Category: Union Territory

Srinagar, Dec 08: After fetching good rates throughout the autumn, the fruit growers in Kashmir are now witnessing a down market as rates have been continuously decreasing in different Indian markets since fortnight.

Growers from different areas of Kashmir told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that usually the rates of apples increase after ending November but this year the rates have started declining due to the growers whose produce is yet to reach markets are very much worried.

Abdul Rashid, a grower from Shopian said that he is yet to send his 300 apple boxes as he was waiting for rates to increase but instead of increasing, “rates are decreasing with each passing day.”

He said that rates have decreased from 200 to 300 per box in the last 15 days and the farmers whose most produce is Kashmir are very much worried.

Bashir Ahmad Basheer, chairman Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union (KVFGDU) while talking with KNO said that around 35 percent of the produce are still lying in cold storage units.

He said that the main reason behind the decrease in rates of apples is financial crunch besides the threat of a third wave of Covid which could lead to lockdown.

Basheer said the other reasons for the decline in the rates include the import of the apples from Iran which are reaching Delhi on a daily basis, cold waves in northern states of India and continuous rains in different southern states.

“The rates are down by around 20 percent as compared to the rates which were in autumn,” he said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 08: The Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has asked the Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation Athar Amir Khan to show the authority under which he is holding the post.

According to Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) three Srinagar Municipal Corporation Corporators have filed a petition against the Commissioner in the High Court through their lawyer Advocate Shuja Ul Haq challenging the appointment of Khan as SMC Commissioner and claiming that he lacks the eligibility for the post.

Citing Section 45 of SMC, the petitioners have claimed that the Commissioner lacks eligibility for the post.

As per Section 45 of the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, Commissioner of Municipal Corporation can be appointed by the Government by issuing a notification in the Government Gazette and the person/s to be appointed must be Class (1) officer of the Government, having the service of not less than 15 years.

“It is pointed out by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the respondent No. 4 is an IAS officer of 2016 batch and, therefore, having service of less than 15 years in the Government,” the Court observed.

The court said that Prima facie, this Court finds substance in the submissions made by the learned Counsel for the petitioner.

Khan, who is a 2016 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan Cadre was deputed in February this year by centre government to JK UT and posted as Commissioner SMC. (KDC)

Says BJP should stop politics of hatred otherwise India won’t survive

Jammu, Dec 07: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said that they will rise above oppression and will get back what has been snatched.

As per Kashmir News Service (KNS), addressing party workers at Jammu, Abdullah said that NC wants to bring back the Gandhian India and definitely “we will win this struggle. It is the nation of Gandhi and we will always follow his footsteps to save the nation.”

He said that Jammu and Kashmir had acceded to  India because of the democratic principles and non-violent policies of Mahatma Gandhi.

“They had put their trust on Gandhian India and not on Godse India. Without any discrimination the people of Jammu and Kashmir have accepted everyone,” Farooq said, adding that every religion is equally respected in here, but still the people are being deprived of their rights.

Abdullah said that PM Modi had promised to remove “Dil ki doori and Delhi ki doori,” but nothing substantial has been done o. ground.

“I want to ask him that what has he done till today to remove this alienation. Instead of removing the alienation, more policies and measures are forced upon the people in order to further widen the gap between New Delhi and JK. What has  PM Modi done to win the hearts of people,” he questioned.

He said that after the sacrifice of over 700 farmers and the apprehensions of defeat in the elections in 5 states of India, the government of India has accepted to repeal the farm laws.

“The centre only works to win elections and not for the prosperity of the nation. I want to tell them that stop this politics of hatred otherwise India won’t survive. They should focus on deeds rather than religion so that the nation can be saved from collapsing,” he said.

Abdullah said that no military power can save the nation as only the citizens of India can save it but the government is trying to divide the people based on religion just for their vested interests of power.

“I declare that we will rise above their oppression and will get back our rights. No one can suppress us and we have always resorted to non-violence. Definitely we will win this struggle,” he said.

Abdullah is also said that like Moosa (AS) saved Bani Israel from Phiraon, “likewise Moosa (AS) will also come and will save.” (KNS)

December 07: Cyber Police Kashmir Zone, Srinagar has recovered missing mobile phones worth lakhs of rupees and handed over to the rightful owners.

In order to extend the services to the general public and to redress their grievances, Cyber Police Kashmir is receiving applications/ complaints from the general public about missing of their cell phones. This is apart from various online frauds, scams and other Cyber related crimes which are being reported in Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone on routine basis.

A constant 24×7 effort is being made by Cyber Police Kashmir through special teams to investigate such crimes besides tracing missing mobile phones by using advanced technological and conventional methods. Cyber Police therefore remains on the forefront in helping the citizens in various technological challenges being faced by the citizens in their day to day life.

Cyber Police Kashmir was successful in its efforts by tracing 53 such missing smart cell phones of various makes and models worth lakhs of rupees and were accordingly handed over to the rightful owners today at Cyber Police Station Headquarters Srinagar.

On the directions of IGP Kashmir Zone, various awareness campaigns and programmes have also been initiated by the Cyber Police Kashmir, wherein general public is made aware about various contemporary online frauds and scams etc.

