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  • KYEF President Babar Chowdhary urges Govt to open all classes equally in JK

    Srinagar: Babar Chowdhary, President Kashmir Youth Entrepreneurs Federation in a fervent appeal to Jammu and Kashmir government and urge them to open all primary and middle educational classes simultaneously with higher educational classes in government and private schools started from this Monday in physical manner in union territory regions as educational section has acquire huge loss due to pandemic of Covid 19.
    The president said, “Due to Covid-19 pandemic, all the educational and coaching institutes across the world were shut in view of the chances of Covid-19 spread among the children in schools and colleges and now almost all higher school and colleges have started working from this Monday and it can be a big opportunity for Jammu and Kashmir government to open primary and middle classes simultaneously without any delay.”
    He further said that during last three years students don’t have any physical activities while the time was spend with online classes by almost all the schools in Jammu and Kashmir and with the opening of school and colleges in the region from this Monday, it can be a confidence building measure for all such students of primary and middle classes who don’t even see the classroom during this epidemic period.
    “Government machinery as well as teaching community of valley like in other parts of globe, geared up themselves to come up with some sort of an alternative to compensate the academic loss of students during Covid 19 pandemic, and now more thrust should be given to physical classes in schools and colleges by the government as it is need of the hour after the resumption of physical classes,” he said.
    The president further said that government should direct all the school and college managements to follow all the Covid 19 SOPs in letter and spirit for all working days so that all teaching physical classes will run smoothly during the current academic sessions.
    “During the past in Covid 19 period, all the educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir conducted online classes through Zoom app, Google classrooms etc with the intention to minimise the academic loss of students. Every institution instantly framed the timetable of teaching officials and they were directed to conduct the online classes according to the framed schedule but now with the opening of higher educational classes, time is right to take a decision by Jammu and Kashmir to start the primary and middle classes as well,” he said.

  • DAK seeks to shorten booster shot interval

    Srinagar, Feb 14: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Monday has sought to shorten the booster shot interval to 6 months.

    Currently, the gap between the second dose and the booster shot in India is 9 months.

    “Shortening the interval would prevent the emergence of new variants of Covid-19,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

    Dr Hassan said while two doses of Covid-19 vaccine protects you from severe disease, but immunity wanes over time.

    “Various studies have confirmed that Covid-19 vaccine becomes less effective over time,” he said.

    The DAK President said analysis from a UK study found that the protection provided by the two doses of Pfizer and Oxford (Covishield) vaccine wanes within six months.

    “The study revealed that protection after two doses of the Pfizer vaccine decreased from 88% at one month to 74% at five to six months and protection for Oxford decreased from 77% at one month to 67% at four to five months,” he said.

    Booster doses of Covid-19 vaccine are being given within 6 months of the second dose in many countries.

    General Secretary DAK Dr Arshad Ali said booster shots should be extended to all adults to broaden individual’s immune response against the emerging variants of Covid-19.

    “At the moment booster doses are being given to healthcare workers, frontline workers and people aged 60 with comorbidities,” he said.

    “Dubbed as precautionary dose in India, booster shot is the third or the additional dose of Covid-19 vaccine given to ensure the protection is maintained against the new variants,” said Dr Riyaz Ahmad Dagga Spokesperson DAK

    “CDC and FDA have approved booster shots for all adults to be given within six months after the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine,” he said.

  • PM Modi Government Put Covid “Jinn” In A Bottle: Yogi Adityanath

    “A 2,100 quintal bell will be installed in the Ram mandir. It is a belief that whenever the bells made in Jalesar ring inside temples, whatever is inauspicious vanishes,” UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said.

    Etah: Taking potshots at previous governments in the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday that those who are inauspicious for development of the state will automatically vanish once the bell made in Jalesar starts ringing inside the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He also said PM Narendra Modi led government at the Centre successfully put the COVID-19 jinn in a bottle.
    The Chief Minister was addressing a public rally in Jalesar.

    “A 2,100 quintal bell will be installed in the Ram mandir. It is a belief that whenever the bells made in Jalesar ring inside temples, whatever is inauspicious vanishes,” said the Chief Minister.

    Highlighting the role of Etah in India’s freedom movement, Mr Adityanath said it was ironic that the district which played such a huge role in the country’s Independence struggle could not get proper healthcare facilities and medical colleges for more than 70 years.

    “But now I can proudly say that a medical college named after freedom fighter Avantibai Lodhi has come up in the district,” added the Chief Minister.

