Category: Union Territory

Hints at rival Islamic bloc if OIC doesn’t meet on Kashmir

THE WEEK

Pakistan’s foreign minister warned on Wednesday that if the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) did not convene a meeting of its Council of Foreign Ministers on Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad would call a separate meeting of Muslim nations.

Speaking on a talk show on ARY News, Shah Mehmood Qureshi was quoted by Dawn as saying, “I am once again respectfully telling OIC that a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers is our expectation. If you cannot convene it, then I’ll be compelled to ask Prime Minister Imran Khan to call a meeting of the Islamic countries that are ready to stand with us on the issue of Kashmir and support the oppressed Kashmiris.”

Qureshi made the comments on a day when Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments marked one year of the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir by holding various protest events. Pakistan had been seeking international pressure on India ever since August last year, with little success.

“Pakistan has been pushing for the foreign ministers’ meeting of the 57-member bloc of Muslim countries, which is the second-largest intergovernmental body after the UN, since India annexed occupied Kashmir last August,” Dawn reported.

Responding to a question on the talk show, Qureshi declared Pakistan “could not wait any further” on the issue of a meeting of Islamic nations. Qureshi had previously claimed a meeting of OIC foreign ministers was needed to send a clear message from the Ummah (community of Muslims) on the Kashmir issue.

Saudi Arabia, considered to be one of the most influential members of the OIC, had been reluctant to support Pakistan’s call for a meeting of OIC foreign ministers. In December last year, Imran dropped out of a meeting of Islamic nations organised in Kuala Lumpur by then Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. The leaders of Iran, Turkey and Qatar attended the meeting, which was touted as being an ‘alternative’ to the Saudi-dominated OIC. At the time, there were reports that Imran dropped out owing to pressure from Saudi Arabia.

On Wednesday, Qureshi acknowledged Imran skipped the Kuala Lumpur summit on Saudi Arabia’s request and added “Pakistani Muslims are demanding of Riyadh to show leadership on the issue [of Kashmir]”.

“We have our own sensitivities. You have to realise this. Gulf countries should understand this,” Qureshi was quoted as saying by Dawn.

In June this year, a contact group of the OIC discussed the Kashmir issue, leading to criticism from India, which asserted the grouping had “no locus standi on matters strictly internal to the country”.

In March 2019, Qureshi boycotted a meeting of OIC foreign ministers after India’s then external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj was guest of honour at the organisation’s summit in Abu Dhabi.

With inputs from The Week

Srinagar: In order to address the growing population of stray dogs in the city , SMC in collaboration with veterinary faculty Skuast is going to resume the Animal Birth Control and Anti Rabies programme soon at its Animal Birth Control AR facility shuhama.

The programme which was temporarily on hold due to the restrictions in place because of COVID 19 Pandemic shall now be resumed in the coming week said Commissioner SMC Mr Gazanfar Ali.

Initially areas with overpopulation of dogs and complaints coming from the red zone areas, shall be attended .

In this regard all the necessary arrangements have been kept in place and surgeries shall be conducted strictly as per the covid 19 protocol in place.

Meanwhile Commissioner has appealed to people not to throw garbage or any left over food on streets or in an open area.

It is clear that population of street dogs is directly related to the amount of food and edible waste matter in the area.

Areas of city which are usually kept clean have a very low dog population and areas having large amount of waste have a much higher population. So one part of the ultimate answer to street dog control is to control the availability of edible waste which shall result in decrease of life span and breeding efficiency of stray dogs said Commissioner SMC.(KNS)

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Friday recorded the season’s highest temperature at 35.4 degrees Celsius, which is 6 degrees above season’s average.

The day temperature in Jammu settled at 32.2 degrees Celsius, which is 1 degree below normal.

Qazigund, Pahalgam and Kokernag recorded maximum temperatures at 32.3°C, 29.3°C and 31.6°C respectively.

“Kupwara and Gulmarg also recorded this season’s highest day temperatures at 36.3°C and 27.0°C respectively,” said he. “Mercury in Gulmarg was 7 degrees above normal while as in Kupwara it was 6 degrees above normal.”

