Srinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Monday said that BJP’s landslide victory in Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council elections clearly reflects Ladakh’s unwavering trust in BJP and PM Narendra Modi’s leadership.
“BJP’s landslide victory in Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council elections clearly reflects Ladakh’s unwavering trust in BJP and PM Narendra Modi’s leadership
I thank people of Ladakh for choosing development & prosperity. Congratulations to our karyakartas of @BJP4Ladakh,” Shah said in a tweet as per news agency KINS.
Officials told news agency KINS that BJP won 15 seats out of 26 constituencies in Leh for which results were declared on Monday.
The other parties and some independents won 16 seats. (KINS)
Srinagar: Terming former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru responsible for delayed integration of Jammu and Kashmir with rest of India, Union Minister Jitendra Singh Monday asserted that accession of J&K with India was final and complete.
Singh said “If there was a delay of over two months, it was not on account of Maharaja Hari Singh but on account of the then Prime Minister Nehru who was not forthcoming in his approach and was instead being led by cues and inputs from Sheikh Abdullah (former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir)”.
He said if the first Home Minister of the country Sardar Patel had been given a free hand to handle the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir just as he was handling the other princely states of undivided India, not only the history of the Indian subcontinent would have been different, but also the accession of the state would have happened much earlier.
“The part of Jammu and Kashmir presently under Pakistan, would have also been a part of independent India,” the minister claimed.
He further said history has been unfair to Maharaja Hari Singh and hoped that in the changed milieu of today, the record will be put straight and all the misgivings cleared for the benefit of future generations. The minister said historians need to address why Prime Minister Nehru violated the democratic propriety by intruding into the domain of his own Home Minister Sardar Patel.
“To put the record straight, it was in fact finally Sardar Patel’s intervention which facilitated the landing of the Indian forces in Srinagar and saved the rest of the parts of the state also from being occupied by Pakistan”, Singh said.
He claimed that the then Prime Minister chose backdoor parleys with Abdullah over a free and frank discussion with Maharaja Hari Singh, who was at that time the legitimate and official head of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the draft of the Instrument of Accession (IoA) signed by Maharaja Hari Singh was the same as that signed by the heads of other princely states, without any conditions or terms attached.
“Article 370 and 35-A were anomalous additions which came later after Hari Singh had relinquished the throne”, Singh said. The instrument of accession was signed on October 26, 1947 between Maharaja Hari Singh, the then ruler of princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, and the Indian government to accede J-K to independent India. (KINS)
Srinagar: Three leaders Monday quit Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir saying her remarks had “hurt patriotic sentiments”.
PDP leaders TS Bajwa, Ved Mahajan and Hussain A Waffa sent resignation letters to party chief Mehbooba Mufti, who was released earlier this month after 14 months in detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
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The leaders, in their letter, said they were “feeling quite uncomfortable over some of her actions and undesirable utterances especially which hurt patriotic sentiments”.
File Photo
Mehbooba Mufti was among scores of political leaders detained in Jammu and Kashmir when the central government ended its special status under Article 370 and divided it into two Union Territories.
Last week, Mehbooba Mufti, a former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, had said she was not interested in contesting elections or holding the Indian flag until the constitutional changes enforced on August 5 last year were rolled back. Calling the central government “robbers”, she demanded that Jammu and Kashmir’s separate flag be restored. (KINS)
Srinagar: General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps Lieutenant General BS Raju Monday appealed to local militants to “switch-off” the path of militancy or face tough action from the Army.
The GOC 15 Corps BS Raju who was talking to reporters on the sidelines of Yusmarg festival in central Kashmir’s Budgam district appealed militants to “switch-off” the path of militancy and subsequently spoke tough saying “Otherwise whosoever will contest army with weapon in his hand will be dealt hardheartedly”. The army officer however maintained that those who shun the path of militancy and violence will be facilitated to return to their homes.
GOC 15 Corps while continuing appealed local militants to say ‘good-bye’ to militancy and start a peaceful and dignified life. “I appeal to youth who are ready to shun militancy to return to their homes as the environment is favorable for them for starting a peaceful and dignified life”, he said.
On October 22, GOC Kilo Force Major General HS Sahi told the media that the Army has sent its recommendations to the Government regarding surrender cum rehabilitation policy for the militants willing to switch-off the militancy and join the mainstream however there was no final draft ready yet. He had said that the policy will take time to get finalized but the Army would continue to follow the existing one and will allow local militants to surrender and start a new life.
Terming bloodshed and destruction in Kashmir repercussions of militancy, the GOC 15 Corps BS Raju said that “militancy has devastated the entire Jammu and Kashmir”.
GOC asserted that the situation in south Kashmir has started limping back to normalcy as economical activities have started to accelerate. “Situation in southern parts of Kashmir including Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian districts are comprehensively normal. Economic activities have started to take up. Fruit growers are busy sending their crop outside markets. We hope our children will soon join schools if Covid-19 pandemic will not stay more here”, GOC has said.