    He highlighted that the district played a big role in freedom movement of the country.

    Mr Adityanath said that before 2017, power-sponsored mafias and criminals used to dominate the district.

    “Be it Congress, SP or BSP, they had no sympathy for the poor, farmers, medium and small enterprises (MSMEs). They did not do anything for them, did not waive farmers’ debts, did not build toilets, houses for the poor and healthcare facilities were not provided either. Their sympathy was only with mafias and criminals. Have you not seen the government’s bulldozer run over such mafias and criminals after 2017 and their wealth being seized?” added Mr Adityanath.

    Highlighting the success of the state in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, he said that through great management, the state has put the ‘Jinn’ of COVID-19 inside a bottle in such a way that thousands are gathered at the spot for the rally and the virus is nowhere to be found”.

    “In the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, free tests, treatments, vaccines were given. Double dose of ration was given to the poor as well,” he added.

    He also said that water will be provided to farmers for free during the next five years and work in that direction has started. “We will provide sweet water instead of saline water. Under Jal Jeevan Mission, pure drinking water will be given to all to keep people healthy,” he added.

    Highlighting the government’s efforts in Etah district, Mr Adityanath said that debt of 64,000 farmers was waived off in the district while 2.87 lakh farmers had received benefits of the PM-KISAN scheme.

    “In Etah, 11,500 physically challenged people, 23,700 widows and over 40,000 senior citizens are getting pensions of ₹ 12,000 yearly, and 43.5 lakh houses have been given to poor in the state and over 22000 poor in the district have been given houses,” he added.

    Polling was conducted in Uttar Pradesh on February 10 for the first phase of the Assembly elections. The next phase polling will take place on February 14, followed by February 20, 23, 27, March 3 and 7, for the other five phases. The counting of votes will be done on March 10.

  • Dream of Ghazwa-e-Hind will never be realised under PM Modi: Yogi Adityanath

    “The country is being led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the principle of ‘sabka sath, sabka vikas’. There will be no appeasement,” Yogi Adityanath said.

    Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on Monday said that those who are dreaming about Ghazwa-e-Hind, will not be successful. “The country is being led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the principle of ‘sabka sath, sabka vikas’. There will be no appeasement,” he said.

    “For those dreaming of Ghazwa-e-Hind, this is New India under the leadership of PM Modi. New India is for development of all, but appeasement of none. It’ll run as per the Constitution, not Shariat. Ghazwa-e-Hind’ ka sapna qayamat ke din tak sakar nahi hoga (The dream of Ghazwa-e-hind will not be realised till the end),” the UP CM told news agency ANI.

    Speaking on the Karnataka hijab row, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the system in the country should be run on the Constitution of India and not Shariat or Islamic law.

    “When the country runs according to the Constitution, women will get their due respect, security, and independence,” he added.

  • Why should boys have all the fun, Sopore girls trek 14 kms along Rampora-Rajpora

    Sopore, Feb 13: Since times immemorial, women have had to fight stereotypes and it is not uncommon even today to see girls being encouraged to be polite, while boys are not only allowed but expected to be boisterous and rowdy.

    To over come such stereotypes Sopore girls have set and example by trekking 14 kms along Rampora-Rajpora hills in Sopore.

    In order to boost the confidence of female gender Mountain Warriors Trekking and Hiking Club in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Forest department organised a trekking, starting from the Montane EcoPark Rampora-Rajpora. Around 15 girls from all age groups participated among including 13-year-old girl besides, mother of two children also took part in the adventurous trek.

    Covering about 14 kms distance, the girl trekkers moved from Trimokhan Top to South Lolab boundary then descended down to Rampora, reaching an altitude of 2900m challenging about 3 feet of snow accumulation along the trek.

    “I’m really overwhelmed as I was waiting for this day, I had a wish if I could go camping with my friends to hills and this Club fulfilled it and provided the opportunity for the girl folk,” said Peer Ishrat, a trekker.

    She said that it was a great experience to be in the lap of nature and away from the worldly hustle and bustle.

    Mudasir Bashir Shah, an ace adventurer who organised the trek said that whenever he would share photos from expeditions to lush green meadows and mountains on his social media handlers, besides boys he would get queries from girls desiring to go on such trips.

    “As queries from girls swelled, I decided to give it a shot and put out an announcement asking females to sign up for trekking tour. It generated quite a good response. Girls too have an urge to connect with nature and we just want to show them a way to fulfil that urge,” Mudasir said.

