Category: Union Territory

Srinagar/ March 23 : The Private Schools’ Association Jammu & Kashmir on Monday expressed it’s deep anguish over the crippling blockade of high speed 4G mobile internet services which has put into suspension mode the initiative of google class room teaching for students offered by private schools in valley presently under lockdown like several other parts of the country.

In a statement issued on Monday the President Kashmir Private School Association Jammu & Kashmir (PSAJK) G N Var said as private schools show their readiness to shift to online lesson plans, they’re running into the limitations of our broadband networks. He claimed that since broadband is out of reach for thousands who need it for online classes, Saying that students were deprived of the right to class room teaching for seven long months due to unprecedented lock last year also, Var said classes exclusively online through apps and software like Zoom and Google Classroom is the only option for the schools till they reopen. He said that high speed internet facility at home is the only way to help students to learn remotely and demanded immediate restoration of 4G mobile internet services, adding that “students without broadband would be able to get online lessons with cellular mobile devices”. He urged the government to restore 4G mobile internet services immediately to help school systems with a large population of students who need to learn from home

Srinagar, March 23 (KINS): “Take us to India, we want to die there,” say 30 Kashmiri pilgrims stuck in a hotel in Iran.

All 30 pilgrims are feeling frustrated as according to them none is coming to their rescue.

On Monday one of the stuck pilgrims told KINS over phone from Hotel Feroza Iran, said they had arrived Iran to visit shrines and other religious places, but got stuck due to fast spread of Coronavirus.

“We are in a huddle, all together 30 including an infant and a minor child. Take us to India, we want to die there. We don’t want to die in Iran,” said the pilgrim over phone.

He claimed that despite repeated requests and even protests registered by them in front of the Indian embassy Iran, nothing happened.
“Doctors from the Indian embassy claim that 16 of us are positive while doctors from Iran stated that none of us is positive. We are in a complete shock and despair left with the only option to appeal the Prime Minister Narendera Modi and Iranian government to evacuate us forthwith before we all die one by one in the hotel,” the pilgrim said.

A pilgrim complained if husband of a woman is tested positive, how come he can continue to stay with his wife. “Doesn’t it look that we all have been left to die slowly. Even if one positive case is among us, that is risk for all of us. Why doesn’t the Indian embassy and the Iranian government understand the seriousness of the situation,” he said.

According to reports three pilgrims from Ladakh who have tested positive for COVID-19 have died in Iran. The Centre last week confirmed that around 255 Indian pilgrims in Iran have tested positive for the coronavirus infection.

Meanwhile the Indian embassy in Iran has said that it has set up a “wellness facility” in Qom to take care of the coronavirus-infected Indian pilgrims. On Wednesday, the government had said 255 Indians in Iran had tested positive for COVID-19. (KINS)

The drones were used near the iconic Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) at Lal Chowk which has been completely sealed as part of the lockdown

GK News Network

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday used drones in some parts of the city to announce restrictions on the movement of people as part of the 10-day lockdown to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

In a video released by the police on social media platforms,an officer can be seen recording a message onto a drone, urging people to stay indoors.

“Please cooperate with your police. The cure for coronavirus disease isyour cooperation. Please stay indoors for your own safety and of your family,” the officer said in the message relayed by the drone.

The drones were used near the iconic Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) at Lal Chowk which has been completely sealed as part of the lockdown announced by the administration on Sunday.

Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in strength across the city to ensure that the lockdown announced till 31 March is strictly followed.

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

GK News Network

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged on Monday that Jammu and Kashmir was on “ventilator” after the government put it under a “political quarantine” for the last seven months and a half, saying the situation there was worse than what it was even 30 years ago.

Initiating a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bills, the Leader of Opposition in the Upper House of Parliament hoped that the next budget for Jammu and Kashmir would be passed in the Assembly there and all political detainees would be released immediately to help revive political activity in the state.

He also demanded an early grant of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which has been divided into two Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, since October 31 last year.

Azad alleged that there was no development in Jammu and Kashmir ever since it was bifurcated into Union territories and deprived of statehood, contrary to the claims made by the BJP-led Centre.

He said it would have been better if the budget for Jammu and Kashmir was discussed in the Assembly there, adding that it was being deliberated upon at a time when the entire world was under the grip of the coronavirus and making efforts to get out of it.

