Blog

Srinagar, Feb 22: Amid rise in minimum as well as maximum temperature, the weatherman here has predicted moderate snowfall across Jammu and Kashmir from Friday (February 26).

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Deputy Director Meteorological department (MeT), Mukhtar Ahmad said that there is a possibility of moderate snowfall across J&K from Feb 26.

He said that the wet spell will begin on February 26 and will continue till 27 evening, saying that the weather conditions would improve from March 01 completely.

Ahmad, when asked about the possibility of dip in temperature, said that the minimum as well as the maximum temperature will plummet two to three degrees across the Valley. “The temperature from nearly 16 degrees Celsius in a day would go down by two or three degrees,” he said.

Pertinently, the temperature after the 40-day harshest winter period, Chila-e-Kalan, started increasing across Kashmir an settled close to 16 degrees Celsius in day—(KNO)

Rapid response team deployed in the area: Officials

Jahangeer Ganaie

A case of H5N8 (Avian influenza) popularly known as bird flu has been reported from Arbal area of Dooru in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district following which a rapid response team was constituted.

Officials told the news agency—KNO, that ten days ago few crows were found dead in Arbal after which their sample was taken, which has now been found positive.

They said that soon after the confirmation of the case, a rapid response team was deployed in the area.

The officials said that SOPs are being adopted fully by the rapid response team, besides that demarcation of the infected zone and surveillance zone along with disinfection of the area is also being done.

They added that officials have been directed to survey and collect samples of the poultry including backyard and commercial poultry farms.

It is pertinent to mention that cases of avian influenza were found at various places in J&K among migratory birds and crows, however, cases of avian influenza among domestic birds were found so far in Udhampur only.

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said that Ministry of External Affairs will decide about holding of dialogue with Pakistan.
“Ministry of External Affairs will take a decision as it is taking care of such things,” Sinha told reporters in Jammu when asked National Conference and PDP was advocating dialogue with Pakistan, news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) reported.
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Sunday called for a dialogue with Pakistan to end militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
He recalled former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s words that “you can change your friends but not your neighbours”.
Abdullah recalled Vajpayee’s words and said: “Either we grow friendship and prosper or continue the enmity, then there will be no prosperity.”
Similarly, Sinha said those who are demanding early assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir must cooperate with the Delimitation Commission so that the exercise is completed at the earliest. “Once the Delimitation exercise completes, the ECI will take a call,” the LG said.
He also condemned recent attacks on policemen and civilians in Kashmir and said they won’t allow militancy to grow.
Recently, National Conference MPs, Farooq Abdullah, Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi, recently wrote a letter to Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, chairperson Delimitation Commission expressing their inability to associate with the commission proceedings.
The MPs have requested Justice Desai not to go ahead with the process of delimitation of union territory constituencies as the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019 was under judicial scrutiny in the Supreme Court.
“In our view the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 is palpably unconstitutional and has been enacted in disregard and violation of mandate and spirit of constitution of India and, therefore not to be acted upon,” the letter reads, a copy of which lies with news agency KINS.
“We are of the humble opinion that as vires or constitutional validity of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 and the Constitutional Orders (C.O 272 and C.O 273) are under Judicial Scrutiny before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the principle of Constitutional Propriety demands that the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 should await Hon’ble Supreme Court.”
“We would also respectfully and with all humility at our command request Hon’ble Chairperson, a renowned legal luminary of the country not to go ahead with the proceedings as it may amount to exercise of powers under an Act constitutional validity whereof is being examined by the Constitutional Bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and is, therefore, at present constitutionally suspect law,” the letter further reads. (KINS)

Srinagar, Feb 22: Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Muft, who was re-elected as PDP president for next three years, on Monday responded to the alleged “threat” by Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar, saying “let him do his work, I will do my job”
Soon after being re-elected as PDP chief, Mehbooba claimed that ordinary PDP work continues to repose faith in PDP and did not go with senior leaders who deserted the party.

“I don’t Understand Hindi, Please ask me question in Urdu,” Mehbooba said when asked about her future strategy by a reported in Hindi, one of the official languages incorporated by the centre recently.

“I think the workers have once again given me responsibility and I’m alive to it given the fact that we are in a different situation.

The situation is difficult and there are many challenges before the state,” she said after the reported asked the question in Urdu.