To a query he asserted that the overall situation in the valley is peaceful. “The overall situation in Kashmir valley is peaceful. Militancy related activities have declined as compared to the past. Youth have started to concentrate on their future as many have shine in professional examinations recently which is really a good sign of the situation”, Srinagar based Army chief said.
While reiterating the assertions of combating infiltration on LoC, the GOC said that this year army has been able to plug the infiltration to a large extent but maintained that ahead of snowfall and winters, the attempts may increase, but our forces are alert and maintaining tight vigil to frustrate the bids.
He said the Army is organizing Yusmarg festival every year aimed to provide a plate form to local youth to express their talent. “We have recorded sound participation of people in the festival this year as compared to the past. Several medical experts and NGOs participated in the event and alerted people about the drug menace”, he said. (KINS)
Days after microblogging platform Twitter labelled the Indian territory of Leh in Ladakh as part of People’s Republic of China (PRC), Amazon’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered virtual assistant Alexa has now embroiled in a similar controversy.
Amazon’s Alexa claims Kashmir is part of China (representational image courtesy: reviewed.com)
The social media backlash against the tech company began after a Twitter user uploaded a video where Alexa categorised Kashmir as a part of China’s territory. “Alexa, Kashmir kis desh ka hissa hai (Alexa, Kashmir is a part of which country?)”, the twitter user asked Alexa in Hindi. The AI-powered Alexa Echo replied, “Ya aapka sawal ka jawab ho sakta hai. Kashmir China mein sthit hai (This can be an answer to your question. Kashmir is located in China).”
Another Twitter user then tried finding the same answer about the location of Kashmir. Alexa replied, “This can be an answer to your question. Kashmir is located in China.”
Opindia has independently verified the claims made on social media about Alexa. However, the error is only limited to the Hindi version. When the language is changed to English, Alexa says that Kashmir is a part of Northern India.
Twitter labels Ladakh as part of China’s territory
During a live session on Twitter, national security analyst Nitin A Gokhale found that Twitter has labelled the Indian territory of Leh in Ladakh as part of People’s Republic of China (PRC). Gokhale, the founder of Strat News Global, had marked his location as ‘Hall of Fame Leh’. However, the microblogging platform displayed the area as a part of PRC. The screengrab of the video read, “Nitin A Gokhale was live. Jammu and Kashmir, People’s Republic of China.
While slamming Twitter for its outrageous action, the national security analyst demanded immediate action from the Government of India against the microblogging platform. He urged netizens to flood Twitter with complaints so as to mount pressure on the micro-blogging platform to correct the error. Following a social media outrage, Twitter issued a statement claiming that the error was the result of a technical glitch.
On Tuesday, Nitin A Gokhale went live on Twitter yet again but this time from the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport area in Leh. However, to his surprise, the national security analyst found that the microblogging platform had not fixed the technical glitch, despite being well aware of the sensitivity around it. Even though Twitter did not include Leh as part of the People’s Republic of China anymore, it, however, labelled the region as part of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Amazon issues statement after social media backlash
Following the controversy, the official Twitter handle of Amazon Help reached out to the agitated netizens.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We've forwarded this information to the appropriate team for research. Keep us posted if you need assistance in the future. We're always available. ^DA
It tweeted, “Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We’ve forwarded this information to the appropriate team for research. Keep us posted if you need assistance in the future. We’re always available.”
Google Assistant provides the correct location of Kashmir
Meanwhile, a Twitter user tried to gather a response for the same query on his Google Nest Mini, which uses Google Assistant to provide answers to users. He asked, “Okay Google, Kashmir kis desh mein sthith hai?” The Google Assistant replied, “According to Wikipedia, Jammu and Kashmir was an Indian State till August 5, 2019 and was later bifurcated into Union territory of Ladakh and Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Google’s response marks a stark contrast to that of Alexa. It must be remembered that unlike Amazon’s virtual assistant, Google is a search engine with access to billions of web pages. It was, therefore, able to pluck answers from the web pages indexed on its site.
However, while Google answered this question correctly, a word of caution must be put as it sources this information from Wikipedia. And while this information by Wikipedia is correct, there have been innumerable instances where Wikipedia, a user-edited online resource, has put out misleading, biased and sometimes blatantly untrue information.
Srinagar: General Secretary BJP Ashok Kaul today said that People in Kashmir have now come openly to show respect to the National Flag in reaction to the ‘disrespect’ shown by the Gupkar ‘Gang’.
Speaking to KNS, Kaul said, “People in Kashmir now openly show support to National Flag. A kashmiri muslim says that flag is in his heart. See his guts. Everyone in the country and Kashmir liked his act. Now people in Kashmir have come openly to show respect for flag. This is a reaction to the disrespect shown by Gupkar Gang to the flag.”