    He said that it is a non-profit initiative, they do it for passion and want to contribute to the society in some way. “I’m planning for more such events in the near future,” he said. (KNS)

  • Stores owned by multinational firms, including KIA, Hyundai and Pizza Hut, forced to close in the western Indian state of Gujarat

    Photo: A member of Bajrang Dal, a Hindu supremacist group, shouts slogans in front of a KIA Motors showroom during in Ahmedabad

    Stores owned by several multinational companies have been forced to shut down by hardline Hindu groups in the Indian state of Gujarat after their Pakistan-based subsidiaries posted messages on social media in support of Kashmir.

    The companies posted messages on social media on February 5 to coincide with Pakistan’s Kashmir Solidarity Day, held annually to commemorate the sacrifices of Kashmiris struggling for self-determination, causing anger among social media users in India.

    Dozens of stores and showrooms belonging to Pizza Hut, KFC and South Korean car giants – Hyundai and KIA – were shut in the western Indian state by members of Hindu supremacist groups – the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council) – linked to Prime Minister Modi’s governing Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

    “These companies cannot be doing business in India and at the same time supporting Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir,” Dinesh Navadiya, national treasurer of VHP, told the Reuters news agency during a protest in the city of Surat.

    Shouting slogans such as “Kashmir is Ours” and wearing saffron scarves, more than 100 members of Bajrang Dal also joined the protest – one of several held in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Modi.

    “We protested peacefully against these companies for the tweets by their Pakistani affiliates in support of Kashmir,” said Hitendrasinh Rajput, spokesperson for the VHP’s state unit in Gujarat’s largest city of Ahmedabad.

    “We want to make it clear to these companies and others that Kashmir is an inseparable part of India,” Rajput said.

    Companies including Hyundai, Kia, Domino’s Pizza, Yum Brand’s Pizza Hut and KFC, Japan’s Suzuki Motor, Honda Motor and Isuzu Motor issued apologies as criticism of the posts grew.

    South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Company said it deeply regrets any offence caused to Indians by an “unauthorised” tweet from the account of its Pakistan partner that expressed solidarity for the people of Kashmir.

    https://twitter.com/rakesh2100jha/status/1491048637832769541?s=20&t=-4h8rOgy_P7JOrld1b8a-w

    “We deeply regret any offence caused to the people of India by this unofficial social media activity. We have put in place processes to prevent a future recurrence,” Hyundai said.

    The company is India’s second-largest car seller after Maruti Suzuki, selling close to half a million vehicles in the country in the last fiscal year and exporting more than a million units, making it India’s largest car exporter.

    Similarly, KFC India tweeted an apology for the post and said, “We honour and respect India, and remain steadfast in our commitment to serving all Indians with pride.”

    The social media posts triggered a diplomatic dispute, leading India to summon South Korea’s envoy over the matter last week. India conveyed the “strong displeasure of the government on the unacceptable social media post by Hyundai Pakistan”, ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi was quoted by the local Hindustan Times as saying.

    South Korea’s foreign minister also called his Indian counterpart. The pair discussed the “Hyundai matter”, India’s Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in a Twitter post.

    SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

  • Drug Abuse Bigger Challenge Than Militancy: DGP

    Jammu, Feb 13: Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on Saturday said that drug abuse was a bigger challenge than militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

    He was speaking at a function organized on laying of foundation stone of Police Drug-de-addiction by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Channi Himmat, Jammu.

    The DGP in his welcome address thanked the Lt. Governor J&K, other dignitaries and media fraternity for gracing the event. He thanked Lt. Governor with whose support the drug de-addiction facility Jammu is being created at a bigger scale. He also thanked district administration for providing land for the centre. He said that on the directions of Lt. Governor J&K, this facility has been included in Jammu Smart City project and its funds have been provided by Jammu Smart City Limited.

    “It is a very happy occasion for all of us as much needed facility is being created here,” he said as per statement sent by police to GNS.

    He said that drug abuse is a bigger challenge than militancy in J&K “as it not only provides oxygen to the (militancy) by means of funding (militant) networks but also targets our younger generation.”

    He said that militancy targets civilians and security forces individually but the drugs target the society as a whole and takes people particularly youth on the path of destruction. Singh said Jammu and Kashmir Police is putting massive efforts against drug trade and has seized huge quantity of drugs and huge amount of narco trade-cash. He said that the menace has increased during past few years and JK Police besides its intensified war on drugs is putting best of the efforts to aware the people about the magnitude of the problem to fight the menace collectively.

