,” a police spokesperson said.

He said during the exchange of fire one constable namely Mohammad Altaf also got killed due to a gunshot wound.

Accordingly, the police spokesperson, that a case (FIR No 209 of 2020) under section 302 IPC ,13,16,18 UA(P)A and 7/27 IA Act was registered at police station Ganderbal and investigation set into motion.

“During investigation involvement of one Qaiser Ahmad Sheikh (Hospital Security Guard) of Serch Ganderbal was unraveled. However, he upon questioning tried to dodge the investigation agency. Technical details sought through ESU revealed some startling facts and (his) sustained questioning on October 30 revealed that he was an active member of (Hizb-ul-Mujahideen) and had been instrumental in the attack.”

Accordingly he was arrested and on his disclosure one pistol, a magazine with 3 rounds of ammunition and some Pak flags were recovered, the official said.

“During sustained questioning the (militant) associate disclosed two other associates namely Hilal Ahmad Mir of Bernbugh Kangan, working as ATM Guard at SKIMS, and Asif Ahmad Mir of Serch Ganderbal (Private Security Guard at SMHS) who were also arrested and one more Chinese pistol and ammunition, two detonators ,Pakistan flags and other incriminating material was recovered at their instance.”

The police spokesperson said that all the three had come in contact with militant operatives in South Kashmir and were tasked to prepare a “kill list of local political workers and attack them.”

He added that further investigation has been taken up and more arrests are expected in the case. (KNS)

Srinagar: The Forest Department has started supply of firewood to the registered mosques, artisans and other agencies at P. C. Depot, Qamerwari for the ongoing winter season.

As per the targets, about 60000 qtls of firewood has been dumped at P. C. Depot for this purpose.

The Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir directed the Divisional Forest Officer, Urban Forestry Division, and Srinagar to accelerate the process of distribution so that the supply of firewood to registered agencies including 1397 is completed well before the onset of harsh winter (Chillai Kalaan).

Accordingly all the registered Mosques of Srinagar City and other units are hereby informed to approach the Range Officer, Timber Transport Range, P. C. Depot, Qamerwari with their indent through Proper Channel.

The representatives of the mosques are also advised to book their indents by or before 20th December, 2020 positively after which no indent shall be issued/ accepted by the department.(KINS)

Srinagar: Family of a youth who was among three people killed by suspected militants on Thursday evening has denied their son’s association with the BJP.

On Thursday evening three youth who the BJP claimed were associated with the party, were shot dead by suspected militants at Y K Pora Qazigun in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

They were identified as Fida Hussain, Umer Rehman, both residents of Y K Pora Qazigund and Haroon Rashid of Sopat area of Qazigund. After their killing, the BJP claimed that the trio was associated with the BJP and many leaders also visited their residences.

However, the family of Umer denied their son’s association with the BJP.

“My son was studying in the last semester of his graduation. He was not affiliated with the BJP. I totally deny his association with any party,” Abdul Rehman Hajam, father of Umar, told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

Umar is survived by his parents and two sisters. “My son had gone outside to buy something. One the way he met Hussain and were then travelling in his car,” he claimed.

He said his son wanted to study and look after the family.

Umar’s sister who was crying said, “Please give us justice. We need nothing but justice for my brother. It is the responsibility of the media to unveil the truth.” 

However, Fida Hussain’s father Ghulam Mohammad admitted that his son’s affiliation with the BJP. “I told him a number of times to leave BJP but he did not concede,” he told news agency KINS.

While father of Haroon Rashid neither admitted his son’s association with BJP nor denied it. He refused to talk on this issue.

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Range) Vijay Kumar has said that the deadly attack on the “three BJP workers in Kulgam was the handiwork of militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba”.

Their killings have created a fresh fear among political workers.

There have been many attacks on political workers and panchayat members in the last few months.

On Friday several BJP leaders including party J&K President Ravendra Raina, senior leader Sofi Yusuf visited the bereaved families.

While seeking strict action against killers, Raina said, “Pakistan is a threat to world peace and humanity. These young boys sacrificed their lives for the nation which will be remembered forever. They were true nationalist and always raised national flag.”

Senior BJP leader Sofi Yusuf said that attacks on BJP workers showed frustration of Pakistan. “These attacks won’t weaken us. The militancy is going to end here soon,” he said. (KINS)