Criticizing NC leader Farooq Abdullah, Kaul said, “how can he claim to be a nationalist when he doesn’t respect national flag” he said, “ Mehbooba Mufti is totally confused. Now they deny her words about the flag”(KNS)
Srinagar: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has said that ‘India wants to end its border dispute with China in East-Ladakh’, but at the same time he asserted that ‘Indian soldiers will not let an inch of their land go in the hands of any other country.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said this on Sunday during the ‘Shastra Puja’ held in Darjeeling district of West Bengal on the occasion of Dussehra. The puja was conducted at the 33rd corp headquarters of the Indian Army at Darjeeling.
Rajnath Singh has been doing arms worship on Dussehra for the last several years. He also performed this puja during the tenure of the previous NDA government as Home Minister.
After the puja ended on Sunday, Rajnath Singh told the press, “We want to end the border dispute with China and establish peace. Obviously this is our intention. But after a while, crooked Incidents happen and tension continues. I believe that our soldiers will not let even an inch of India’s land go into the hands of any other country. “
Military officials said that Rajnath Singh was to go to worship at Sherthang, a high-altitude border area near the Line of Actual Control in Sikkim, but could not go there due to bad weather.
On the occasion of arms worship, the Chief of the Indian Army General MM Narwane and other senior officers of the army were also present. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a new road in Sikkim through a video conference after ending his speech after arms worship.
He said, “I can say with full confidence and with strong information that the valor and courage displayed by Indian soldiers on the East-Ladakh border during Indo-China tension will be written in golden letters by historians. (PTK)
Srinagar: While reacting to the statement of Ravi Shankar Prasad, former CM and Vice president Jk NC Omar obdullah said that we don’t expect anything from you.
He said that unless you are suggesting the Supreme Court has surrendered its independence and takes dictation from you please don’t presume to know what the honble judges will decide.
He further added that presume to know what the Hon Judges will decide.
Pertinently Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Article 370, giving special powers to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir will not be restored. Article 370 was revoked on 5 August last year and the state of Jammu and Kashmir bifurcated into two Union Territories by the Indian government. (PTK)
Project Monitoring Unit, Web based dashboard to monitor progress of CSS projects on real time basis
Srinagar: Principal Secretary PDD, Rohit Kansal, today convened a meeting to review the Centrally Sponsored Schemes and installation of Smart Meters.
During the meeting, the Project Implementing Agency (PIA), RECPDCL informed that installation of smart meters shall be started in Srinagar and Jammu cities from 15th November, 2020. In the first phase 20,000 meters would be installed and the process would continue in a phased manner till entire quantity of 2 lakh meters sanctioned under PMDP is installed.
Principal Secretary asked RECPDCL to ensure that there would be no further delays and the metering process in other urban and rural areas under various centrally sponsored schemes is implemented expeditiously.
Briefing the meeting, the officers of RECPDCL informed that with the installation of smart meters, the consumers will be able to know their electricity consumption pattern and bill on real time basis, by which they will be in position to manage load and reduce their monthly bill. The consumers will also know the status of power supply and load in use when away from home, they added.”Smart meters will bring about transparency in metering, billing and collection which will eventually reduce power losses and ensure quality and reliable power supply to consumers,” Principal Secretary observed.
Consumers can recharge the smart meters in the same manner as mobile phones are recharged thus eliminating the requirement of manual meter reading and paper bill distribution, the meeting was told. The meters will be read remotely in Data Centre at Srinagar and Data Recovery Centre at Jammu through communication channels, which will also facilitate the distribution Corporations to know the status of power supply at consumer end and take prompt action in case there is power interruption due to system faults or some other reason.
While reviewing the progress of system strengthening and electrification works under implementation in urban and rural areas, under various centrally sponsored schemes, the implementing agencies informed that out of 11 packages of IPDS and PMDP- Urban schemes sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 1590.00 crore 6 packages will be completed in December, 2020, 4 packages in March, 2021 and one package in June, 2021. Out of 19 packages of DDUGJY and PMDP-Rural schemes, sanctioned at a cost of 1777.00 crore, 4 packages will be completed in February, 2021 and remaining 15 packages in March, 2021. Out of 28 towns of RAPDRP-B projects sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 1665.00 crore 12 towns will be completed in November, 2020, 11 in June, 2021 and 5 in December, 2021.
With a view to ensure that the timelines for completion of projects are adhered to, the Principal Secretary informed that a Project Monitoring Unit has been established at Administrative Department level and a web based Dashboard has been set up through which project status including physical/financial progress, achievements, slippages and bottlenecks are being reported regularly. The Principal Secretary directed to establish a robust Management Information System (MIS) to be linked to Dash Board as the next step. He asked the Project Management Agencies (PMAs) to provide necessary inputs for the Dashboard/ MIS so that corrective measures required to ensure hassle free project implementation is ensured.
The meeting was attended by CEO RECPDCL, MD KPDCL, Additional CEO RECPDCL, Director Finance, Secretary Technical, Chief Engineer Distribution, KPDCL, Chief Engineer Projects, KPDCL and other senior officers. MD JPDCL, Director Planning, Chief Engineer Distribution JPDCL, Chief Engineer Projects JPDCL and other senior officers participated in the meeting via video conferencing from Jammu.
