Category: Union Territory

Leh: Tenzin Nyima, 53, a Tibetan has served in Indian army for over 30-years. He was killed while another commando critically wounded in the blast near the shores of the Pangong Lake in Ladakh last month. The incident took place as there is face-off between India and China along the borders.

Nyima was part of the Special Frontier Force (SFF) – a covert force established after the 1962 Indo-China war and that recruits mostly from Tibetan refugees.

“He has also been on the forefront to fight against China army. He was brave and wanted to lay his life for the nation that is India,” Cheta Anchok, 55, an ex-army man, who lives in the Tibetan Colony in Choglasmar, told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

“Tibetan people who are in Indian army are on the forefront to fight against Chinese troops,” he said.

There are 7,500 Tibetan refugees in Ladakh. At least 2500 reside in Choglamsar on the outskirts of Leh, the capital of Ladakh, and 5000 scattered throughout the nomadic region of Jangthang.

More than 2000 are serving in Indian army.

The Tibetan settlement in Choglamsar was started in 1960 with the blessings of the Dalai Lama, who gave it the name Sonamling Tibetan Settlement.

Chief Representative Officer of Sonamling Tibetan Settlement in Choglamsar in Leh Tseten Wangchuk, said Tibetans have the special ability to act at higher altitudes. “We are adapted to high altitudes including on glaciers.”

Another resident of the colony Choejor Tenzin said Tibetan soldiers were also on the forefront in any war.

“Tibetan army is meant to be deputed in Siachen, Pangong, Galwan, Turtuk, Drass and Kargil areas of Ladakh,” he said.

Soldiers of the Special Frontier Force unit owe their allegiance to the Dalai Lama. They are among the foremost mountain warfare experts.

The SFF recruits mostly from Tibetan refugees, thousands of whom have made India their home since the Dalai Lama fled Tibet following an uprising in 1959.

The Tibetan troopers are recruited from the dwindling population of Tibetans in India, which stood at 85,000 in 2018. SFF was raised with covert operations in mind, mainly along the Indo-China border.

Famous for its picturesque landscapes and high passes, Ladakh is dotted with Buddhist monasteries and countless stupas, and the people of Ladakh — the Ladakhis — share the ancient Tibetan Buddhist culture with the people of neighbouring Tibet.

Following the Chinese occupation of Tibet, about 80,000 Tibetans fled the country along with their leader the Dalai Lama.

stupas, and the people of Ladakh — the Ladakhis — share the ancient Tibetan Buddhist culture with the people of neighbouring Tibet.Following the Chinese occupation of Tibet, about 80,000 Tibetans fled the country along with their leader the Dalai Lama.

Srinagar: As the third phase of Back to Village programme is under process, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has stressed for strengthening of grassroots in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir government last Friday started third edition of the back to village (B2V) programme. The 10-day edition is to focus on implementation and execution of all that was conceived and achieved in the previous two editions.

A senior official said Lieutenant Governor was keen to strengthen Panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir. “He has directed officers to connect the common masses through Panchayats,” the official told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

The official said LG has told officers that Panchayats should play an important part to get people’s grievances addressed. “Manoj Sinha has told officers that it is not necessary that common masses should approach officers to get their grievances addressed. He instead told them to strengthen Panchayats so people visit Panchs and Sarpanches who can address their issues at their own level,” the official said.

Similarly, another official said the administration is keen to set up a complaint box in all Panchayats for redress of people’s complaints in the Union Territory.

The official said the step is being taken so that government gets feedback from grassroots about the performance of Panchayat system in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said on the directives of Lieutenant Governor, a complaint box is being established in every Panchayat Halqa of the new Union Territory. “People can give feedback about Panchayat system and about utilization of funds in various developmental works including which are identified under Back To Village programme,” the official said.

As per the official, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has also directed that a particular mechanism be adopted for opening of drop boxes installed in all Panchayat Halqas and ensure that the complaints, grievances, suggestions received are properly disposed off and no grievance remains unattended.

“Besides the complainant is being responded through letter and informed about the action taken on this complaint. District Development Commissioner shall regularly monitor the execution of Back To Village works,” the administration has directed officers.

Sources said DCs have also been directed to constitute teams in order to ascertain the punctuality of officials at sub division block level.