“The PDP came into being to resolve the Kashmir issue, to make the situation better, to represent wishes and aspiration of the people. This will remain or agenda,” she said as per GNS, adding, “The vision of late Mufti Sayeed was to make Kashmir a pull of peace between India and Pakistan and not the arena of war. We will continue to work this endeovor.”

Responding to a question by a reporter about the “straight forward threat” by the IGP Kashmir last week, Mehbooba said: “Let him do his work, I will do my job.

Wherever there is oppression and atrocities, I will raise it. A father seeks body of his son which is denied to him. Elsewhere people at the last minute prevented abduction of the girl. I will have to raise the voice against the difficulties facing the people. If IGP feels that I am doing any unlawful act by raising these issues and I need to be arrested, let him do his duty.”

The IGP Kashmir last week warned the political mainstream leaders irrespective of stature of necessary action if they try instigate people on fake news or rumors and said that dossiers are ready and every activity is being recorded.

To a question that PAGD was making “hoax statement on 370 and statehood”, Mehbooba said: “Statehood is to be given by centre and not Mehbooba Mufti.”

She also claimed that a common PDP worker stands by the party as was “depicted” in the DDC elections. “Out of 60 seats, we won 30 and it shows that PDP is still alive and also shows that the senior PDP leaders who ran away could not take the ordinary worker with them.”(GNS)

Srinagar, Feb 22: Former Chief Minister & re-elected President of Peoples Democratic Party, Mehbooba Mufti on Monday hitted out at Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone Vijay Kumar over his recent remarks saying that he should stick to his own job and let Mehbooba do her job.

Mehbooba Mufti’s remarks came after IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar had earlier warned the local mainstream politicians of valley with “necessary action” irrespective of stature if they according to him try “instigating people on fake news or rumors”.

As per News Agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC), She said, ” I have to raise voice against the oppression and injustice being done with the people of J&K where a father is not denied his son’s mortal remains and in the other instance a minor girl was rescued from abduction.”

“I have to raise my voice against all this oppression and if IGP Kashmir thinks doing this is against law then he should do his job and arrest me,” she added. (KDC)

Handwara: Well known Islamic preacher and religious scholar from North Kashmir’s Handwara town died in a road accident in Kathua district of Jammu region.

Manzoor Ahmed Kirman was the resident of Handwara and a former Imam at Jammia Qadeem Handwara.

Kirmani was also a member of the Muslim Personal Law Board.

Family sources told news agency KNT that Kirmani along with his niece had gone to Kathua to attend a marriage function.

The vehicle in which was travelling met with an accident at Kathua on Monday late night. The trio on board were injured and shifted to hospital where Manzoor Ahmed Kirman succumbed to his injuries.

“We are waiting for the arrival of the dead body. It is expected to reach Handwara today,” a family member of the deceased said.

Kirmani was a respected figure in Northern district of Kupwara. (KNT)

BDS checking the object, say officials

Srinagar, Feb 22: Traffic was stopped on the Pantha Chowk-Nowgam road in Srinagar after security forces spotted a suspicious object, officials said.

The object was found on a day when train services were supposed to be started in Kashmir after a long-time.

A police official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the Road Opening Party (RoP) of CRPF and police spotted a suspicious object near Peaks Automobiles, barely few hundred metres away from Nowgam Railway station, after which experts and a bomb disposal squad was called to check the object.

“Traffic has been stopped on the Pantha Chowk-Nowgam road stretch for the safety of people and commuters,” he told KNO—(KNO)

Further details awaited….

“PAGD to discuss future strategy within days”

Srinagar, Feb 21: Senior National Conference leader Justice Hasnain Masoodi today said that for them whole delimitation exercise is illegal for them.

“The whole exercise is illegal for us. We cannot make our suggestions there. This exercise is against the constitutional provisions of democracy. Our participation would have amounted accepting the whole illegal exercise. We have a clear stand that whole thing is illegal,” he told KNS.

He added, “The constitution has been trampled upon. How can we be party to it,it wil be like imparting legality to the whole exercise.”

One being asked whether whether they could have represented the People of J&K, “we cannot impart that constitutionality to the exercise. Constitution doesn’t approve of a UT state. Constitution says that state should be upgraded not downgraded. Supreme Court found merit in whatever we said. “

He said state politicians don’t know well about issues, “If you are part of the process, then you don’t have right to question about status of UT also. NC has maintained a position about it.”

He also told “Kashmir News Service” (KNS) that PAGD is calling a meeting of all affiliated parties within days to discuss future course of action after the District Development Council Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson post.(KNS)