Category: Union Territory

PTI

New Delhi: Taking a dig at the government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said its “well planned fight” against coronavirus has allegedly put India in an “abyss” of GDP reduction of 24 per cent, 12 crore job losses, 15.5 lakh crore additional stressed loans and globally highest daily COVID-19 cases and deaths.

The Congress has been accusing the Modi government of not handling the COVID-19 pandemic effectively. The government has dismissed all such claims in the past.

“Modi Govt’s ‘well-planned fight’ against Covid has put India in an abyss of: 1. Historic GDP reduction of 24% 2. 12 crore jobs lost 3. 15.5 lac crores additional stressed loans 4. Globally highest daily Covid cases & deaths,” Gandhi said in a tweet.

But for the government of India and the media “sab changa si (all is well)”, the former Congress chief said.

India’s COVID-19 caseload has gone past 46 lakh, while 36,24,196 people have recuperated so far taking the national recovery rate to 77.77 per cent on Saturday, according to Union health ministry data.

Later, in another tweet, Gandhi said there was no hope of job creation and safe future for youth anytime soon.

Tagging a report quoting Unilever global chief executive Alan Jope as saying that increasing COVID-19 cases is a worrying trend in India, Gandhi tweeted, “One of India’s biggest employers is in ‘wait and see’ mode since Covid cases are rising.

“So, no hope of job creation & safe future for youth anytime soon. Yet another outcome of Modi Govt’s sudden & unplanned lockdown which has snowballed India’s already-precarious economy,” he said.

PTI

Leh: Two more coronavirus positive elderly persons succumbed to the infection in Ladakh, bringing the number of deaths linked to the disease to 38 in the Union Territory, officials said on Saturday.

Both the deaths were reported from Leh district on Friday, the officials said.

The deceased, aged 98 and 82, had tested positive for COVID-19 a few days back, they said. The officials said the two were also suffering from other ailments and age-related issues.

Of the total COVID-19 deaths in Ladakh, 15 were reported in Leh and 23 in Kargil district, they said.

Ladakh had recorded a virus caseload of 3,228 till Friday evening. According to the officials, while 2,378 COVID-19 patients recovered from the infection, 803 others are under treatment in the UT — 452 in Leh and 351 in Kargil.

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Jammu: Three persons, including a 26-year-old woman and her newborn, were killed and five persons injured on Saturday when a van skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, police said.

The accident took place near Dhanas village and it is suspected that the driver lost control over the vehicle at a blind curve, a police official said.

The vehicle was coming from Chenani, he said.

The injured persons were rescued and hospitalised, the official said, adding that the condition of two of them has been stated as serious.

The woman, Shaanu Devi, and her child died on the spot, while a 50-year-old person succumbed during treatment, he said.

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Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said education is the guiding force behind human development and the universities, through New Education Policy-2020, must empower youth to make the union territory a centre of knowledge, enterprise, innovation and skill development.

The LG, who is Chancellor of the University of Jammu, made these remarks while chairing the 86th meeting of the University Council of the Jammu University at Raj Bhavan here, an official spokesperson said.

He said some major decisions were made during the meeting and the Lt Governor gave a go-ahead to the demand of increasing the stipend of research scholars from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 per month.

The council also accorded in-principle approval for setting up of research cluster in the Jammu University, he said.

Directions were issued by the Lt Governor to work out the modalities and take steps for the promotion of Dogri language in the Jammu University and Kashmiri language in Kashmir University, he said.

Sinha stressed that literary works in the two languages be encouraged and translations of the existing works in other languages of the country also be initiated for the promotion of the culture, traditions, and heritage of Jammu and Kashmir.

The LG passed explicit directions for conducting a comprehensive assessment of research activities in the universities for outlining their role in the overall welfare of society and also called for the promotion of research aimed at solving local problems of the union territory, the spokesperson said.

Underlining the importance of all overall development of students, Sinha called for increased participation of students in co-curricular activities like NSS, NCC, sports and music.

Sinha said that students should be encouraged to participate in social activities.

Discussing the issue of reservation, the LG directed that modality for extending the UT’s reservation policy in all universities across J-K be finalized in mission mode, the spokesperson said.

While reviewing the working and curriculum of the universities, the LG asked the vice-chancellors to put added efforts and work in tandem for promoting excellence in teaching, research, and extension activities.

Sinha advised university authorities to boost academic research by the uplifting necessary environment, updating e-learning and other teaching tools, and providing the students with the best educational resources and platforms, the spokesperson said.

Sinha highlighted the need for research and incubation centres for the universities and underscored that higher education without them is incomplete.