‘Bukhari should listen to heartbeats of people’

Srinagar: Senior Congress leader and former Minister, Prof Saifuddin Soz Wednesday said that Kashmir based politicians should never compromise on the issue of internal autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir. He said it is time for all politicians including Syed Altaf Bukhari and Sajad Lone to join hands and fight for the peoples’ rights and aspirations.

Soz said that Government of India is suppressing people of Kashmir but that too shall pass. “People should remember that the darkest part of the night is just before dawn. I believe people of Kashmir will emerge victorious.”

In an exclusive chat with news agency Kashmir News Trust, Soz said there is deep alienation and people are very angry over the abrogation of Article 370. “This resentment will prevail till internal autonomy is not restored. Government of India can’t treat us as cattle. New Delhi has to listen and respect our sentiments.”

In response to a question, Professor Saifuddin Soz said that by abrogating special status, New Delhi not only ditched mainstream leaders of Jammu and Kashmir but it ditched herself. “New Delhi doesn’t know the repercussions of their stupid act. So what if we fail in our struggle but our next generation will come to know about it and they will fight.”

Soz said there is no democracy in Kashmir and it is a prison. “Even though I am free right now but where will I go. It is a prison here. Kashmir is run by ‘insolent’ bureaucrats that are disconnected with people. 90% bureaucrats are insolent who treat Kashmir as a colony. Muslims are being sidelined in bureaucracy.

This has never happened in our history. All the top posts are held by non-Muslims,” he said.
He said Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and P.Chidambaram have soft corner for the people of Kashmir. “Chidambaram is very vocal about Kashmir and never compromised on Kashmir issue.”

He said election is an immaterial subject for the people of Kashmir. “If elections happen, there will be very less participation and these elections will be a formality only. People are disinterested. They have lost everything but they don’t see it as a loss but as an investment as they knew they will succeed one day in their struggle. People know losses are inevitable in a struggle. The coming generation will take a cue and will continue with the struggle till they get justice.”

While responding to a question on Hurriyat Conference, Soz said that Syed Ali Geelani is the otherwise name of Hurriyat. “Since he (Geelani) is very old now, I think the chapter of Hurriyat is over. Hurriyat is virtually over but it fought and took a lead in the struggle. Geelani is very old but Mirwaiz despite being vibrant and young is silent. Despite being in house detention, Mirwaiz can speak and he should speak up. I was also under house arrest but was vocal. I am pro-Indian but always with people of Kashmir. I am pro-Indian till Congress fights for the common people.”

He said after the abrogation of Article 370, Kashmir caught world attention and the issue got internationalized. “Government of India is acting like ostrich and feels nothing happened. It is resorting to white lies and hides ground reality,” Soz told KNT.

Soz said that through delimitation process Government of India wants to change demographic character of Kashmir. “Their intention is not good but they will taste defeat. They want to Muslims in Kashmir should become minority but our struggle for justice will overwhelm them.”

Soz said with the passage of time people in Jammu will hit roads and demand protection of jobs and land rights. “People in Jammu have started realizing the follies and intention of BJP. They will be up in arms soon and now they know their jobs and lands are not secure.”

Soz said National Conference has changed a lot since the death of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah. While condemning the continuous house arrest of PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, Soz said that she didn’t agree with her late father when he decided to forge an alliance with RSS. “I know Mehbooba confronted her father and opposed his decision, but unfortunately, PDP joined hands with RSS much discomfiture of those who supported this party,” Soz said adding that it was the biggest blunder of late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed to hug RSS-BJP.

Terming the house detention of Mehbooba Mufti as unconstitutional and illegal, Soz said that she is not being freed because Government of India thinks she is interested in the matters of people and she will get connected with them. “Lieutenant Governor had promised me that Mehbooba will be released soon but ultimately decision in this regard has to be taken by New Delhi that has incarcerated her,” he said.

While talking about newly floated Jammu Kashmir Apni Party, Soz said: “Altaf Bukhari is a nice person and nice by heart but those who won’t listen to the heartbeats of people of Kashmir won’t succeed in politics. He will be tagged and labeled (Indian agent) in Kashmir. For the desires and aspirations of the people of Kashmir, all political leaders should get united and Apni Party should also change its stand and join the united circle, otherwise their politics will be a failure in Valley.”

