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Jammu, Sept 19: Accusing the BJP of playing politics over the issues of Taliban, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to garner votes, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday alleged that the seven-year rule of the saffron party has brought miseries to the people of the country and left Jammu and Kashmir “destroyed”.

She claimed that it is not Hindus but the democracy and India which are in danger under the BJP rule, which has undone all the “good work” of the past 70 years of the Congress and started selling national resources and raising the prices of essentials to fill its coffers to “buy or intimidate” opposition legislators.

The former chief minister taunted her critics and said the mere mention of Taliban or the party’s vision of self-rule makes her “anti-national” and triggers debates and discussions even as the focus should have been the ongoing agitation of the farmers, inflation, and other issues of public importance.

“Jammu and Kashmir are in trouble and so is the entire country…they say Hindus are in danger but they are not in danger and the fact it is India and the democracy which are in danger because of them (BJP),” Mehbooba said addressing a rally organized by the youth wing of her party here.

Mehbooba reached Jammu late on Saturday after a five-day tour of Poonch and Rajouri districts, facing a small protest by a group of Rashtriya Bajrang Dal activists who attempt to stop her cavalcade near Dogra chowk in the city was foiled by police.

As the elections in different states come nearer, the BJP will start cashing on the god-given opportunity of Taliban and Afghanistan and if it would not work, they will bring Pakistan and drones into the picture, the Peoples Democratic Party chief said.

“They will not talk about China which has intruded into Ladakh because they do not get votes by talking about that country. If you want to frighten people, talk about Taliban, Afghanistan, and Pakistan and do something here and there and seek votes,” she said.

Referring to the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Mehbooba alleged that the BJP’s incumbent state chief minister failed to provide jobs, roads, and schools, while as the river Ganga which is considered sacred by the people of the country was made a dumping ground for human corpses because people do not have money to perform the last rites of their relatives.

“…They do not have anything to sell to the people and therefore they will use Pakistan and J-K to garner votes. They have destroyed J-K and are using sticks to oppress the people who are not allowed to speak openly for their rights,” she said.

Mehbooba said the BJP is watching what she is saying to trigger a debate in media.

“The farmers’ agitation, growing unemployment, inflation, and other issues facing the country should have been the focus of our debates but there is no discussion on these important issues. Since the elections in UP are drawing closer, there will be more discussion on Taliban and Afghanistan,” she said.

She alleged that the BJP government is using crores of rupees on the self-projection and taxing people by rising petrol and diesel prices to fill its coffers and use the money to “buy MLAs of other parties and use government agencies to intimidate those who reject its offer”.

Mehbooba said there are debates on the oppressive measures adopted by the Taliban against women in Afghanistan but nobody is talking about the women of India who are facing rapes and dowry deaths.

“I know unemployment is such that we cannot provide jobs to everyone. Mufti had a plan to address this problem but if I name the plan which is self-rule, I will be dubbed as anti-national and it will trigger debates and discussions,” she said.

Explaining self-rule, she said Jammu and Kashmir are holding a strategic position and can be a gateway to central Asia if all the cross-border traditional routes are opened and all the neighboring countries allowed to open bank branches which will generate employment. PTI

Annual regular Board exams of 10th, 11th, 12th classes to be held in first week of November : Veena Pandita

Srinagar, Sep 19 : Two sisters died while two other persons were injuries after an alto car rolled down a deep gorge along Zojila Pass in Sonamarg in Central-Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Sunday afternoon, officials said.

They said that four persons were injured after an Alto (JK16B 1970) skidded of the road near Zero Point along Zojila Pass.

Soon after information was received, an ambulance was moved to the spot to evacuate the injured persons to Primary Health Centre Sonamarg. However two of the injured persons, sisters, were declared as brought dead on arrival by the doctors there, the officials told GNS.

The deceased have been identified as Taseena Parveen (28) and Tahira Bano (18), residents of Drass and currently putting up at Kijpora Kangan. The two other persons include Reyaz Ahmad Mir son of Abdul Rashid Mir of Kijpora Kangan and Nissar Ahmad son of Abdul Rehman of Drass and currently putting up at Kijpora Kangan.

Confirming the incident a police official told GNS that a case has been registered and further investigations are underway. (GNS)

Kupwara, Sep 19: At least six persons sustained injuries, three of them critically, after a group of cattle strayed in bhang-cultivation in upper forest area in Lolab on Saturday evening, family members of the injured persons alleged.