General public has appreciated and applauded the role & efforts of Cyber Police Kashmir in rendering such services to the general public.

Srinagar, Dec 06: The families of Hyderpora victims are pinning hopes on a magisterial probe even though the additional deputy commissioner (ADC) probing the incident is yet to submit his final report.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) family of Hyderpora victims said that till now they don’t have any information about the submission of the report officially but are waiting for the report with hopes of justice.

“As LG Manoj Sinha has given us high hopes that the culprit will be booked and assured us that there is no place for injustice, we are waiting with very high hopes,” the family said.

Notably Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha in a tweet after the encounter said, “A magisterial inquiry by an officer of ADM rank has been ordered in the Hyderpora encounter. The government will take suitable action as soon as the report is submitted in a time-bound manner. JK admin reiterates commitment of protecting lives of innocent civilians it will ensure there is no injustice (sic).”

Following the protest by the two families, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on November 19 exhumed the bodies of the two civilians killed in the encounter and handed them over to their families for the last rites. Sources told KNO even after 15 days of the Hyderpora encounter, ADC is yet to submit his report to the government—(KNO)

Blasphemous content was a direct attack on Muslim sentiments and deserves stern punishment: IF President

Srinagar: Strongly condemning the blasphemous content published by a Delhi-based publication – Jay Cee Publications, Islamic Fraternity Jammu and Kashmir (IF) has appealed to people in general and booksellers in particular, to boycott and blacklist the publishing company.
President Islamic Fraternity, Muhammad Aamir, said that the blasphemous content was a direct attack on Muslim sentiments and deserves strong condemnations and stern punishment for this act.
“This is not an ordinary mistake. This act (of publishing blasphemous content) amounts to ridiculing the base of Muslim faith, for which a Muslim would die thousand times to stop such people from committing such anti-Islamic acts,” Aamir said.
He appealed general public, particularly booksellers, parents, school heads, and scholars to blacklist the company and boycott all the publications from this publishing house as a mark of protest against the blasphemous act.
Welcoming the swift action by the district administration of Srinagar which registered a case against the bookseller for selling the particular books from the above publication, IF president hoped that the order will be followed by punishment for those who were directly or indirectly involved in this criminal act.
“This isn’t the first time that we are seeing our Deen being ridiculed by anti-Islamic elements but in the past, similar acts have been committed by such elements and were let free without any punishment. However, this time, it won’t be the case. We want this publication to be banned across India,” Aamir said.
He also appealed to Muslims all over India to wake up to the realities and protect the sanctity of Islam. “They (Indian Muslims) should boycott and blacklist this publication to prevent these elements from harming Islam”.

Srinagar, Dec 06: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Monday said Omicron variant causes mild illness in individuals who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

“If you have received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine, you are less likely to get severe disease from the new variant,” said DAK President and Influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

The DAK President said early reports suggest people who are vaccinated do not get complications with Omicron.

In South Africa, vaccinated people are experiencing mild symptoms with the new variant. Most of the patients are treated at home and do not need hospitalization. People who are getting sick enough to need hospitalization with omicron are those who are unvaccinated.

Among the initial 70 cases reported from Europe, half of the patients had no symptoms and the other half had mild symptoms. There were no cases of severe disease, hospitalization or death. Most of these patients were fully vaccinated.

India has so far reported 21 cases of omicron and all cases till now have either been asymptomatic or accompanied by mild symptoms of the disease. Majority of them had received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

“While Omicron causes infections even in fully vaccinated individuals, vaccines still offer protection against severe disease and prevent people from hospitalization and even death,” he said.

Dr Hassan said though early reports are encouraging, but the number of patients so far remains too low – and their infections too recent – to draw firm conclusions on whether omicron leads to milder or severe disease cases of covid-19 than other variants.

“Moreover, the cases have mostly been seen in young people – so we are not sure whether the variant will cause more severe symptoms in older adults and vulnerable,” he added.

“We need more data and it will take several weeks for us to know how much more contagious Omicron is and what are its implications on those who get infected,” said Dr Nisar.

No intention of floating party, but for Kashmir cause, if necessary, Ghulam Nabi Azad today did not rule out the possibility of framing a new political outfit in near future.

Daily Excelsior

Srinagar: While claiming that ‘anything can happen in politics anytime’, former Union Minister and senior All India Congress Committee leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad today did not rule out the possibility of framing a new political outfit in near future.

Amid speculations of creating new party and holding several impressive rallies across Jammu and Kashmir, the veteran Congress leader said that he has ‘no intention’ to float a new party but ‘cannot predict’ the future in politics.

Azad had been addressing series of rallies across J&K which witnessed impressive response and also fuelled speculations that he is forming a new party. Adding much to the speculations, about two dozen Azad’s loyalists have also resigned from Congress posts recently.

“Rallies were meant to revive political activities that had stopped after Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its Statehood and special status. There was no political activity for the last two and half years in J&K. No connectivity of the leaders with the public. I felt the need and took the lead but now the others are also following,” Azad told reporters here.

