Category: Union Territory

This is the first senior-level military talk since the violent clash at Galwan on June 15

India and China on Saturday held talks at the Major General-level to discuss issues concerning the strategic Depsang Plains, a defence source said on Saturday.

Despite the strategic importance of Depsang Plains, the series of military talks held so far have focussed on the standoff areas at Galwan, Gogra Hotsprings and Finger area of Pangong Tso.

Talks began around 11 a.m. on Sunday morning at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) and went on till late evening. The discussions are limited to Depsang to discuss issues of varying claims and also blocking of patrols by each other, a defence source said.

Saturday’s meeting was a normal one to discuss patrolling patterns by both sides. There was no discussion on disengagement or de-escalation, just routine patrolling as part of border management, the source stated.

Stating that Depsang is not a problem that started in 2020, the source added that meetings like this happen regularly to discuss routine issues.

The Depsang Plains along with Pangong Tso are the two major areas of concern in the ongoing standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

This is the first Major General-level talks since the stoppage of all established meetings between Colonels, Brigadiers and Major General-level meetings following the violent clash at Galwan on June 15.

Military talks since then have been limited to Corps Commander level.

As reported by The Hindu on June 2, there is heavy Chinese presence in the Depsang Plains, at a crucial area called the Bulge, and PLA troops have also been blocking Indian Army patrols from reaching the Patrolling Points (PP) 10 to 13. There has also been build up of tanks and armoured vehicles on the Chinese side very close to the LAC.

The Chinese ingress in this area threatens Indian positions at Burtse and Raki Nala well inside Indian territory and further DBO by bringing Chinese troops closer to the 255 km long crucial Darbuk-Skyok-DBO road. Depsang is also close to the Karakoram Pass, overlooking the very strategic Saltoro Ridge and Siachen glacier.

Depsang is one of the few places on the LAC where tank manoeuvres are possible. During the 1962 war Chinese troops had occupied Depsang Plains and in 2013 Chinese troops came 19 kms inside and pitched tents resulting in a 21 day standoff.

With inputs from The Hindu

New Delhi: The light transit metro train service in Srinagar and Jammu is expected to be ready by 2024, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said Saturday.

Singh said the metro project for the two cities would cost around Rs 10,599 crore.

The railway consultancy firm RITES Limited has submitted the final detailed project reports and the metro systems are expected to be completed by the end of 2024, he said, talking about the development initiatives being undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.

Once the projects are completed, Srinagar and Jammu will become the first two non-major cities in the country where the rapid transport network will be functional.

Singh, the Union minister for the PMO, said the significance of the projects can be understood from the fact that the first train to reach Jammu and Kashmir had taken more than two decades after Independence and the first railway station came up in Jammu only in the 1970s.

But the Modi government is moving quickly to introduce the metro train projects in a short span of time and it will be cost-effective and a sustainable public transport, he said.

Singh, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, said the light metro transit system is proposed to run 17 hours a day throughout the year in Jammu, whereas in Srinagar, it will run 17 hours daily during summers but 14 hours during winters.

The minister said the metro rail lines will have only elevated corridors as the underground tunnels were not found feasible in Jammu and Kashmir.

The metro train service in Jammu will have its first corridor from Bantalab to Bari Brahmana and in Srinagar, it will be from Indira Nagar to HMT station, he said.

Singh said the elevated metro system will not only facilitate people but also have a positive impact on the economy and the quality of life.

According to the DPRs, he said, the metro coaches will be modern, lightweight and made from stainless steel and aluminium, with an air-conditioning system.

Singh also said it is a matter of pride that the highest railway bridge of the world is coming up on river Chenab in Reasi district and is likely to be completed next year.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be approached for the formal inauguration of this prestigious project. He said after some initial issues the work on railway line to connect the Kashmir valley is in full swing and it is expected that by 2022, Srinagar and other parts of the valley will be connected with the rest of India directly by trains. (PTI)

Srinagar: In a first for Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi Public School Srinagar has been allotted a SAT center in the school.