Meanwhile Kashmir Weather has predicted several spells of rain & thunderstorms till 12th August.

“Some brief spells of rain, thundershowers with gusty winds is possible from tonight till August 12,” “Temperatures are likely to come down from tomorrow onwards.”

Srinagar: To bring out students from psychological stress, Board of School Education has formulated a policy regarding reduction in syllabus or its rationalization and has sent it to higher authorities for administrative approval.
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Veena Pandita, Secretary BOSE said department has formulated a policy which will be sent to Principal Secretary Education Department Dr Asgar Samoon for administrative approval so that the stress level of students in wake of Covid-19 pandemic will be eased.

“We have asked students to fill examination forms for class 10th, 11th and 12th as it has to fill them for database purpose whatever the circumstances are?”, she said.

She said we can’t predict how long Covid-19 will go but it is impossible for the department to workout database of students at last moment.
She appealed students not to be panic at this juncture as department needs database for discussion with the Government to ensure relief to student community.

“We can’t workout reduction in syllabus, rationalization or time of examinations at the eleventh hour, so we have started the process”, the official said.

She added that relaxation in syllabus and other examination related affairs are academic decisions. “We too have to fix the line like CBSE has given relaxation of 10 percent syllabus to students”, she said.

When asked what steps BOSE has taken for easing hardships of students amid pandemic, she added that it was impossible to gather at a single platform at this juncture. We have asked concern quarters to send their suggestion and by August 6 we received comments from them.

“We are drafting procedure how to go ahead? By Monday or Tuesday we will formulate the policy and according will send it to Principal Secretary Education Department for administrative approval”, Pandita added.

She hoped that within seven to ten days department will be ready with a particular program how to go ahead?. (KNS)

Governors come and go: Farooq Abdullah

Only time will tell how he delivers: GH Mir

Govt should first respect sentiment of Kashmiris: Justice Masoodi

Sending LGs here is routine: Fayaz Mir

Srinagar: Politicians of various political parties share a mixed response over the Mission Development talk of the newly appointed Lt Governor Manish Sinha.

Taking on KNS, NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah said, “Governors come and go. What kind of expectation can I have from him?”

Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party Senior Leader Ghulam Hassan Mir who attended the oath-taking ceremony of LG Sinha said that only time will tell how he can deliver. “Peace is a two-way process- His efforts and efforts of the people. Peace is essential for development. He has experienced politician and has administrative experience. His track record is clean. However, J&K is a sensitive place. Time will tell about his actions and how he can deliver,” he told KNS.

Justice Hasnain Masoodi, National Conference MP who represents restive south Kashmir said Government of India should respect sentiments of people, then only peace and development will happen. “Development is not possible without peace. The Government figures itself reflects the ground situation of the last year. We have heard these claims and talks before also. We have 5000 hotel rooms. But where are tourists? The present LG is one of the top 100 leaders of BJP. Obviously they would have sent him here with some agenda. Changes in faces won’t help anything unless there is a change in policy, attitude and approach towards Kashmir.GOI has to first respect the sentiments of Kashmiris.”

PDP Member Parliament Fayaz Ahmed Mir said he did not attend the oath-taking ceremony and it amounted to attestation of downgrading the special status of J&K. On being asked about the slogan of development by Lt Governor on his first day here, he said, “Governor Satya Pal Malik also said same. When centre sent G C Murmu, they declared this is the beginning of Naya Kashmir. But he was removed in a jiffy and what he changed here In a year! Nothing. Today a person succumbed of injuries due to shelling by the Pakistani army. Kashmiris are getting killed on a daily basis whether he is a civilian or affiliated with any party. Talks should start. No one is talking about Kashmiris who are dying every day. Sending LGs by GOI here is routine. Whatever we had; everything was snatched. GOI should first restore the special status of J&K. This is our right.”(KNS)

Srinagar: BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav Friday hinted out that appointment of LG Manoj Sinha will pave way for resumption of political activities in J&K.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Madhav known for Kashmir expertise said that replacement of Girish Chandra Murmu should not be seen as bureaucratic versus politician issue. There was a need of some political acumen personality to be at helm who will pave way for carrying out political activities in J&K.