The incident took place in Forest Compartment number 40/41 in Nagmari Bomach between two rival communities belonging to Dardpora and Divar Dilbagh Kakkarpati.

Talking to GNS, Mohammad Maqbool Chakbari alleged the Divar Dilbagh Kakkarpati residents of attacking his community members after several of their cattle strayed into bhang cultivation belonging to the former community. “They (Divar Dilbagh Kakkarpati group) attacked us and injured our six persons”, Chakbari said, adding that three of the injured have been referred to District Hospital Baramulla in critical conditions.

Identifying the critically injured as Mohammad Yousaf Awan, Mushtaq Ahmad Chugta, Mohammad Maqbool Chugta he further said that Gudi Begum wife of Riyaz Ahmad, Zainab Noor wife of Shah Jahan and Shakeela Begum wife of Bashir Ahmad Shiekh have received less severe injuries.

Seconded by his colleague Abdul Hamid Chugta told GNS that they have moved a complaint into the incident in Police Station Lalpora.

When contacted a police official told GNS that a case in this regard was under process – when this report is being filed.

Meanwhile the incident has given fresh impetus to the demand by locals, seeking for stringent and fool-proof action against the bhang cultivators in the area, who according to them have encroached upon large patches of forest land.

“The authorities have been doing little to nip the evil of bhang cultivation in the area, they said adding with the free hand being given to such unscrupulous elements, the cultivation has seen a steep increase over a period of time now.”

Urging the authorities to initiate fool-proof measures to put an end to the menace, the locals have in the meantime expressed hope that the district administration will intervene into the matter and direct the authorities concerned to bring the culprits to justice sooner than later. (GNS)

Handwara, Sept 18: Three days after her minor granddaughter was killed, a 70-year-old woman succumbed to the injuries she and five other family members had sustained in a mysterious blast in Taratpora Ramhall area of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, officials said on Saturday.

They said Janti begum (70) wife of Abdul Razaq lost battle for life at SMHS hospital Srinagar here.
On evening of September 16, a minor girl died while six other members of a family including the septuagenarian were injured in the mysterious blast in Taratpora Ramhall area.

Official sources told GNS that blast occurred in the house of Ghulam Mohammad Wani, killing his 17-year-old daughter Shabnum Bano on the spot while six other members of the family were injured and were shifted to hospital.

The injured include Ghulam Mohammad Wani(45) and his wife— Raja Begum (38), mother— Janti Begum (70), daughter—Rifat (17) and Mukhti Begum (34).

Some members of the family are reportedly dealing with scrap and possibility of some explosive being brought along with the trash is being worked out.

“ In an unfortunate incident in Tarathpora, Handwara one person died and 06 others injured. Blast took place in scrap materials consisting of unexplored shell & grenade which was probably stored in his house. Investigation going on,” police had said. (GNS)

Jammu, Sep 18: The Army is fully prepared to meet any challenge, like the use of drones and social media, by adversaries to safeguard the country, Commandant of Chennai-based Officers Training Academy (OTA) Lieutenant General M K Das said on Saturday.

Lt Gen Das, who is also the colonel of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) regiment, said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is getting better with the Army and other security agencies working together to stamp out terrorism.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the maiden attestation parade of 460 new recruits of the 126th batch after a successful 40-week training period at Dansal here, he said the Indian Army is aware of the challenges and prepared to give a befitting response to the enemies of the nation.

Responding to a question about the need to introduce special training courses for soldiers in the aftermath of the developments in Afghanistan, the Army officer said “our training is very contemporary as it caters for all the contingencies and unforeseen situations.”

“I have no doubt that my young soldiers who have taken the oath to defend the constitution and the country will live up to all the challenges. One of the unique things of this regiment (JAKLI) is that all our troops hail from J&K and Ladakh. Therefore, they have this ingrained quality to be security conscious much more than others,” he said.

Lauding the regiment for its exceptional and outstanding record in all counter-insurgency operations within and outside the country since its birth in 1947, Lt Gen Das said, “All the situations unfolding in the country or in our neighbourhood, I am more than confident that the JAKLI regiment will continue to excel and be the lead agency in the fight against terrorism.”

Asked about the challenges posed by the use of drones to hit targets and deliver weapons and narcotics from across the Line of Control and International Border, he said a capsule course on anti-drone measures was introduced to deal with the challenge.