SAT or Scholastic Aptitude Test is an entrance exam used by almost every college and university in the west especially the US to make admission decisions. It is a multiple-choice, pencil- and – paper test created and administered by the College Board. The SAT is not only a highly recommended test but an extremely important one as it is the first criterion of eligibility.

Most students take their SATs during their high school years. The purpose of the SAT is to measure a high school student’s readiness for college and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants. However, in J&K awareness about the exam and ‘The SAT Culture’ is lacking.

Also, many students hesitate to take the exam as they have to travel outside J&K to take the exam, which is a drain on their resources. The establishment of a ‘SAT Center’ will, therefore, greatly ease the difficulties of students. Commenting on this development, the Principal Alistair R A Freese said “The center will make it easier for the students aspiring to study in international colleges and save them the annoyance of travelling.

Moreover, this shall make the students in Srinagar aware of this exam and develop ‘SAT Culture’ so that our students don’t give up on their aspirations.”

The Chairman, Vijay Dhar congratulated the school on this achievement and said “I am proud that Delhi Public School Srinagar is the first and only SAT Center in J&K. This is a vindication of the quality of our resources – both human and infrastructure.”

PTI

New Delhi: With India registering 61,537 more cases, the coronavirus tally reached 20,88,611 on Saturday, while 14,27,005 people have so far recuperated from COVID-19 pushing the recovery rate to 68.32 per cent, the Union health ministry said.

The death toll due to the disease rose to 42,518 with 933 fresh fatalities being reported in a day, data updated at 8 am showed.

There are 6,19,088 active cases of COVID-19, comprising 29.64 per cent of the caseload. The case fatality rate has further dropped to 2.04 per cent.

This was the 10th day in a row that the COVID-19 tally increased by more than 50,000.

A total of 5,98,778 samples were tested on Friday, taking the total to 2,33,87,171 so far, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Of the 933 fresh deaths reported, 300 are from Maharashtra, 119 from Tamil Nadu, 101 from Karnataka, 89 from Andhra Pradesh, 63 from Uttar Pradesh, 52 from West Bengal, 23 in Delhi, 22 from Punjab and Gujarat, 16 from Madhya Pradesh, 14 each from Uttarakhand and Telangana, 13 from Jammu and Kashmir, 12 from Odisha and 10 each from Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

Nine fatalities were reported from Haryana while six each from Bihar, Assam and Jharkhand, five in Kerala and Puducherry, four in Goa, three in Andaman and Nicobar Islands while Nagaland and Tripura have registered one fatality each.

Of the total 42,518 deaths, Maharashtra has reported the maximum at 17,092, followed by 4,690 in Tamil Nadu, 4,082 in Delhi, 2,998 in Karnataka, 2,605 in Gujarat, 1,981 in Uttar Pradesh, 1,954 in West Bengal, 1,842 in Andhra Pradesh and 962 in Madhya Pradesh.

So far, 767 people have died of COVID-19 in Rajasthan, 615 in Telangana, 539 in Punjab, 467 in Haryana, 449 in Jammu and Kashmir, 369 in Bihar, 247 in Odisha, 151 in Jharkhand, 132 in Assam, 112 in Uttarakhand, 102 in Kerala.

Chhattisgarh has registered 87 deaths, Puducherry 75, Goa 70, Tripura 37, Chandigarh 23, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 19, Himachal Pradesh 14, nine in Ladakh and 10 in Manipur, seven in Nagaland, five in Meghalaya, three in Arunachal Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu two and Sikkim one.

The Union health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

“Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

People’s Democratic Party leader and former Chief Minister of J&K, Mehbooba Mufti condoles the demise of Mr. Agha Ashraf Ali.

File Photo of Agha Ashraf Ali

On her Facebook page Mehbooba Mufti posted “Agha Ashraf Ali – famous scholar, master orator and a conscientious chronicler of our dreams and pain has left us.

Through his sage reflections Aga sb unravelled for us how confluence of ideas will shape our destiny.

How our tryst with peace is a long ardous journey but one we must embark on.

Peace — you dearly yearned for in this world, may it be your eternal companion now. We bid you adieu Agha Sb.

