Category: Union Territory

PTI

Jammu: An organisation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits ‘India 4 Kashmir’ on Monday slammed the Gupkar Declaration and said the community was at the forefront of the fight to revoke Article 370 .

The declaration is a resolution issued after an all-party meeting on August 4, 2019, at the Gupkar residence of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, a day before the Centre announced its decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and split it into two union territories.

The organisation also condemned and disowned support to the declaration by certain fringe elements of the Kashmiri Pandit community.

Kashmiri Pandits have always been at the forefront of the fight for abrogation of article 370 and 35A, it said.

The reaction comes after a delegation of Kashmiri Pandit entrepreneurs on August 27 called on National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah here and extended its support to Gupkar Declaration.

India 4 Kashmir has condemned and disowned support to the Gupkar declaration by certain fringe elements of the Kashmiri Pandit community, the organisations spokesperson in Delhi Sakshi Mattoo said.

She also said a statement about the meeting reeks of suspicion as it does not mention a single name of the so-called delegation members that called on former chief minister Farooq Abdullah.

The Centre on August 5 last year had abrogated Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and divided it into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Col Tej K Tikoo, President All India Kashmiri Samaj, in his statement denounced the Gupkar declaration.

He said “Kashmiri Pandits have always been at the forefront of the fight for abrogation of article 370 and 35A”.

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE) on Monday said it has devised a mechanism to promote the aspiring candidates of annual and bi-annual private examinations of Class 10th and 12th, who have already passed two or more subjects.

According to a notification issued by the government, the annual and bi-annual private examinations of session 2019-20 of Kashmir division, and winter zone areas of Jammu division, which were scheduled to be held in the months of March-April 2019 could not be conducted in view of COV1D-19 pandemic followed by nationwide lockdown.

The notification, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reads, “Candidates who have already passed two or more subjects shall be promoted to higher class as per the following formula.”

BOSE said this decision was taken to save the academic career of the students that were supposed to appear in these examinations in March-April 2020 and had submitted the permission cum admission forms for the examination. The marks in fifth subject shall be awarded by taking mean of the marks scored in the already passed four subjects.

The BOSE notification reads that the marks in the fourth subject shall be awarded by taking the mean of the marks scored in the already passed three subjects and marks in the fifth subject shall be awarded by taking the mean of four subjects.

“The marks in third subject shall be awarded by taking the mean of the marks scored in already passed two subjects. Marks in fourth and fifth subjects shall be awarded by taking the mean of the marks scored in three and four subjects respectively,” it reads.

BOSE said that all such candidates who are declared pass by applying the mechanism devised by them shall be granted admission in Class 11th for current session in relaxation of 65 per cent requirement of minimum attendance as one time exception.

“Examination of Class 10th and 12th in respect of candidates falling in the category that is fresh or fail in all subjects and re-appear in four subjects of Class 10th and 12th of Kashmir division and winter zone of Jammu division shall be conducted preferably in second quarter of September 2020,” reads the notification.

It was also stated that all such candidates of 10th and 12th who are declared successful in the examination of annual or bi-annual private of 2019-2020 session shall be allowed to appear in 11th standard.

“The provisional admission of such candidates who fail to qualify the annual or bi-annual private examination of 2020-2021 shall be treated cancelled and they shall not be allowed to appear in the HSP-II in annual regular 2021-22 examination,” BOSE said.

The candidates who have applied for division improvement or appearing in an additional subject of HSP-II 2019-20 shall also be allowed to appear in the forthcoming examination—(KNO)

Srinagar: Srinagar district—the summer capital of J&K continues to be the hot spot of Covid-19 as Srinagar district alone has reported over 24 percent positive cases and over 31 percent deaths in J&K UT.

As per the official data available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), among total 37,698 cases Srinagar district has 9273 positive cases which 24.59 percent of the total cases.

There are 28,917 positive cases in Kashmir division, so the share of Srinagar district in positive cases of Kashmir division is 32.06 percent.

Out of 703 total deaths reported so far from Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar alone has reported 221 deaths which is 31.43 percent of the total deaths.

In Kashmir division alone, there are 637 deaths, among them 221 are from Srinagar which is 34.69 percent of the total deaths reported in Kashmir division.

Out of total 9273 positive cases in Srinagar, 7480 have recovered so recovery rate of the Srinagar district is 80.66 percent while as recovery rate of whole J&K is 76.96 percent—(KNO)

Srinagar: Describing encroachments over Baghe-Mehtab Flood Channel and illegal landfilling of Narkara wetland a measure threat in the context of floods, Irrigation and Flood Control Department (IFCD) has requested the general public to desist from such illegal acts.

This was stated by Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) IFCD, Mrs. Ambreen in an informal chat with news agency Kashmir Dot Com- (KDC) on Monday, who is in charge of Bage-Mehtab and Rambagh flood channels.

She said that Doodh Ganga Nallah which travels 42 Kilometers from Peer Panchal Range to Srinagar is a flashy nallah and its discharge velocity becomes very high, whenever there are rains, which increases the risk of floods in low lying areas of Srinagar.

She said, “Like a flood mitigation measure, in case of rainfalls, the excess water of nallah is diverted to Narkara, as a flood mitigation measure through Baghe-Mehtab flood channel, where it is retained for few days to be diverted back into the nallah after water level recedes.”

“However, some miscreants have resorted to encroachments in the channel as well as in Narkara wetland, due to which the water holding the capacity of the channel has reduced to an alarming level, resulting in a flood threat to the low lying areas of South Srinagar Baghe-Mehtab, Chanpora, Natipora, Barzalla, Sanat Nagar and adjoining areas,” she said.