He reiterated that education should act as the biggest catalyst for change, saying when education is the guiding force behind human development, humans are no longer limited to a resource as they become assets for society.

The Lt Governor hailed the New Education Policy and said it will empower the youth towards nation-building.

Under the policy, he said, critical thinking shall be encouraged in addition to the development of skills and hands-on-learning.

A special focus has been given to accessibility, equality, quality, affordability, and accountability in the education sector in the new policy, Sinha said.

The LG also laid stress on developing a curriculum based on students’ feedback and said that feedback processing is a globally accepted practice and it helps lend a different perspective to the existing pedagogy, the spokesperson said.

Srinagar: In violation of government guidelines, several people are hosting Wazwan to large gatherings while organizing marriage ceremonies in Kashmir.

The new norms, which have been set in place, restrict the number of guests between 30 and 50 — depending on the threat perception based zones.

As per government directives, wedding ceremonies require prior permission and social-distancing is mandatory.

However, in Kashmir, several people are organizing marriage ceremonies but don’t adhere to safety guidelines and government directives.

“Recently, a marriage event was organized where around 150 guests were invited. Most of the guests were without facemasks. The COVID-19 precautionary measures were thrown into dustbin,” Mushtaq Ahmad, a Srinagar resident told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

Some people said that the government directives have dramatically changed the idea of wedding ceremonies in Kashmir, where such occasions are rare coming together of extended families and friends for several days of feasting.

“Asking to follow guidelines is good and maintaining social distancing, wearing facemask are great. But limiting the number of guests on marriage just to 30 to 50 is not favourable,” said Ghulam Muhammad, who postponed his daughter’s marriage to next year.

He said his family was preparing for a lavish feast for several hundred guests as she has only one daughter brough up with care and love.
“The day of her marriage is a dream to me and my family. We want to make it memorable day. It was not impossible to shortlist thirty or fifty guests,” he said.

Police on Thursday registered an FIR against the head of the family in Solina area of Srinagar. The family had invited a large number of guests to solemnize a marriage ceremony.

“Preliminary inquiry revealed that the banging sounds in the Solina area that created panic were due to the bursting of firecrackers at the marriage in the house at Solina Payeen. The owner of the house has violated the orders of the District Magistrate, Srinagar, and had also called a large number of invitees to his house which was a clear violation of Covid standard operating procedures, thereby endangering the lives of others,” the spokesman had said.
The wedding season in Kashmir is scheduled during summer and autumn seasons and involves several months of hectic preparations.(KINS)

Srinagar: At least 3 lakh people associated with handicrafts in Kashmir are struggling to feed their families due to subsequent lockdowns since August 5 last year.

Kashmir remained shut for months after abrogation of Article 370 in August last year and now COVID-19 has complicated the problem.

Amid this, at least 3 lakh people associated with handicrafts including carpets, papier-machie, shawls, wood carving are finding it difficult to feed their families. Kashmir’s handicrafts are famous across the world due to quality and are man-made.

Ghulam Mohammad, 45, a resident of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district has been selling vegetables on a footpath for the last two months.

“All the money I had saved which I earned through carpet weaving has been exhausted. It is over a year now, we are making no earnings,” he told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS). Before August 5 last year, he would earn Rs 600 per day. He had two more people who were assisting him in carpet weaving.

There are so many artisans who have taken up odd jobs to manage the expenses of their families during the lockdown.

“We were making earnings even during the worst times. But this time, our business is shut as we are not able to export carpets in international markets,” said Bashir Ahmad, a carpet dealer.

Gulf and European countries form a major customer base for Kashmiri carpet dealers.
They have suffered huge losses as they could not export the goods.

Mohammad Subhan, a papier-machie artist from Srinagar has been sitting idle since the COVID-19 began in March.

“We have been badly hit first by lockdown post abrogation of Article 370 and now COVID-19 pandemic. There is no availability of raw material,” he added.

The Kashmiri craft of papier-machie mainly uses wood, leftover wood pulp and paper waste.

Every year Subhan would participate in various artisan fairs across India like in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Gujarat.

However, this year, these fairs were not organized due to COVID-19.

President Kashmir Artisans Rehabilitation Forum Parvez Ahmad Bhat said 3 lakh people associated with handicrafts are in bad condition.

“People associated with handicrafts have taken a loan of Rs 300 crore and the government should waive off that so their business could survive,” he told news agency KINS.

He said presently there is no business in the handicrafts sector.

“We are neither able to export goods in the international market nor there is any domestic market. All the orders made earlier this year have been cancelled,” Bhat said.

President Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), Sheikh Ashiq said the Kashmir economy has suffered losses over Rs 40,000 crore for the last one year.

