Category: Union Territory

Government on Wednesday rejected claims of opposition parties in Lok Sabha that Jammu and Kashmir has been converted into an “open jail”, asserting that the newly created union territory is open for tourists and shut for militants.

Intervening in a discussion on budgetary allocations for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said the Modi government wants the youth of the UT to hold the national tricolour and computers, instead of Pakistani flags and stones.

He said misinformation is being spread that Jammu and Kashmir has been converted into an “open jail”.

He said it is incorrect. “It is not an open jail. It is open for all today. It is open for tourists. It is shut for terrorists,” he said.

The minister said he takes the opportunity to assure the people of Jammu and Kashmir that various central schemes such as Ujjwala and Indradhanush would be implemented there in the next two to three months.

Taking a swipe at the opposition parties, Reddy said while in their hearts they support abrogation of Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, they prefer not to acknowledge it openly. He also said that casualties among security forces have come down as militant networks have been smashed

Taking on the Opposition over the abrogation of Article 370, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said there is no corruption in the valley now and a “transparent, true democracy” is in place in the erstwhile state.

Replying to the debate on budgetary proposals and demand for grants for the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in the Lok Sabha, she said many positive developments have taken place since the abrogation of Article 370, including a rise in exports.

“What was different before August 5 and what is different now. What has changed. Many changes have taken place. There is no corruption now. Before (August 5) there was rampant corruption. It’s now transparent, true democracy which is in place,” she said in the House.

The minister underlined that corruption has ended and things have become more transparent in Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year.

Citing the various initiatives taken by the Centre for development for the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, she said the block development council elections were successful. “Now people approach concerned ministers, Governors, Lt governor or advisers there directly. Yesterday only, many businessmen met ministers including Home Minister. They were overwhelmed by the fact that they can now reach the Centre. This is the welcome change. Prior to August 5, they could not reach Srinagar,” she said.

SOURCE: GK NEWS NETWORK

Bar association files plea before HC; prays quarantine for suspected, affected cases in Leh, Kargil be set up there only

D A Rashid

Bar Association Srinagar Wednesday moved J&K High Court with an application seeking direction upon the authorities for taking preventive measures against Covid-19 in J&K and Ladakh, even as pleading that “over 100 suspected coronavirus affected passengers” who have reportedly travelled to Srinagar from Ladakh may “risk” lives of others.

The plea by the J&K High Court Bar Association Srinagar through its Vice President Aijaz Bedar prayed that it be taken up with the Public Interest Litigations seeking directions for taking up measures to prevent spread of coronavirus in J&K and Ladakh.

Notably, two public Interest Litigations including the one which the court has initiated on its own motion are listed on March 20 before a division bench, which will hear the matter through video conference.

“It is apprehended that if these passengers are affected or require further medical investigation, they are likely to endanger all other persons who will come in contact with them which includes airline staff and security personnel,” the Bar’s plea reads.

While the lawyers’ body sought a direction to prevent entry of the residents of Leh to Kashmir both by air as well as road, it suggested that quarantine facilities need to be set up at Leh and Kargil itself, where treatment can be provided to the affected persons.

“It becomes necessary that the travel to the valley is subjected to serious medical checks at airports, bus stations, railway stations, etc,” the Bar said.

In order to verify the travel of “more than 100 passengers” to the valley today morning by Air India flight, the Bar said, immediate reports be obtained from the authorities concerned. “And based on such reports, directions as warranted in the facts and circumstances of the case may be issued.”

The Bar submitted that it will be highly appreciated if quarantine and other facilities are urgently set up at Leh and Kargil to make available medical facilities to the affected persons or suspects before they are certified to travel out of Leh and Kargil by any mode of transport. “Both Leh and Kargil have low level of density of population as compared to the Kashmir valley or Jammu”.

The Bar prayed that its application may be allowed and in the light of the submission made, further directions be passed in the interests of justice.

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

In view of outbreak of COVID 19, as a precautionary measure, all the ongoing examinations of JKBOSE for classes 10th, 11th and 12th being held across JandK between 19/03/2020 to 31/03/2020, both dates included, are being postponed.

Rescheduled dates will be communicated Separately.

Veena Pandita
Chairperson
JKBose

‘Neither Pak allowing us to return back nor India to proceed towards our homes’

Srinagar, Mar 18: Dozens of students from this part of Kashmir who are presently studying in Pakistan colleges and universities reached Wagah border on Wednesday afternoon but were not allowed by concerned authorities to enter India.

According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), students alleged that amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, they were asked by their parents to return home and on Wednesday noon they reached to Wagah border but were not allowed by authorities to enter India as according to authorities border has been closed.

“At least 30 students including girls have been waiting for help from last 10 hours at Wagah border but nobody is helping us,” the students as per sources told KNO.

Students as well as their parents are worried and demanded immediate attention of concerned authorities in this regard. “We are really worried for our children,” a parent said.

Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) posted a tweet seeking attention of Ministry of External Affairs for immediate readdress of stranded students—(KNO)

Srinagar, Mar 18: Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary has said that four foreign tourists who arrived in Srinagar

today are being sent back tomorrow. He said the tourists were not aware of the ban on entry of foreign tourists in J&K the government ordered late last night. He said these tourists were already present in the country and that

there was nothing to worry about as they have undergone all necessary tests and quarantine as has been verified. Dr Shahid said the tourists were screened and isolated despite being

asymptotic but in view of government’s order banning entry of foreign tourists in J&K will be sent back tomorrow.

Govt Puts Restrictions On Public Transport, Assemblies In Srinagar

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Srinagar, March 18: A 67-year-old woman, who recently returned from Saudi Arabia, tested positive for the novel coronavirus (covid-19) on Wednesday, making it the first confirmed case in Kashmir Valley, a senior official of the UT government said. Overall there are now four confirmed cases of coronavirus in J&K with three already reported in Jammu.

First positive case in – Khanyar, Srinagar, Kashmir

History of foreign travel. Arrived on 16/3/2020. Put in Isolation. Surveillance started in 300m area. Request all to cooperate. Also immediately self-report any symptoms (sic),” Principal Secretary Planning, Development and Monitoring, Rohit Kansal tweeted.

A doctor at SKIMS said that she has a travel history to Saudi Arabia where she had performed Umrah. The doctor said that her report was confirmed from two places including SKIMS lab and Pune lab. The doctor said that she is around 67 years-old, a resident of Khayam, Khanyar, Srinagar.

“The patient had developed fever, and upper respiratory tract infection since yesterday. She is currently being examined by senior resident medicine in isolation ward at SKIMS,” the doctor said. Meanwhile authorities have decided to take samples of all people she has interacted after her arrival in Srinagar on March 16.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said there will be restrictions on public transport, assembly of people and some other measures in Srinagar from Thursday. “Steps are being taken in view of a positive case detected. Further updates to follow,” he added.

Earlier, two more person with coronavirus-like symptoms were admitted to a Srinagar hospital even as authorities suspend the yatra to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine besides suspending inter-state buses coming to and going from J&K till March 31.

HOD Chest Disease (CD) Hospital Srinagar Dr. Naveed Nazir Shah told GNS that the two were admitted in isolation ward of the hospital. “So far fourteen test reports have been received and all came out to be negative,” he said, adding, test reports of the two freshly admitted persons was awaited.

At SKIMS, no person with coronavirus-like symptoms was admitted on Wednesday and so far 40 persons, admitted earlier at the tertiary care hospital, have tested negative. Some of them have been already discharged.

Director, SKIMS Hospital Soura, A G Ahangar urged the public to exercise caution to prevent spread of the disease that has been declared a global pandemic. However he said that there was no need to panic.

“We have tested 41 samples here and 40 of them have come out as negative. There has been no positive case reported from the valley till date,” Dr Ahangar, flanked by several seniors doctors, told reporters. The result of one suspect is awaited, he added. He was perhaps alluding to the woman was tested positive later.

He said there was no need to panic or be scared about the disease. “People should follow the advisories issued by the authorities from time to time. Let us be safe, let us be wise and let us ensure that we help others to live as we live,” he said.

Meanwhile, the government ordered suspending the yatra to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine besides suspending inter-state buses coming to and going from J&K till March 31 in view of the prevailing situation emerging due to COVID-19.

Kansal, who is also the government Spokesperson told a presser that there was no cause of panic and the cooperation of citizens is must in combating the situation successfully.

Flanked by Financial Commissioner Health & Medical Education, Atal Dulloo and Director Information & PR, Dr. Syed Sehrish Asgar, Kansal said that all preventive measures are being taken by the government.

Giving a detailed break up about the Corona virus suspected cases in UT of J&K till date, Rohit Kansal informed that 2802 persons have been enlisted for the test.

Govt says person put in isolation, surveillance started in 300 meter area

Srinagar, Mar 18 (KNO): Amid panic and scare over deadly coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir, first positive case has been reported in Kashmir, the government said on Wednesday.

According to the government spokesman, Rohit Kansal, first positive case was reported in Kashmir, adding that the positive case was reported from Khanyar area of Srinagar.

According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Kansal in a tweet this evening stated that the person who was tested positive has history of foreign travel, saying that he had arrived Kashmir on March 16, 2020.

He further added that the person has been put in isolation, adding that surveillance started in 300 meter area.

He also appealed people to cooperate and also immediately self report if any symptoms.

“First positive case in Kashmir- Khanyar, Srinagar. History of foreign travel. Arrived on 16/3/2020. Put in Isolation. Surveillance started in 300m area. Request all to cooperate. Also Immediately self report any symptoms,” Kansal tweeted – (KNO)

Srinagar March 18 (KINS): Principal Secretary School Education Asgar Samoon on Wednesday said that district development commissioners should decide whether the teachers should remain off duty.

Government on last week announced suspension of class work in view spread of coronavirus.

However Director School Education Kashmir had asked teachers to attend their duties.

“DCs in their respective districts should take decision whether teachers should remain off duty. They have to take the decision as per the situation arise in their districts,” Samoon told Kashmir Indepth News Service on Wednesday.

District Development Commissioner Srinagar has already asked teaching staff to remain off duty. Decision was taken as a precautionary measure to avoid spread of coronavirus.