She requested the general public to desist from resorting to the illegal activities of encroachments in the flood channels and in the wetlands, which are the only safety from floods for South Srinagar areas, in case of incessant rainfall.

“Landfilling of the wetlands poses a major flood threat, which in any case should stop immediately,” she added.

While referring to the 2014 floods, she said that we ought to learn lessons from it and avoid the activities, which may increase the flood threat.

“Department has already taken necessary measures of drudging of the Nallah and also the flood channels in phase 1 and the phase 2nd is in its offing,” she said.

“Now it is the people who have to do their bit, to desist from the activities, which may pose a flood threat to the vulnerable areas,” she went on to add.

About Narkara wetland being officially declared a flood basin, the AEE said that the process of the declaration is going on and very soon this wetland will be notified as a flood basin. (KDC)

PTI

New Delhi: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh R K Mathur on Monday met Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy, amidst fresh tension between the Indian Army and China’s PLA.

The details of the meeting were not known immediately but sources said the prevailing situation along the Line of Actual Control was discussed.

The meeting came hours after the Indian Army said it thwarted “provocative” military movements by Chinese troops on the intervening night of August 29 and 30 to unilaterally change the status quo on the southern bank of Pangong Tso Lake area in eastern Ladakh.

PTI

Jammu: Security forces on Monday defused a live mortar shell and averted a tragedy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, officials said.

A suspected object was found by some labourers who were digging a trench in Nowshera area and they informed the police, the officials said.

Police and army identified it as a live mortar shell and the bomb disposal squad defused it safely, they said.

Srinagar-Leh highway has been closed for civilians with immediate effect after the Chinese troops carried out “provocative” military movements on the intervening night of August 29-30 in eastern Ladakh.

The Srinagar-Leh highway has been closed for the civilians in view of the fresh “provocative” military movements by the Chinese troops on the intervening night of August 29-30 in eastern Ladakh. The Srinagar-Leh highway has been closed for the civilians with immediate effect. The road will remain open only for the defence forces and vehicles.

The Indian Army said on Monday that the Chinese troops attempted to unilaterally change the status quo on the southern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake area in eastern Ladakh.

In a statement, the defence ministry said, “On the night of 29/30 August 2020, PLA troops violated the previous consensus arrived at during military and diplomatic engagements during the ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh and carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo.”

The Indian troops detected activity by a sizeable number of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) during the night, the Army said.

Sources in the Indian Army said, “Chinese Army had tried to transgress into Indian areas using a sizeable number of troops but the Indian Army preempted the Chinese attempt and foiled their move.”

BREAKING: Fresh action at #PangongLake #Ladakh.
Indian Army statement: PLA made provocative military movements to change status quo. Indian troops pre-empted this PLA activity on the Southern Bank of Pangong Tso, undertook measures to strengthen positions @IndiaToday

— Abhishek Bhalla (@AbhishekBhalla7) August 31, 2020

“The area was strengthened by quick deployment of more troops,” it said.

Army Spokesperson Col Aman Anand said a brigade commander-level flag meeting is currently in progress at Chushul to resolve the issues.

“The Indian Army is committed to maintaining peace and tranquility through dialogue, but is also equally determined to protect its territorial integrity,” he added.

With inputs from India Today

PTI

Jammu: Landslides and mudslides triggered by heavy rains blocked the 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway at several places in Ramban district on Monday, officials said.

Over 300 vehicles were stranded at several places on the highway, the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.

The men and machines of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have started clearance of the landslides to restore the traffic on the highway, they said.

However, the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road, which connects UTs of J-K and Ladakh, is open for traffic.

The Mughal road, connecting Shopian district of Kashmir valley with Poonch district of Jammu region, is through for vehicles carrying essentials, mostly trucks and oil tankers, they said.

The traffic on inter-district Kishtwar-Paddar road has been restored on Monday after clearance of landslides, which blocked the road 3 days ago, they said.

PTI

Srinagar: At least six civilians sustained injuries in a grenade attack by militants on an Army convoy in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said.

The ultras lobbed a grenade on the convoy, which was on its way to Srinagar, at Azadgunj in Baramulla town, they said.

Officials said the grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside, causing injuries to six civilians.

The injured were rushed to a hospital.

Srinagar: National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Monday stated that the party pulled out itself from Delimitation Commission as ruling dispensation in New Delhi BJP was trying to create Hindu hegemony in J&K, a Muslim majority region, to divide the UT on religious lines.

“We told them on their face that we do not believe in your delimitation. The BJP has a certain purpose behind. It wants J&K to be a Hindu dominated region and wishes Muslim majority goes down”, Dr Farooq said. He was talking to a national daily.

The Centre in March this year set up the commission to redraw parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on the recent census in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland.Dr Farooq asserted when he was chief minister, the assembly of the erstwhile state of J&K decided to go for the delimitation exercise along with the rest of the country in 2026.

“Why has the Centre suddenly brought it forward? They want to divide us on the Hindu-Muslim lines and create Hindu dominance in J&K, but it will never happen”, he said.

Earlier PM Narendra Modi referred to delimitation exercise in his Independence Day speech and said the process in underway and assembly elections would follow in Jammu and Kashmir.

When asked about the participation in upcoming LA polls, Dr Farooq said “any decision will depend first on my party and we will take a call subject to the situation. We will talk to other stakeholders of the Gupkar Declaration in this regard. If we are united in this exercise, we will take them on board and decide future course of action”. (KNS)