Srinagar: BJP General Secretary (Organization) Ashok Koul on Saturday said if leaders in detention do not stop talking about violence even after their release then it is better to keep them in jail.

Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Koul said BJP feels that all political leaders taken into preventive custody after August 5, 2019 should be released conditionally. “We feel all politicians should be allowed to walk free once they assured of not fanning trouble on Article 370. If they don’t mend their ways, then authorities should not shy from keeping them into jail”, he said.

BJP leader reiterated its party stand over Kashmir and termed it an “integral” part of India. “J&K is integral part of India. Political parties should be united over one issue. If one rake up Article 370, second statehood, third domicile and others so and so, how it is possible that every stakeholders will be taken into account”, Koul said.

When asked how much time is needed for formation of an elected government in J&K, Koul said that once delimitation process is ended up, elections for legislative assembly will be held accordingly. He added Election Commission of India has kicked off the process and soon any concrete result will come out.

Koul who was on visit to south Kashmir’s tourist destination Pahalgam, told KNS that the aim of visiting here is to boost the morale of BJP cadres who have been kept here for security purpose.
“We have discussed the ongoing political and security situation with administration and urged them to provide adequate security to all political workers”, he asserted.

When asked about rise in resignations of BJP workers after suspected militants killed few Panchs and Sarpanchs during past couple of weeks, Koul claimed that the morale of BJP workers are up. Our cadre organized four programs on August 5, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district which vindicates killings will not deter BJP cadres from taking the mission of party to its conclusion.

He said party is hopeful that new Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will take forward the mission of his predecessor GC Murmu.

“We hope new LG will ensure implementation of centrally sponsored schemes on ground so that people will come to know what kind of development BJP assured to J&K?”, Koul said.
He also urged UT administration to take tough action against those 500 employees involved in corruption, militancy and separatism. (KNS) 

Kangan: The Coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown to contain its spread seem to be taking a toll on dialysis patients here in Kangan area of Ganderbal district.

There are over 30 dialysis patients in Sub-Division Kangan who are blaming SKIMS Soura of ignoring them.

Dialysis is a process that purifies blood using a machine in case of a kidney failure.

One of the patients, Mushtaq Ahmed Kaloo told news agency KNT that doctors at SKIMS Soura Srinagar throw dialysis patients out citing influx of Covid-19 patients as reason.

“We can’t afford private treatment as it will cost enormous sum of money,” he said.

The Dialysis patients from Kangan said that SKIMS face staff crunch due to the lockdown, while they are being asked to wait as hospital is now busy dealing with Covid-19 cases.

A medico on condition of anonymity said that Dialysis patients already have a compromised immunity, which makes them susceptible to catching Covid-19 infection. So for such patients, visiting SKIMS where Covid patients are treated is fraught with challenges. (KNT)

Srinagar: Authorities on Saturday warned all unaided private schools of “strict action” including de-recognition in case they terminate or withheld salaries of staff during the ongoing lookdown over covid-19 pandemic in Kashmir Valley.

“It is impressed upon all the unaided recognised Private Schools of Kashmir Division to adhere with the instructions of providing un-interrupted salaries to the staff in the school during lockdown period in lieu of COVID-19 pandemic in letter and spirit. In case any violation/non-seriousness strict action shall be initiated against the particular school in terms of relevant provisions of Law which includes de-ecognition thereof without further intimation,” reads a circular issued by the Director School Education Kashmir, a copy of which lies with GNS.

The Director issued the circular amid complaints from the Staff of recognised unaided Private Schools regarding either termination of services or non-payment of salaries despite clear cut orders from the government that the tuition fee-only be charged from the student’s during the lockdown period in lieu of COVID-19 pandemic facilitating the private schools to meet the expenditure of the salaries of the staff there.

“Few schools were called to attend this office to redress the grievances of staff in lieu of non-payment of salaries or termination thereof during lock down period and they agreed to continue with their services and subsequent drawal of salaries thereof,” the Director added. (GNS)

PTI

Jammu: A 42-year-old man died after his throat was slit by glass-coated kite thread here on Friday night, officials said.

