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  • Leaders like Digvijay Singh a threat to the nation: BJP

    Says People of Jammu and Kashmir are happy with PM Narendra Modi

    SRINAGAR, JUNE 13: Bharatiya Janata Party’s national general secretary and party’s in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir affairs Tarun Chugh strongly condemned Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s statement on the withdrawal of Article 370, saying that Congress always daydreams on such issues.

    He said that new hopes have arisen with the abrogation of Article 370. Congress is daydreaming and losing one state after another. Congress leaders are dancing on the gestures of Pakistan and such leaders are a threat to the nation.

    The people of Jammu and Kashmir are happy with the welfare and positive schemes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A new chapter of development has been written in Jammu and Kashmir and people are watching with hope.

    He said that Congress and other parties have been fooling the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Now a new era has started and people like Digvijay Singh, who support Pakistan in Congress, have gone awry.

    On the other hand, State BJP President Ravindra Raina attacked Congress on Digvijay Singh’s statement and said that BJP will not allow the restoration of Article 370 under any circumstances. Article 370 cannot come back even if it is born again a hundred times for this. Congress can never succeed in a conspiracy against India even if Congress leaders are born again hundred times.

    Attacking the opposition party, he said that Congress leaders are dancing at the behest of Pakistan, separatists, and terrorists. The directions come from Pakistan. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are happy after the abrogation of Article 370 and this was the root of a Pakistani ideology to take root and strengthen separatism which has been abolished.

  • No evidence of leopard being spotted in Natipora area of Srinagar outskirts: Wild Life Warden

    Srinagar: Wild Life Department this evening said that there is no concrete evidence of any leopard being spotted in Natipora area of Srinagar outskirts.

    Earlier it was reported that a leopard has been seen in Natipora area of Srinagar.

    Altaf Hussain Wildlife Warden Central told news agency Kashmir News Trust that there has been no direct or indirect evidence as of now regarding sighting of leopard in or around Natipoora area of Srinagar outskirts.

    “Video circulated on social media is old one. One can see dry trees so most likely shot in autumn,” he said.

    Hussain said that in case of any evidence of leopard sighting in Natipora, people may contact on 9682522304 / 8825076908. (KNT)

  • No Vehicle With Outside Number To Ply Sans Registration In J-K: Govt

    Srinagar, June 13: Authorities have ordered that no vehicle with outside number shall ply in any public place unless registered in accordance with Motor Vehicles Act in J&K.

    “It has been observed that considerable number of vehicles registered outside Jammu & Kashmir (from adjoining States of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi etc.] have been purchased by the residents of the Jammu and Kashmir and are being plied across the Jammu & Kashmir unauthorizedly, without having been registered with the concerned Registering Authorities (RTOs/ARTOs), in contravention to the explicit provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989,” reads a circular issued by Hirdesh Kumar (IAS) Commissioner Secretary to Government, Transport Department.

    “It has been reported that number of old vehicles purchased from outside J&K are also being plied in the Jammu and Kashmir without paying token tax/road tax as required under J&K Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1957 and without the transfer of ownership in favor of purchaser (transferee] and the state exchequer is bereft of considerable amount on this account,” the circular reads, a copy of which lies with GNS. “There is high probability of such vehicles being used for carrying unlawful activities.”

    The government referred to ‘relevant sections’ of the Act, underlining that every owner of a motor vehicle shall cause the vehicle to be registered by the registering authority in whose jurisdiction he has the residence or place of business where the vehicle in normally kept.

    Refereeing to section 47, the Circular said stated that when a motor vehicle registered in one State has been kept in another State, for a period exceeding twelve months, the owner of the vehicle shall within such period and in such form containing such particulars as may be prescribed by the Central Government, apply to the registering authority, within whose jurisdiction the vehicle then is, for the assignment of a new registration mark and shall present the certificate of registration to that registering authority.