“On Army Day on January 15, our chief took the threat seriously and our soldiers are being prepared to deal with the challenge in a better way,” he said.

During recruitment training, he said that besides the arms handing and exercises, thrust is also given on science and technology, cybersecurity and other new challenges that are followed by orientation training courses at the respective units where anti-drone measures were also introduced.

He said the misuse of social media by “anti-national” elements is a reality and the new recruits are being trained in cybersecurity during their basic as well as orientation courses.

On attempts by Pakistan to mislead the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, he said the local youngsters are enthusiastically taking part in the recruitment to join JAKLI and serve the nation.

“The youth of J&K is showing keenness to be a part of the regiment which is a message to those who think they can mislead our youth. Joining the regiment is the best way to serve the nation… the youth, irrespective of their religion, live like a family and there is complete communal harmony,” he said.

He said the regiment is increasing the number of local youth from Ladakh and would also go for recruitment in J&K to provide an opportunity to the local youth to become part of this regiment and avail a good career for themselves.

Asked about his message to the misguided youth who have joined terrorism, he said the nation and the leadership is concerned for them.

“J&K is the crown of India but if I focus as a soldier, I feel they (misguided youth) have not understood their country… the situation has not gone out of hand and the Army has kept its window open to allow them to surrender and join the national mainstream,” he said.

He said there are numerous examples where the local youth have become an inspiration for others after shunning the path of violence. “We have a unit of 162 Infantry Territorial Army in JAKLI who are former militants but after training, they have become upright soldiers.”

Lt Gen Das said the Army and other security agencies are working in close coordination as a result of which the situation in J&K is getting better and the “day is not far when this region will make our country proud.”

Describing the first attestation parade of JAKLI in Jammu region as a “historic day”, he said “our regimental centre is located in Srinagar and we invariably have attestation parades there. I thought that since we are going to grace this land of the braves in Jammu, we must have an attestation parade here as well.“The training centre here has really come up in a short time and today the new recruits are proud part of the regiment,” he said.

Earlier, Lt Gen Das reviewed the attestation parade and awarded medals to the soldiers for their outstanding performance during training.Among the awardees, Rifleman Sartaj Ahmad was adjudged the best recruit and was presented the Sword of Honour. (KINS)

Srinagar Sep 18: Saffron growers in Kashmir say that Geographical Indication (GI) tag has stopped the low quality Iranian saffron from entering into markets and benefited farmers of the valley.

In May last year, Kashmiri saffron was given a Geographical Indication (GI) tag with the aim to make it illegal for someone outside the valley to make and sell a similar product under the ‘Kashmiri saffron’ name.

GI tags are indications which identify a product as originating in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or characteristic of the product is essentially attributable to its geographic origin.

While Kashmiri farmers say that GI tag has immensely benefited them since last year.

Bashir Ahmad, a saffron grower from Pampore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district said during 2019 he sold each kilogram of saffron Rs 1.40 lakh.

“But last year, we sold each kilogram for Rs 1.80 lakh and earned around Rs 5.5 lakh through saffron. This all is because of GI tagging as it has increased the value of Kashmiri saffron in world markets,” Ahmad told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

The Kashmiri saffron is considered the best in the world due to its flavor, colour and aroma.

But the high grade Kashmiri saffron has been hit by adulteration, mixed with the cheaper Iranian variety and being sold across the world. For an ordinary person, it becomes difficult to recognize Kashmiri saffron resulting, its value has degraded.

Three-to-four kanals of land produce one kilogram of saffron.

In Kashmir, three districts – Pulwama, Budgam, Srinagar grow saffron. Among them, Pulwama district’s Pampore has earned the title of Kashmir’s ‘saffron town’ for growing the highest and best quality saffron.

The soil quality in this area is highly suitable for its cultivation.

“The GI tagging has really helped us. A laboratory has also been set up in Pampore where a proper check is being made only then Kashmiri saffron is being exported with GI tag. The rates of each kilogram have gone up from Rs 1.30 lakh in earlier years to over Rs 1.80 lakh since last year due to GI tagging,” another saffron grower Mehraj Ahmad said.

Saffron flowers are sensitive to vagaries of the weather. Its production depends on the weather conditions and the irrigation facilities.

Last year, Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi also appealed to people to buy “unique” Kashmiri saffron.

More than 16,000 families are associated with saffron production in Pampore. (KINS)