“Mr. Manoj Sinha is a political figure who had served several ministries during Modi’s 1.0 rule. All LGs from Jagmohan to Murmu have done tremendous work in J&K. Now there should be a political process to resume and Mr Sinha can better understand the need of political exercise”, Madhav said.

He said Mr. Sinha will carry forward the mission of his predecessors to its logical conclusion. “His appointment will provide comfort to local politics as BJP also wishes political process to resume in J&K”, Madhav said.

He added, “Once process of delimitation will culminate, the reins of local government will be handed over to local politicians”.

When asked how it is possible to resume political activities in J&K in absence of leadership who are still either imprisoned in jails or kept under house detention, Madhav denied and said all leaders are roaming freely and enjoying every service.

“I am surprised why political leaders don’t resume political activities in J&K when they are roaming in New Delhi, using Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp etc. They had been released months back”, BJP leader said and added, “What thing has stopped them from taking forward political activities, I don’t know?”.

Lashing out on mainstream political parties over fanning trouble on Article 370, Madhav said every citizen of the country including people of J&K have accepted the abrogation of Article 370 by heart.

“Since Article 370 was incorporated in Constitution, enough water had been flown till its abrogation. It was hollow inside but local politicians used it for hoodwinking people for political gains. By its annulment, we ended up separatism in Valley and now every citizen of the country did support of our decision”, he asserted.
BJP leader, on issue of development after abrogation of Article 370, stated that winters followed by Covid-19 pandemic put some hurdles in development but BJP is committed to take J&K into new developmental heights.

He said instead of saying what we have given to people of J&K, we should listen what they are saying? “They want violence free J&K. They don’t want to hit the streets for protests. They don’t want to go for resistance”, Madhav claimed.
Hitting out to mainstream political parties who are demanding restoration of special status of J&K, BJP leader said that those threaten for resistance should join Hurriyat. He urged political parties to represent people in true sense and speak on developmental issues instead of issuing threats of resistance, stone pelting etc.

About return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, BJP leader said that when BJP came into power we took concrete steps for their return.
“Soon after BJP came into power, party started discussions with concerned stakeholders. We ensured job reservations for their youth. As we know terrorism is still haunting Valley, there are security concerns in their return and it is our top priority to bring the community to their homes. Erstwhile we took several steps for their return and we will keep our full concentration on their return as Article 370 has gone now”, Madhav said. (KNS)

New Delhi: India-China ties, already fraught with tensions, dipped further on Thursday with Beijing insisting on a discussion on Kashmir at the United Nations Security Council at Pakistan’s behest.

Ties between the neighbours, strained since early May because of intrusions by Chinese troops into Indian territory, plummeted further after a violent clash on 15 June in which 20 Indian Army personnel and an unknown number of Chinese soldiers were killed. Talks to ensure a pullback of Chinese troops have hit a roadblock with Beijing refusing to budge from places where its soldiers are ensconced.

It was against this backdrop that China pushed for a discussion on Kashmir on Wednesday at the UN Security Council, at the behest of its close friend and ally Pakistan. Its all-weather friendship with Pakistan has been a major irritant in India-China ties.

New Delhi said it had “noted” that China “initiated a discussion in the UN Security Council on issues pertaining to the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir”.

“This was not the first time that China has sought to raise a subject that is solely an internal matter of India,” the foreign ministry said.

“As on such previous occasions, this attempt too met with little support from the international community. We firmly reject China’s interference in our internal affairs and urge it to draw proper conclusions from such infructuous attempts,” it said.