Saifuddin Soz said that government of India should first apologize to the people of Kashmir and then oblige to their demands. “People are not Pakistani here and they know independence is a distant dream but internal autonomy should be restored. People raise pro-Pakistan slogans to express their anger but that doesn’t mean they are Pakistani. We have acceded to Union of Indian on terms and conditions. We have not merged like other state of India.”

He admitted that when in power Kashmiri politicians failed to serve and ease the sufferings of people of Kashmir. “The Kashmiri politicians including Sajad Lone, Altaf Bukhari have learnt lesson and all these leaders should come under one roof and fight for the aspirations of the people. These leaders should not compromise on the internal autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir,” Soz concluded. (KNT)

His party, PC, terms August 5 decisions ‘an unconscionable act of betrayal of the people of J&K’

The Sajad Lone-headed J&K Peoples Conference (PC) on Tuesday reiterated its support to the Gupkar Declaration. It said there was need to “have an organisational form and structure to the collective mechanism”, which was putting up a joint fight for the restoration of J&K’s special status as on August 4, 2019.

“All [the party] leaders expressed full confidence in the power of a collective mechanism to espouse the cause of the people of J&K. They, however, felt that the collective mechanism should have an organisational form and structure”, Mr. Lone and party leaders said in a joint statement.

The PC convened a meeting of its senior leaders on Tuesday, the first since August 5, 2019. They termed the August 5 decisions “an unconscionable act of betrayal of the people of J&K”.

‘Kashmiris treated unfairly’

PC spokesperson Adnan Ashraf Mir said, “We reject the humiliation served by Delhi on August 5. Their move was spiteful and meant to humiliate us. They have treated the Kashmiris very unfairly. It is our unanimous decision that the party will relentlessly struggle for the people of J&K”.

Six regional political parties, including the National Conference (NC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Congress, the J&K Peoples Conference (PC), the CPI(M) and the Awami National Conference (ANC), have joined hands to fight for J&K’s special status under the common banner termed as the Gupkar Declaration.

NC president and Member of Parliament Dr. Farooq Abdullah is heading the conglomerate at present and chaired its meetings so far.

JKPM backs Gupkar Declaration

J&K Peoples Movement (JKPM) president Javaid Mustufa Mir on Tuesday called on Dr. Abdullah at his residence in Srinagar and extended his party’s full support to the Gupkar Declaration.

“Mr. Mir appreciated the party president’s call for forging unity for restoration of J&K’s special status, which was unilaterally, unconstitutionally and undemocratically abrogated on 5th of August 2019”, an NC spokesman said.

The two leaders discussed various facets of “unprecedented development that took place last year on 5th of August and its far-reaching repercussions on the people of J&K”, the spokesperson added.

With inputs from The Hindu

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

By: M Ashraf Wagay

Residents of Sirnoo, Wabha, Pulwama brings notice of Administration the sub-standard conditions of road in the locality.

Speaking with Kashmir Today, the residents told that “The present status of the road conditions is totally unacceptable with the roads full of pot holes and sub-standard construction material.

A flash flood or an untimely rain is reason enough to expose the disheartening situation.
The worst to suffer are the local commuters. Since the concerned roads remain busy practically the whole day, buses and cars running on them invariable get stuck in traffic jam.

In spite of the numerous times, the residents, have tried to inform the local authority but no concrete action has been taken.” they added.

Further speaking with Kashmir Today, the residents requested the concerned authorities to look into the matter and order repairing and maintenance of road on the earliest.

I’d choose kashmir, given any opportunity. I’ve never felt like staying away from my place.

Anika Suhail, an engineering graduate from Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Kashmir choose to dedicate all her learnt skills as a Freelance developer with a successful results awaiting.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFmIN7ulKTH/?igshid=u2uspbdiklpj

Speaking with Kashmir Today, Anika Suhail said, ‘I’ve always been a meritorious student and choosing science over any other subject is no surprise when you’ve grown in a family of doctors and engineers. I’ve always believed in go-with-the-flow. I take the opportunities and give my best’.

After graduating from IUST she opted for a diploma course in UX/UI and pursued it from Bangalore.

“I’d choose kashmir, given any opportunity. I have never felt like staying away from my place and pandemic added to my favours as it didn’t let me leave my place”, Anika told to Kashmir Today when enquired for not opting the opportunities outside Kashmir Valley.