“A quarantine has been imposed, but Jammu and Kashmir is in a political quarantine for the last seven months and a half. We need to get out it.

“The situation in Jammu and Kashmir now is even worse than what it was 30 years ago,” the Congress leader said.

Stating that there were natural calamities such as floods, earthquake and outbreak of diseases, over which no one had any control, he said, “But the problem in Jammu and Kashmir for seven months and a half is not because of the nature or gods. It is because of the government of our own country. The calamity has not been brought by foreign invaders…the protector itself has become a disaster.”

“Jammu and Kashmir has been put on ventilator…you will have to remove Jammu and Kashmir from ventilator.

“I urge the government to release political workers, leaders and allow political activity. I also urge the government that statehood will have to be restored at the earliest, without any delay. You will have to give land rights like in north-east and Himachal Pradesh,” the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said.

He said the government should release political prisoners, grant compensation to the seven lakh families that have lost their livelihood due to the shutdown of Jammu and Kashmir and its tourism sector.

The Congress leader also called for creating jobs for the people of the Union territory.

He challenged the ruling party to “show” a single BJP leader from Jammu who agreed to anyone from the country buying land in Jammu or applying for jobs.

Azad said never a step like this (abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcating the state in two UTs) was taken in the past, even when killings were taking place and people were fleeing Jammu and Kashmir.

He also countered the government’s charge that the previous Congress governments did not initiate steps for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, saying militancy was at its peak at that time and people were fleeing the state.

Azad pointed out that even the central government headed by BJP’s “tallest leader” Atal Bihari Vajpaee did not take such an action.

“A country is bigger than a promise made by a party. A party could be strengthened by any slogan, but one has to forget the party to earn the trust of the country. Article 370 had to be removed — this is was the promise of a party and it had to be fulfilled, no matter what happened. Vajpayee had also made the promise, but he kept the country first,” he said.

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

It has also decided to regulate the movement on National Highway and restrict the interstate movement completely. Essential service vehicle, however, will ply normally on highways.

Moreover India has decided to stop domestic flights to combat #COVID2019.

Operation of all domestic schedule commercial airlines shall cease operations with effective from the midnight 23:59 hrs IST on March 24.

Airlines have to plan Ops so as to land at their destination before 23:59 hrs IST on March 24

Srinagar: Chairperson Aash Qurat Masoodi today in a statement To Kashmir Today Has said that the covid-19 has came to teach us a lesson about how important the doctor are for every community and how much we should value them.

The doctors through out the world are risking their lives for the protection of people. Similarly the kashmiri doctors are also out in field treating the covid-19 patients even when they are lacking most of the protection equipments. These are the same doctor whom we don’t give respect and we start beating them when we are tired of standing in long queues for getting treatment. We kashmiri people lose our temper very frequently and start blaming doctors when someone close to our heart dies during treatment forgetting the fact that life and death is all in hands of Allah.

This is the time for us to realise that how important these doctors are for us and for our society and we should stop the violence against the doctors.

Doctors are always facing pressure on daily basis and not only in state of emergency. Doctors don’t only risk their lives but also their families are effected as they can get any viral infection or any other disease from the patients they treat which can effect not only them but also their families.

So we should not only respect them and clap for them only this time but always and we should stop the violence against them.

Visits Qazigund screening center, appeals people to follow guidelines with religious intent

Tasaduq Rashid | KNS

Srinagar, Mar 23 (KNS): Forth advisor to Lieutenant Governor Baseer A Khan on Monday visited COVID-19 Screening Centre at Zeg Qazigund and its adjoining areas to take stock of the arrangements put in place for screening of the passengers. He appealed people to cooperate fully and religiously with administration and follow precautionary guidelines to overcome this threat.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Khan along with other senior officials of the administration visited Screening Centre at Zeg Qazigund and adjoining areas and reviews the arrangements put in place by the administration to defeat the threat of COVID-19.

While talking to media person at the occasion, he appealed people to cooperate fully and religiously with administration and follow precautionary guidelines comes from the concerned offices so that threat to be defeated.

He said, “We can’t act as a mute spectator and let Corona Virus to spread” and added “Almighty Allah has so far protected us from this deadly Virus”.

He also said that administration has also utilized every effort for the wellbeing of people of J&K. “We have established quarantine centers at several locations so that suspected persons could be screened and quarantined”.