The discussion at the UN Security Council coincided with the first anniversary of India revoking a special provision in its Constitution, Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

On 5 August 2019, India’s Parliament had passed a bill to allow the region to be integrated closer with the country. The move had caught Pakistan off guard as New Delhi took the Indian-administered part of Kashmir off the negotiating table with Islamabad. Pakistan has since been trying to refocus attention on Kashmir and the campaign is being led by Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan. Last September, Khan’s speech at the UN General Assembly was focused on Kashmir.

China’s support to Pakistan to get the matter discussed at the UN Security Council followed a statement by the Chinese foreign office calling India’s revocation of Article 370 “illegal and invalid”.

On Thursday, India also reminded China that it had agreed that “early and complete disengagement of the troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and de-escalation from India-China border areas” and “full restoration of peace and tranquillity was essential for the smooth overall development of bilateral relations”.

“India remains committed to this objective. We also expect that the Chinese side will work with us sincerely for complete disengagement and de-escalation and full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas,” Indian foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said in New Delhi.

With inputs from Live Mint

Top court points out former L-G G.C. Murmu had recommended it while in office

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to explain whether 4G Internet could be restored in select areas in Jammu and Kashmir where there was no trouble, saying even former Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor G.C. Murmu had recommended it while in office.

Mr. Murmu recently resigned from office.

“The L-G has said that there is no difficulty in restoring 4G. You have to give an explanation for that,” Justice R. Subhash Reddy, one of the three judges on the Bench headed by Justice N.V. Ramana, addressed the government side.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta apprised the court of Mr. Murmu’s departure from office and said a detailed response would be filed on the issue.

“In your response, do not go strictly by whether or not contempt is there. You should also say whether 4G can be restored in areas [which posed no security challenge],” Justice Reddy remarked.

The court posted the case for August 11.

The court is hearing a contempt petition filed by NGO Foundation for Media Professionals that a high-powered special committee was not formed in compliance with a judgment of the top court on May 11 to review the need to continue with the “blanket restrictions” on 4G Internet access in Jammu & Kashmir, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On July 28, in the last hearing, the Centre told the Supreme Court that it would “verify” reports in the media quoting Mr. Murmu saying 4G Internet speed should be restored in the Valley. Mr. Murmu’s reported recommendation caused a stir as the Centre had been maintaining, and even filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, that the situation was not ripe to restore high-speed Internet owing to heightened terror activities in J&K. It had agreed to review the situation again after two months.

The Centre has already informed the Supreme Court that a special committee chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla met twice on the need to review the restrictions placed on high-speed 4G Internet connection in Jammu and Kashmir but deferred its decision on the issue, considering the “startling situation” of continued terror attacks in the Valley.

On May 11, the Supreme Court, acting on a writ petition filed by the Foundation for Media Professionals, directed the Centre and J&K to constitute a special committee with the Secretary, Union Ministry of Home Affairs as Chairperson followed by the Secretary, Department of Communications, Union Ministry of Communications and the Chief Secretary, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

In its contempt petition and a separate application filed in June, the foundation said that nearly a month had passed since the Supreme Court judgment. There was no record in the public domain about the formation of a special committee “to consider the necessity and proportionality of the ongoing blanket mobile Internet speed restrictions in the entire Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir” as the court had directed.

‘No action’

In fact, the foundation said, J&K authorities had issued a new order on the very evening of the May 11 judgment, directing Internet service providers to continue a blanket restriction on mobile Internet speed to 2G for the whole of J&K. A representation to explain the order and seeking information about whether the special committee was formed or consulted prior to this order had got no reply.

The petition said the authorities had extended the blanket restrictions on mobile Internet speeds on May 27. This time, the government order had cited terror incidents in the Valley – proving that Internet cuts really did not achieve government’s desired aim. A second representation from the foundation to the authorities on the existence and role of the special committee was again met with stony silence.

“Twenty-nine days have elapsed since this Court expressly directed the special committee to ‘immediately’ determine the ‘necessity’ of the continuation of restrictions on Internet access in Jammu & Kashmir. However, to the best of the petitioner’s [foundation] knowledge, no action has been taken by the special committee, either to comply with this direction or review the J&K government’s orders [dated] 11.05.2020 and 27.05.2020,” the petition said.