The incident took place when Skinder Khan was returning home on a two-wheeler, they said.

The kite string got entangled around Khan’s neck at New Plot area and he started bleeding. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to injuries, police said.

Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam said there was no system in place in J&K due to years of misgovernance and corruption.

PTI

Srinagar: People in Jammu and Kashmir have to keep patience to enjoy a whole lot of benefits of the Centre’s move to nullify Article 370 as many positive initiatives have not been rolled out fully yet, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam has said.

Jammu and Kashmir was a “broken state” and there was “no system” in place due to years of misgovernance, corruption and “unbelievable levels of fraud” committed by leaders of mainstream parties and separatist organisations, he said.

Therefore, not a “single soul had cried” over the detention of political and separatist leaders in August last year, when the Centre announced its decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 of the Constitution, he added.

Subrahmanyam, a 1987-batch IAS officer who was hand-picked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “clean up” the Jammu and Kashmir administration, said mis-governance and corruption had continued for so long that the system collapsed from inside.

“People have to be patient to get a whole lot of benefits after the abrogation of Article 370 as what had happened on August 5 last year, have not been rolled out fully (yet),” he told a group of visiting journalists here.

On August 5 last year, the central government had announced abrogation of Article 370 provisions and bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into Union Territories (UT) — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Subrahmanyam said before he came to Jammu and Kashmir in June 2018, he met the prime minister and sought his guidance for his new assignment.

“The prime minister told me: Go, clean up the administration, rebuild it and hand over the ‘amanat’ (precious possession) to the local people,” he said.

The chief secretary said he has been working sincerely to create a robust institutional infrastructure which is free of corruption.

“There was a terrible situation here. Things were designed for corruption. Mis-governance and corruption were for so long that the system has collapsed from inside. The whole state was a big ponzi scheme,” he said.

Subrahmanyam said there were scores of incomplete projects, land acquisition was a big scam and there were instances when doctors working in the Middle East were drawing salaries in Jammu and Kashmir as it had no system of monitoring.

He said frauds in Jammu and Kashmir were at “unbelievable levels”. “There were frauds in jobs, frauds in projects, frauds were everywhere”.

“The JK Bank CMD was the scamster number one. Twenty families or a maximum 30 families milked the JK Bank. There was no accountability. All other PSUs (public sector undertakings) in other states submit their report to the assembly, the PSUs in other states come under RTI, CVC (Central Vigilance Commission). But the JK Bank is accountable to none,” he said.

The chief secretary said Jammu and Kashmir was a “broken state, the governance was broken badly, there was no system, no rules and the decay began a long time ago”.

“We are reconstructing things which were crumbling,” he said.

Asked about how people felt one year after the abrogation of Article 370, Subrahmanyam said common men are not bothered about Article 370, what they expect is jobs, growth and development and the administration is working in that direction.

He said once the administration delivers development, create jobs, people will realise the positive sides.

“Delivery will happen. Reconstruction of the UT is not an overnight work. It takes time. The work is on,” he said.

The chief secretary said three stages of transition have been going on in Jammu and Kashmir.

They are transition from Jammu and Kashmir Constitution to Indian Constitution, bifurcation of the State and then transition from State to UT.

“There have been lots of changes. Separation of three lakh employees were done in just 15 days. The UT rules were made. We had to prepare budget for five months from October 30 to March 31. Then again budget from April for the whole financial year. Division of assets and liabilities have not been finalised yet,” he said.

Subrahmanyam said Rs 6,500 crore worth of projects had been lying incomplete that include a 26-year-old project to construct a bypass in Baramulla. “We have already sanctioned Rs 2,500 crore to complete all these incomplete projects,” he said.

Asked about the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Subrahmanyam said, “The day I can drive down to Pulwama just with my driver without police escort and pilot, we can safely say that the peace has returned to Jammu and Kashmir.”

Pulwama is considered to be a hotbed of militancy. A bus carrying CRPF jawans was blown up by terrorists in Pulwama in February 2019, killing 40 personnel.