“Every sector be it tourism, handicrafts, transport, traders, IT has been badly hit for the last one year. Five lakh people have become jobless in the last one year,” Ashiq said.
KCCI is an umbrella body of business organizations in Kashmir.

“Our handicrafts sector which is Rs 2000 crore annual economy is in shambles. More than 3 lakh people are dependent upon the handicrafts sector and they are struggling to feed their families,” he said.

KCCI has also raised the issue with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and sought special packages in every sector which suffered heavy losses for the last one year.
An official from the Department of Handicrafts said the coronavirus pandemic has impacted all forms of trade globally. (KINS)

PTI

Jammu: The Pakistan Army on Friday opened heavy fire and shelled mortars at forward areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, officials said.

This is the third consecutive day that Pakistani troops have targeted areas along the LoC.

“At about 0830 hours, Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms & shelling with mortars along LoC in Mankote sector in district Poonch,” a defence spokesman said.

The Indian Army retaliates befittingly, he added.

On Thursday, the Pakistan Amy had opened fire with small arms and shelled mortars along the LoC.

On Wednesday, they had targeted Malti and Degwar sectors along the LoC in Poonch with mortar bombs.

On September 2, a JCO was killed in a ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army along the LoC in Keri sector of Rajouri.

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Srinagar: Security forces have arrested two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants from Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir and recovered arms, ammunition and cash from their possession, the Army said on Friday.

“Based on a credible input, multiple joint check posts were established in Drugmulla area of Kupwara on Thursday,” an army official said.

He said two JeM militants travelling in a car were arrested late in the evening and the security forces recovered an AK rifle with ammunition, two grenades, Rs 7 lakh in cash, and other war-like stores from them.

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New Delhi: India’s COVID-19 caseload sprinted past 45 lakh and the death toll climbed to 76,271 with a record 96,551 infections and 1,209 fatalities being reported in a day, while the recoveries crossed 35 lakh on Friday, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The total coronavirus cases mounted to 45,62,414, while the recoveries surged to 35,42,663, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The COVID-19 case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.67 per cent while the recovery rate was recorded at 77.65 per cent.

There are 9,43,480 active cases of COVID-19 in the country which comprises 20.68 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23 and it went past 40 lakh on September 5.

According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 5,40,97,975 samples have been tested up to September 10 with 11,63,542 samples being tested on Thursday.

Shots were first fired on August 30 as Indian troops prevented PLA efforts to change status quo.

The south bank of the Pangong Tso (lake) where Indian and Chinese troops are currently engaged in a face-off, witnessed firing in the air not only on September 7 but also a week earlier, a senior government official told The Hindu.

The official said the first incident when a few rounds were fired in the air was reported on August 30 from the same area. It was not clear how the firing began.

An IAF helicopter flies over a mountain range in Leh on September 10, 2020. | Photo Credit: AFP

This is the first time since 1975 that shots were fired along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Indian Army said on Tuesday that it was the Chinese troops who fired a few rounds in the air on September 7.

On August 31, the Army issued a statement, saying China had carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo in the south bank of the Pangong Tso and “Indian troops pre-empted this PLA activity”.

The official said the two instances of firing were worrying as no concrete solution on restoring the status quo had been achieved so far through military and diplomatic-level dialogue.

“So far, the policy at the China border has only been reactionary. China takes some action and Indian troops react. It cannot be a long-term solution as winter is approaching and it will be difficult to maintain posts at such high altitudes,” said the official.

Till now, no dispute has been reported in the south bank and for the past week, the Indian Army has dominated the ridges and hills here.

The official asserted that the Army had not transgressed into Chinese territory and was occupying ridges and heights that fall in Indian territory.

China has been amassing troops along the LAC in eastern Ladakh since April-May. Many areas in Depsang, Gogra-Hot Springs, Galwan and the north bank of Pangong Tso, within the LAC, have been out of bounds for patrolling by Indian troops since May.On June 15, as many as 20 Indian soldiers were killed in violent clashes with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the Galwan Valley.

The official said the number of Indian troops in eastern Ladakh has been doubled in the past few days. “Both sides carry automatic weapons now but it is as per the agreed norms and within the prescribed limit. We have no clarity till when the tensions will persist,” said the official.

As reported by The Hindu, a massive build-up had again begun in the Finger area of the north bank since Tuesday evening but no violent incident was reported.

“The current position in south bank gives the Indian troops an advantage as they have a clear vision of the Chinese base at Moldo. They are exposed. The action at north bank seems to be a reaction to it. China is occupying ridges and heights in the Finger area of north bank, India has matched presence,” the official said.

With inputs from The Hindu

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