I won’t call it my own venture. I’m still learning and want to explore more of this design world. My parents have been always supportive. They expect a lot from me and that’s what kept me determined, Anika added.

Srinagar: Arjun Deshpande the founder of Generic Aadhaar has thanked every individual pharmacist across the globe by giving them entrepreneurship opportunities and said his company will expand Pan India through 800 plus retail outlets by the end of this year.

In a statement to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) the company says millions of pharmacists worldwide who have worked on frontline level for the society will definitely not celebrate any festivals due to the pandemic, but Generic Aadhaar as pharmaceutical company wants to thank each and every pharmacist and frontline workers in the world.

“The love and care they poured, through reaching the end customers in this lockdown’s since Covid-19 Spread across world has also marked their importance and has led that they are significant pillar of the society,” the statement said.

This year every day’s or festivals, will be themed as “Safety and Social Distancing” with various awareness campaigns to avoid the Spread of Virus.

“Pharmacists role in safeguarding patient safety through improving medication use and reducing medication errors is the most important part of a Pharmacist, which leads to Patient’s life safety,” the statement said.

“As Pharmacist plays very important role in the society Generic Aadhaar is giving bundle of opportunities to the pharmacist for being entrepreneurs as Generic Aadhaar is aiming to expand Pan India through 800 plus retails outlets by end of this year based on franchise model to provide Generic medicines for every India,” says Arjun Deshpande- CEO and founder of Generic Aadhaar.

In accordance with the Prime Minister’s vision, Generic Aadhaar is aggregators of pharmacy chain of medicines to support ‘Make in India & Start Up India’ drive with quality medicines at true affordable prices to every Indian quality with affordability.

Ratan Tata Invested in Arjun Deshpande’s Innovative Venture for Encouraging his Vision.
“For his Innovative Start up, even  Ratan Tata has joined hands with Arjun Deshpande in his innovative venture Generic Aadhaar. He is not only creating employments but also inspiring youth to became Entrepreneur’s from his Generic Aadhaar Franchise Outlets across India,” the statement said.

Started by a sole mission of making medicines available to every Indian, a 16-year-old set his eyes on the pharma industry. At this novel age, Arjun Deshpande, one of India’s youngest entrepreneurs founded this innovative venture, Generic Aadhaar. Generic Aadhaar is a registered trademark of Swasthya Life science Pvt Ltd.

As per statistics, about 60% of Indians cannot afford to buy their daily medicines. The reason is the high prices which are absolutely unnecessary in the Indian pharmaceutical market. About 85-90% of the medicines in the market are generic. The customer has to pay for high costs of these generics because they are marketed and branded resulting in high incurred costs of marketing and promotional activities.

“Generic Aadhaar has disrupted the conventional pharma industry and is determined to empower single store owners and pass on the benefit to the end customer. Generic Aadhaar has a B2B and B2C model.

We are appointing franchisee across India by aggregating single medical stores which are in bad shape due to heavy competition in today’s traditional pharma market. We are thus passing on the benefits to the franchise owners. www.genericaadhaar.in,” the statement added.(KINS)

Srinagar, Oct 06 (KINS): The Centre has notified two orders specifying that 11 central laws will immediately come into effect in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir while nomenclature of 10 state laws will be changed in view of the change of status of the erstwhile state.

In a 136-page notification, the home ministry said the two orders will be called as the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Second and Third Order, 2020.

The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh – on August 5, 2019 through the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state, was also abrogated on that day.
Till then, the central laws were not implemented in Jammu and Kashmir unless they were ratified by the state assembly. Besides, there were many state laws which were exclusively applicable only in Jammu and Kashmir.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 96 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019), and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf, the Central Government hereby makes the following Order in respect of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” the notification, signed by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, said as per news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

Among the central laws which will now come into effect in Jammu and Kashmir are: The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019, The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, The Factories Act, 1948, The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 194.

Other central laws which will also be applicable in the union territory are: The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961, The Pharmacy Act, 1948, The Sales Promotion Employees Act, 1976, The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 and The Trade Unions Act, 1926.