Khan appealed people to support and follow the directives of administration aimed for the safety of people.

“I appeal people to follow direction which comes from government, concerned DC’s and health department with religious intent”, Khan said. (KNS)

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

JK seals border with Ladakh, HP and Punjab

3 months ration to people to be given in advance

Srinagar, Mar 23: In wake of Coronavirus threat and subsequent lock down, Government has decided to provide two months ration in advance.

Sources said that Government has decided to give ration in advance for the month of April and May. It has also decided to give one month ration for Mid-Day Meals to app parents of eligible children.

Official sources told KNT that advance ration for two months viz, April and May would be issued to all eligible consumers. Besides, one month’s ration for Mid-Day Meals would also be given in advance to all parents of eligible children.

Meanwhile, Government of Jammu and Kashmir has decided to seal Jammu Kashmir borders with Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh completely. It has also decided to regulate the movement on National Highway and restrict the interstate movement completely. Essential service vehicle, however, will ply normally on highways. (KNT)

#COVID19
Interstate/UT borders with Punjab,Himachal and Ladakh to be fully sealed. National Highway movement to be regulated. Inter district movement of vehicles to be strictly restricted.Essential service vehicles to ply normally@MoHFW_INDIA.@HealthMedicalE1

— Information & PR, J&K (@diprjk) March 23, 2020

After the ban on selfies, Saudi Arabia has now announced a ban on taking photos and making videos in Makkah and Madina.

According to the sources the decision prohibits photos and videos being taken in Mecca’s Masjid al-Haram, known as the ‘Great Mosque’ of Mecca, and Medina’s ‘Masjid an-Nabawi‘, or ‘The Prophet’s Mosque’

The ban also applies to the mosques’ surrounding areas. The ban was imposed to protect and preserve the holy sites.

Saudi authorities cited disturbance of worshippers at the mosques as another reason for the introduction of the measure.

Security guards have been instructed to ‘confiscate the photos and the camera if needed‘.

The US president said it is “out of pride” that China didn’t “want us to send people” and “they didn’t really respond”.

GK News Network

US President Donald Trump has said he is “upset” with China over its late sharing of information on coronavirus.

“They should have told us about this,” Trump told reporters at a press conference in the White House on Sunday.

“I’m a little upset with China. I’ll be honest with you, because as much as I like (Chinese) President Xi (Jinping) and as much as I respect and admire the country,” he said.

Trump said soon after he received information about the spread of the deadly viral infection in China, he wanted to send US medical team there. However, China did not allow.

Without specifying any timeline, Trump said he had spoken to President Xi “specifically” about sending US team to China, however, “he doesn’t want this… this is not something that he wants”.

The US president said it is “out of pride” that China didn’t “want us to send people” and “they didn’t really respond”.

Reiterating that America’s relationship with China is “very good”, Trump said, “I wish they (had) told us three months sooner that this was a problem. We didn’t know about it. They knew about it and they should (have) told us. We could have saved a lot of lives throughout the world.”

Meanwhile, the US and Chinese officials continued with their war of words over coronavirus on Twitter.

“Since early January, the CCP has retaliated against its citizens and journalists in China for making information public, launched disinformation campaigns around the world, and limited the international community’s access to valuable public health information,” the National Security Council of the White House tweeted.

On March 20, Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson of the US State Department, tweeted, “By Jan. 3, Chinese authorities had already ordered #COVID19 virus samples destroyed, silenced Wuhan doctors, and censored public concerns online. @SpokespersonCHN is right: This is a timeline the world must absolutely scrutinize.”

Responding to the tweet, Hua Chunying, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said China has been updating the US on coronavirus and its response since January 3. On January 15, the US State Department notified Americans in China about the US Centre for Disease Control’s warning against the coronavirus.

“And now blame China for Delay? Seriously,” she said.

China, Hua tweeted, has treated COVID 19 as highly pathogenic virus according to the law on prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

“As WHO stated, China identified the pathogen in a record short time and shared genetic sequence with the world, which helped others with epidemic response,” she said.

However, Ortagus denied her remarks.

“Nonsense. You call it ‘highly pathogenic’ now, but last month your officials blocked a WHO report from calling COVID19 a ‘dangerous pathogen’,” she said, tagging a link of a ‘Financial Times’ article on the topic to buttress her argument.

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