    Referring to section 50 dealing with transfer of ownership, it reads that in the case of a vehicle registered within the same State, within fourteen days of the transfer, report the fact of transfer, in such form with such documents and in such manner, as may be prescribed by the Central Government to the registering authority within whose jurisdiction the transfer is to be effected.

    In the case of a vehicle registered outside the State, within forty-five days of the transfer, the copy is to be forward to the registering authority. (GNS)

  • Revoking Article 370 from J&K extremely sad decision, Congress to relook into this issue: Digvijaya Singh

    New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday said revoking Article 370 and reducing the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir was an extremely sad decision and the Congress Party will relook into this issue.
    Speaking in Club House chat, Digvijaya Singh said, “Democracy was not there in Kashmir. When they revoked Article 370 then Insaniyat was not there because they had put everyone behind bars. Kashmiriyat is something that is basically the fundamentals of secularism. Because in a Muslim majority state, there was a Hindu Raja and both were together. Kashmiri Pundits were given Reservation in Kashmir in government services. So therefore the decision of revoking Article 370 and reducing the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir is an extremely sad decision. And the Congress Party would certainly have to have a relook into this issue.”
    Following the Congress leader’s remarks, BJP IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya alleged that Digvijaya’s statement goes along the line of Pakistan.
    “In a Club House chat, Rahul Gandhi’s top aide Digvijaya Singh tells a Pakistani journalist that if Congress comes to power they will reconsider the decision of abrogating Article 370… Really? This is what Pakistan wants…” tweeted Malviya.
    In August 2019, the Centre revoked Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the region into two Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

  • Saudi Arabia says hajj to be limited to 60,000 in kingdom

    Dubai, Jun 12: Saudi Arabia says this year”s hajj pilgrimage will be limited to no more than 60,000 people, all of them from within the kingdom, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

    The kingdom made the announcement Saturday on its state-run Saudi Press Agency.

    It cited the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for making the decision.

    In last year”s hajj, as few as 1,000 people already residing in Saudi Arabia were selected to take part in the hajj.

    Two-thirds were foreign residents from among the 160 different nationalities that would have normally been represented at the hajj. One-third were Saudi security personnel and medical staff.

    The hajj begins mid-July.—(AP)

  • Centre planning series of political initiatives in JK: Officials

    New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) The Centre is planning a series of political initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir which may include discussion with mainstream parties of the Union Territory and elections to the assembly in the early part of next year, officials said here on Friday.
    The delimitation commission, which was set up immediately after passage of Jammu and Kashmir reorganisation bill by Parliament under the chairmanship of Justice (retd) Ranjana Desai, is likely to expedite its work and submit its report.

    The commission was set in February 2020 and has been given an extension of one year in March.

    The central leadership may even invite the National Conference headed by Farooq Abdullah, PDP chairperson Mehbooba Mufti, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party led by Altaf Bukhari and People’s Conference’s Sajjad Lone for discussion in the coming weeks.

    The possibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairing the meeting is not ruled out, the officials said.

    The state units of the BJP and the Congress are also likely to be part of these discussions which are seen among a slew of measures to restore democracy in the Union Territory that was formed by bifurcating Ladakh on August 5, 2019 when the Centre abrogated special status of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir.

    Barring Bukhari, other leaders have also served a spell of detention following the August 2019 decision.

    The NC and six other parties including its arch rival PDP and People’s Conference had joined hands last year ahead of the District Development Commission polls and the alliance surged way ahead of BJP and its allies including JKAP by bagging 110 seats out of 280. The BJP was the single largest party with 75 seats and the NC won 67 seats within the alliance.

    The political mainstream of the union territory, especially those having a strong base in the valley, has been critical of successive administrations of the union territory for neglecting the demands of the people and raising questions on the development slogan raised post August 2019.

  • I don’t have money to pay income tax, Kangana Ranaut

    Srinagar: Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has said that she could not pay half of her income tax last year due to ‘not getting a job’ last year. However, he said that if the government charges interest on the amount due, he would not have any complaint.