When asked whether he was going to float his own party, Azad remarked, “No one can say what will happen next in politics, like no one knows about death. In politics, no one can predict what will happen next, but I have no intentions to form a party.”

Stating how there is no place for criticism today Azad said, “No one is challenging the leadership. Perhaps, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Ji had given me too much freedom to question when things were going wrong. They would never mind criticism. They would not see it as offensive. Today, the leadership sees it as offensive,” he added.

“Indira Gandhi had once told me ‘keep it up’ when I refused to appoint two people she recommended as general secretaries in the Youth Congress and when Rajiv ji joined politics, Indira Gandhi called both of us and told Rajiv ji that Ghulam Nabi can even says no to me, but that ‘no’ doesn’t mean disobeying or disrespect, that’s for the good of the party. Today, no one is ready to listen to that no. For saying no, you become nobody today,” Azad remarked.

Senior leaders of the party, who didn’t want to be quoted said, “the party leadership must learn to trust its ‘war horses’. It should not isolate or sideline senior leaders who have stood through thick and thin with the party. They have given blood and sweat to the party.

The party must utilize their services to chalk out new political strategies. Azad had also accomplished some challenging tasks assigned to him by the party high command in the past, specially in Maharashtra and Karnataka”.

While referring to the recent stance of the party high command to promote ‘Young Turks’, leaders said, “youngsters Jyotiraditya Scindia, Youth Congress president Ashok Tanwar and Mahila Congress president, Sushmita Dev left the party. Even senior party leader Jitender Parsad quit and joined BJP, and later he became the minister”.

The senior AICC leader claimed that he also wanted to quit politics, but decided to continue for lakhs of his supporters. He said the people did not allow him to do so. Azad said he wanted to revive political activities in J&K, and for this reason, he was holding series of rallies here and would continue to do so.

Azad reiterated the demand for restoration of the Statehood of Jammu and Kashmir before Assembly elections, saying the bureaucracy is no match to popular rule in fulfilling the aspirations of the people.

He also added that the people of the country are suffering due to the price hike of essential commodities and the Congress has been fighting over it within and outside Parliament. Jihad (holy war) is not fighting against another religion. The real ‘Jihad’ is to wipe out poverty and unemployment which is our biggest enemy, rather than any leader or party, Azad said.

“The ‘war’ should not be against any religion but to wipe out poverty and unemployment which is our real enemy,” the former J&K Chief Minister maintained.

With inputs from Daily Excelsior

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi, December 4 : “Article 370 was in place for decades but was there peace in Jammu and Kashmir,” asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a function here on Saturday, asserting that the abrogation of the provision in the Constitution had ushered in peace and investment.

He was referring to a statement by former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, claiming there would be no peace in the UT until Article 370 was restored. “There was Article 370 for the last 75 years. Why was there no peace? If there is a relation between peace and Article 370, was the Article not in place in 1990? Even if we include figures of targeted killings, we are not even close to 10 per cent. This means there is peace,” Shah maintained. “I am happy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi abrogated Article 370 from the Constitution on August 5, 2019. Kashmir is at peace now, investment is taking place, tourists are visiting and J&K is gradually looking to stand united with the rest of the country,” Shah said.

On the demand of J&K political parties that elections should take place after statehood is restored, Shah said Parliament had passed an Act that elections would be followed by a delimitation exercise. — TNS

Srinagar, Dec 04: With omicron appearing to spread much faster than previous strains of the virus, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Saturday called for vaccinating children against Covid-19.

“Amid Omicron variant threat Covid vaccination for children becomes crucial,” said DAK President and Influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

“Up until now, Covid-19 has caused mild symptoms in children. But in South Africa where Omicron variant is now dominant strain, there has been increase in hospital admissions among young kids,” he said.

The DAK President said the country is seeing a rise in severe Covid infections in children under 5 years of age.

“Researchers believe lack of vaccination among children may be the result of increase in hospitalization,” he said

“That makes Covid vaccine vitally important for children,” he added.

Dr Nisar said children were not affected severely by the Covid pandemic in the past. Now we are seeing sharp increase in cases particularly in young kids.

“While most of the elderly and adults have been vaccinated, children have not been included in the vaccination drive yet,” he said adding it is unjust to allow kids to take on great burdens during the pandemic but not give them the opportunity to benefit from a vaccine.

Spokesperson DAK Dr Riyaz Ahmad Dagga said vaccinating children will protect them from getting Covid and can also help keep them from getting seriously sick even if they do get Covid-19.

“Covid-19 vaccine is required for children to return to classrooms and is important for ensuring safe learning environment in schools,” he said.

General Secretary DAK Dr Arshad Ali said pediatric vaccine would not only help children, but it will be the basis of eventually eliminating Covid-19 in our population.

“We won’t be able to defeat Covid-19 until children are vaccinated. It is hard to beat the pandemic without vaccinating children who constitute nearly 40 percent of the population,” he said

“Many countries have already started vaccinating children.

India, too, has two indigenous vaccines, approved for use in children.”

“While ZyCoV-D has received emergency use authorization in children aged 12-18 years, Covaxin has been recommended for use in children aged 2 to 18 years in October,” he added