The notification said an order has been issued for the change of names and certain words in some of the state laws enacted by the assembly of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

“With immediate effect, the acts mentioned in the schedule to this order shall, until repealed or amended by a competent legislature or other competent authority, have effect, subject to the adaptations and modifications directed by the said schedule, or if it is so directed, shall stand repealed.

“Where this order requires that in any specified section or other portion of an Act, certain words shall be substituted for certain other words, or the certain words shall be omitted, such substitution or omission, as the case may be, shall, except where it is otherwise expressly provided, be made wherever the words referred to occur in that section or portion,” the notification said.

The changes in the state laws were made in the form of – “State” and “Government” substituting respectively “Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir” and “Government of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir” and for “whole of the State of Jammu and Kashmir” substituting “whole of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir” and a few others issues.

The state laws where the changes were made include: The Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, The Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, The Jammu and Kashmir School Education Act, 2002, The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education Act, 1975, The Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies Act, 1989, The Jammu and Kashmir Self-Reliant Cooperatives Act, 1999 and The Salaries and Allowances of Members of Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature Act, 1960.

Other state laws where the changes were made are: The Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in the State Legislature Act, 1985, The Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 and The Jammu and Kashmir Metropolitan Region Development Authorities Act, 2018.

One similar notification was issued by the central government with respect for UT of Jammu and Kashmir a few months ago. (PTI)

Srinagar:  Senior journalist and executive editor of Kashmir Times, Anuradha Bhasin has alleged that her government-allotted flat in Jammu was ransacked by few “goons” at around 3 pm on October 4.

The alleged intruders were identified by Bhasin as Imran Ganai, brother of former Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Shehnaz Ganai, along with some Personal Security Officers (PSO) in civil dress, who had barged into her house without giving any explanation.

Recalling the incident, Bhasin said that following her daily routine, she visited the flat and found that the lock was broken. Perplexed, she called few of her colleagues who helped her get inside the house.

“I kept asking them questions and they ignored me as if I don’t exist. While they were dumping my belongings into one room, breakable items were thrown around. We were being shoved, pushed and had to fight back in self-defence while one of them sprawled on my bed,” Bhasin told NewsClick.

The journalist said that she called the police regarding the incident but they were reluctant to lodge a complaint.

According to Bhasin, she has been an authorised occupant of the government flat since 1999-2000. “Before me, the flat was allotted to my father in 1969. Both the allotments were done under the journalist category. I have not been served any show-cause notice or allotment cancellation notice till date.”

The senior journalist said that she had heard rumours from Estates Department insiders that the allotment of the government flat has been cancelled but no eviction notice or official order was sent to her. “I sent a legal notice to know about the status of the allotment and seek the grounds on which the allotment was being cancelled through speed-post. There has been no response till date,” said Bhasin.

Bhasin said that she had heard similar rumours from the inside sources regarding the government accommodation in which the Kashmir Times office is located in Srinagar’s Press Enclave. “I have not received any cancellation notice or any sort of notice yet. I have, again, sent a legal notice, but there has been no response. They refuse to serve us official orders but are sending in goons,” she said.

Kashmir Times had last year filed a petition in the Supreme Court through executive editor Anuradha Bhasin against the media blockade and internet shutdown in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation Article 370. In the petition, Kashmir Times had asked the SC to direct the central government to relax the restrictions in order to ensure freedom of movement of journalists and media personnel in Kashmir and some districts of Jammu.

Bhasin said she saw the break-in incident as an attempt to silence her as she has been critical of the Centre and the policies of the state administration. “There is clearly a pattern. This is an open harassment but I want to say one thing – I am too strong to be cowed down,” she said. (News Click)

Srinagar: Several officials had gathered at the farewell of former Managing Director of Jammu and Kashmir Handloom Development Corporation Rakesh Sharma in a clear violation of social distancing norms.

Rakesh Sharma, former Managing Director Jammu and Kashmir Handloom Development Corporation has been transferred to another department.

On Monday, many officials had gathered at his office without following social distancing norms.

As per the pictures accessed by news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), many employees presented gifts to the former Managing Director.

These pictures show that Sharma and others are standing close to each other throwing caution to the wind.

The pictures show that Sharma and many other officials were not wearing masks or practicing social distancing.

The KINS when contacted Rekesh Sharma, he said, “Some officials accompanied me outside the office to see off. There was no violation of social distancing norms.”(KINS)