    Kangana Ranaut wrote on his Instagram, “Although I fall into the highest tax slab and pay 45% of my income as tax, I am the highest paid actress in India but for the first time in my life. I couldn’t pay my taxes because I couldn’t find a job. “

    Actress Kangana Ranaut, who is known for making controversial statements on various issues and calling herself a pioneer of Hindu nationalism, added, “I have been late in paying taxes and the government is charging interest on the remaining amount. “Personally, it can be a difficult time for us, but together we can become stronger than ever,” she wrote.

    Kangana Ranaut has been very active on the issue of income tax. She has been expressing concern over the issue of low income taxpayers in the country. She tweeted several times a few months ago after the Income Tax Department raided the office of actress Tapsi Pannu and filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, calling them ‘tax evaders’ and ‘traitors’.

    Experts say that Kangana Ranaut’s claim regarding tax seems misleading as the government in India imposes tax only on the basis of annual income and if the actress could not earn an income due to lack of work then why tax her so much. Imposed that they are not in a position to pay it?

    Gori Chadha, a chartered accountant who specializes in tax affairs, says, “You will be charged income tax only when you have earned income. The government charges a tax on your last year’s income. You can also pay it as advance tax every three months. But she is talking about last year’s tax. So there is no such thing as advance tax. So she can’t defend herself against paying income tax, saying there was no work and she couldn’t pay.

    Another chartered accountant, Virender Yadav, says, “The way Kangana is talking, it seems that she has not been able to pay the full amount of income tax despite the expiry date and the subsequent extension. The tax department has demanded money from them with interest on the remaining tax.

    Experts believe that Kangna’s claim of imposing 45% tax on income also seems wrong. Virender Yadav says the highest income tax rate in India is 35.88%. Although some taxes are levied on people with such a high income, the overall income tax rate is not 45%. On the other hand, such people are also given discounts on certain things.

    A recent local media report claimed that Kangana Ranaut gifted four magnificent flats to her brothers and sisters in February this year. Their total value is said to be Rs 40 million. It is said that Kangana also spent a lot of money on her brother’s wedding last year. According to media reports, he had spent Rs 60 million on the wedding.

    Kangana Ranaut is one of the busiest actors in Bollywood. She is also the first Indian actress to receive the Y-Plus security category of 11 paramilitary personnel.

  • COVID-19: Preventive curfew ordered across North Kashmir

    Baramulla, June 10: Given the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic situation across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the authorities Thursday ordered a complete Corona curfew for Friday across north Kashmir.

    North Kashmir comprises three border districts including Bandipora, Kupwara, and Baramulla.

    According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Deputy Commissioners of three border districts announced the Corona curfew across north Kashmir for Friday given the pandemic situation and allowed the movement of essential services only.

    In a tweet, the office of Deputy Commissioner Bandipora informed that “There shall be complete #CoronaCurfew tomorrow on 11-06-2021 (Friday) in District Bandipora.”

    “Only essential services as permitted in the order dated 30.05.2021 shall be allowed”, the DC office informed.

    An order issued by Deputy Commissioner Baramulla read that “There
    shall be complete Corona Curfew across the entire jurisdiction of District Baramulla, on Friday 11.06.2021.”

    “Only essential services permitted as mentioned in Order No: 04/DMB/COVID/2021, Dated:30-05-2021 shall be allowed”, the order read.

    Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner Kupwara in an order said that “There shall be complete Corona Curfew on 11-06-2021 ( Friday ) across the District.”

    “Only essential services as permitted in order dated:-30-05-2021 be allowed”, the order reads.

    It reads that the weekend curfew shall also remain in force till 7: 00 AM Monday.

    It further read that Sr Superintendent of Police Kupwara and Handwara shall implement this order in
    letter and spirit.