The foundation said there was no sign of whether the government had complied with the court direction.

“There is no information available in the public domain about whether the constitution of the special committee has been notified; whether it has conducted any meetings; or passed any orders since it was directed to be established through this Court’s judgement on May 11… Such a lax attitude, especially during a health pandemic and humanitarian crisis, violates both the letter and the spirit of this Court’s judgments which took judicial notice of the concerns relating to the ongoing pandemic and the hardships that may be faced by the people of Jammu & Kashmir,” the petition said.

The petition said the J&K order cited reasons like the “onslaught of summer” and “the melting of snow” as grounds for restricting the Internet speed.

“Such perennial reasons render Internet restrictions permanent and are not based on any emergency or urgency and go against the spirit of the Telecom Suspension Rules,” the petition said.

The petition highlighted that the Supreme Court had itself said in its judgment in the Anuradha Bhasin case that “restrictions cannot be permanent”. If the special committee has been formed, it is supposed to review the ground situation every seven days.

‘Incorrect’ stand

The government stand that Internet speed restrictions did not pose any hindrance to COVID-19 control measures, including use of mobile apps, accessing online educational content or carrying out business activities was “patently incorrect”, the foundation had submitted.

It said the court should revisit the case to enquire from the government about the setting up of the special committee, which should in turn review the Internet restrictions in J&K after considering the material placed on record by the foundation about its unsuitability as a counter-terrorism strategy.

The court should direct the special committee, if notified, to consider the harm suffered by healthcare professionals, students, businesspersons and ordinary people of J&K because of prolonged Internet restrictions.

With inputs from The Hindu

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Manoj Sinha on Friday said that his mission was to bring peace, end militancy and to ensure development by all means here.

“J&K is India’s heaven and crown. I have been given a chance to play a role here. August 5 is a historic day and will be remembered in history. I met some officers and they told me that in the past year, there has been a lot of development in all sectors. I will take forward the same process of development with a speed and vigour,” Sinha told reporters at Rajbhawan Srinagar, soon after taking the oath.

Sinha also said there is a need to instil confidence among the “aam Janata” of J&K in democracy.

“I have no specific agenda and there will be equal treatment with all. I will work for the welfare of people of J&K. I will try on that front and I have spoken to some officers in that regard already. I will be in touch with the media too besides common people of J&K,” Sinha said.

The new LG said that his mission in the J&K UT will be to ensure peace, end militancy and to work for the development by all means.

In response to a question, Sinha said the team of officers, who are part of the system will stay in touch with the people.

“We will listen to the grievances of people and ensure their timely redressal.”

Earlier he took oath as the new LG of the Union Territory of J&K at Rajbhawan here. (KNS)

Srinagar: Three more civilians including a woman were injured as India and Pakistan troops exchanged fire along the Line of Control in Karnah area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

A senior army officer told GNS that Pakistan army resorted to ceasefire violation along the LoC by firing small arms and mortars, resulting in injuries to six civilians at seperate places. “Army gave befitting reply,” he added.

Official sources identified the injured as 42-year-old Hamida Begium wife Mohammad Akbar, Zakir Khan (24) and Nasser Ahmad Khan, all residents of Rangward. All three injured persons were shifted to SDH Kralpora wherefrom the woman has been referred to Srinagar as his condition is stated to be serious, the officials said.

Earlier as many civilians identified as Mohammad Arif from Shamspora, Mohammad Yaqoob from Baghballa Kachadiyan and Syed Rafaqat from Kachadiyan were injured and hospitalized.

Meanwhile, army officials here said that Pakistani army also violated ceasefire along the LoC in Uri by resorting to unprovoked firing.

The Pakistani troops fired small arms and mortar shells in the Boniyar sector of the Uri sector in Baramulla district, they said.

The Army gave a befitting reply to the “unprovoked aggression and retaliated in adequate measure”, they added. However, there were no reports about injury to any person so far. (GNS)