    Notably, last week similar orders were issued given the pandemic situation and a complete preventive curfew was enforced to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

    It may be recalled that the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have earlier started the phased manner unlocking in J&K with the decline in positivity rate in recent days and announced a complete curfew on weekend—(KNO)

  • Heat wave continues for 3rd day in Kashmir

    Srinagar, June 10: Kashmir experienced its third consecutive day of a heat wave on Thursday as Srinagar recorded maximum temperatures of 34.7 degrees Celsius, same as witnessed on previous day and the season’s hottest day so far.

    A meteorological department official here told GNS that day temperature of 34.7 degrees Celsius was above normal by 6.7 degrees Celsius. On Tuesday, Srinagar recorded 34.3 degrees Celsius.

    Barring 3 June 2018, 34.7 degrees Celsius temperature was also second highest in more than 12 years during the month of June. On 3 June 2018, Srinagar had recorded 35.0 degree Celsius and from 2009 to 2021, it was only once that mercury rose to such level in the summer capital during the month of June.

    As per the data available on meteorological department, Srinagar has recorded hottest June day ever on 29th day of the month in 1978 when mercury touched 37.8 degrees Celsius.

    The heat wave also prevailed in Jammu, the winter capital of J&K, as it recorded maximum of 41.9 degrees Celsius against previous days 42.7 Deg Celsius. It was around 3 degrees above normal, the official said. It also marked season second hottest day for the winter capital which had recorded 41.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday last.

    Meanwhile, Qazigund, the gate town of Kashmir, recorded 34.3 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 30.2 degrees Celsius while Kokernag witnessed 32.2 degrees Celsius, the official said.

    The border town Kupwara recorded maximum temperature of 35.1 degrees Celsius, highest temperature in at least 12 years for the area.

    World famous skiing and tourist resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir was the coldest place in Valley, recording maximum of 25.5 degrees Celsius, the official added.

    The weather office has forecast mainly dry and hot weather in Kashmir Valley and “isolated light rain in Jammu division” for next 24 hours.

    For subsequent two days, the weatherman has forecast “isolated very light rain and thundershowers” in Jammu and Kashmir. (GNS)

  • No truth about statehood, creating new divisions, some elements behind spreading rumors

    Centre’s every step will be right for people of Kashmir

    Situation not conducive for collecting property taxes: Manzoor Bhat to authorities

    Srinagar, June 10: BJP’s Kashmir Unit on Thursday said that the Central government’s every decision or step will be right for the people of Kashmir and rejected the rumors about the statehood for Jammu, divisions in Valley or any other further change.

    In a statement issued here, Party Kashmir Media Incharge and youth leader Manzoor Bhat said every step from the central leadership will be right for the people.

    “Howvere, there is no truth about statehood to Jammu, creating divisions or any other change in J&K. The recent meetings held by the Center and UT leadership were routine process to review things in the newly created UT regarding political killings, Covid19 vaccination, and security review,” he said.

    Bhat urged people not to pay to heed to rumors. Some anti-national elements are behind spreading these rumors and they had already deceived people during the past 70 years and now they want bloodshed, killings and strikes.

    “We have full faith in central leadership that the aspirations of people will always be respected. It is time to move forward the mission of naya Kashmir for development and peace. No step will be taken without the people’s involvement” he said.

    Bhat said some people who were misleading masses on the name of autonomy and Pakistan, they had accepted their shops of bloodshed and killings have stopped working and now they are spreading rumors.

    “Now they are behind the power and people have rejected their politics at every level’” he said.

    Regarding issuing of tax notices served by Badami Bagh Cantonment Board (BBCB), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Defense,to people in Srinagar areas, Bhat said the prevailing situation is not conducive for collecting property taxes.

    “From the past two years, the financial condition of people is not good, such steps will further create panic in the middle of covid crisis. We appeal to the Defense Ministry to stop issuing such notices to people in the middle of a pandemic situation improve s and people will pay it,” Bhat said.

    He said even scores of people from Sonwar, Indra Nagar, Batwara, and Shivopora expressed dismay over issuing of these notices to them and our party had assured every possible support to them.