    The DGP said that 10 Police Drug de-addictions centers including two major centers one each in Jammu and Srinagar are being run by J&K Police to curb the alarming rise of drug addiction.

    He said that a well equipped drug de-addiction centre has been constructed in Srinagar recently and is functional at present. He informed that more than 6000 affected persons are being treated at police drug de-addiction centers during a year.

    “We have qualified doctors, counsellors and staff posted at these centre,” the DGP added.

    “We are shouldering this responsibility under JKP’s Civic Action Programme and now with assistance from the local administration and the civil society we would be able fight the menace more effectively and help the affected population.”

  • KYEF President Babar Chowdhary welcomes Srinagar Administration for exclusion of weekend lockdown

    Srinagar: Babar Chowdhary, President Kashmir Youth Entrepreneurs Federation expressed gratitude over the end to weekend lockdown in Kashmir valley as it go imposed due to surge of Covid-19 cases across the region and expressed it a major achievement for all the hotel, restaurant and café owners so that the business activities will work in progressive manner.

    Babar Chowdhary said,” My personal gratitude to Kashmir divisional administration for taking a positive step to end the weekend lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir which was imposed again due to increase in Covid-19 cases as it will ease out numerous difficulties of business fraternity in the valley.”

    He further thanks to President Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and industry, Mr Sheikh Ashiq for his sincere efforts to bring the problems of business houses like hotel, restaurant & cafes into the notice of state and district administration and convincing them for the reversal of lockdown decision.

    “Jammu & Kashmir Government’s decision to lift weekend lockdown has came at a right time as the business community of Jammu and Kashmir was already going through crisis due to prevailing pandemic situation,” Babar Said.

    Announcing the guidelines after fresh review of the COVID-19 situation on Sunday last, the State Executive Committee which met under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary A K Mehta decided that night curfew shall continue to remain in force in all districts from 10 pm to 6 am with complete restriction on non-essential movement.

    The KYEF president urged the business community to ensure all COVID protocols including wearing face masks are strictly followed in their business establishments to prevent further rising of COVID cases.

  • Hyundai Motor Company’s Pakistan handle tweeted expressing solidarity with Kashmiri brothers in their struggle for freedom

    News18

    Hyundai Motor Company’s Pakistan handle tweeted expressing solidarity with Kashmiri brothers in their struggle for freedom. The message did not go down well with Indian users who called for a boycott of the South Korean company. The statement issued by the company was found inadequate by users.

    ‘Boycott Hyundai’ is trending on Twitter after the car manufacturer’s tweet on Kashmir Solidarity Day from their official Pakistan handle. On February 5, Hyundai Pakistan Official wrote: “Let us remember the sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers and stand in support as they continue to struggle for freedom.” The message has received flak from Indians for ‘siding with Pakistan’. Social media was soon flooded with messages asking people to not buy cars from the South Korean company. The company issued a statement after the social media rage, however, many felt that the apology was not adequate. It all started with this message:

    “If you are wondering why #BoycottHyundai is trending. This is the post by their Pakistan Operations that triggered nationwide anger.”

    “In my personal capacity and with limited reach, I request everyone not to buy a #Hyundai vehicle. First time supporting a boycott call. Lets #BoycottHyundai. They have no respect for our national sentiments. The half-hearted statement below tells that they have no remorse also.”

    “#BoycottHyundai I’ve made all my mind to book Brand new alcazar tomorrow and i was about to make token payment today, you can check the quotation here, but now I need to think again,this biased view is not acceptable.”

    “I booked #Hyundai Verna a month ago & it was due to be deliver this month but after seeing #HyundaiPakistan post, supporting separatism in #Kashmir,India, cancelled the Verna & called the Honda outlet and taken the delivery of Honda City today itself.

    BoycottHyundai, thats it!”

    “@HyundaiIndia This is neither apology nor regret but a joke. @Hyundai_Global MUST apologise & clarify It’s stand on Kashmir otherwise be ready to face the music of 140 Cr Patriot Indians. You have 24 Hrs ..Period ! Remember,Kashmir is in our blood

    BoycottHyundai.”

    “Cancelled by booking for Hyundai Creta… #BoycottHyundai.”

    “Was a little confused between Creta and Seltos. #BoycottHyundai has solved the problem.”

    After Hyundai Motors, Kia Motors, which too had put up a message on Kashmir, faced the ire of social media users.

    “Hyundai and KIA Motors in Pakistan are asking for the Azadi (freedom) of Kashmir. Let’s give Azadi (Freedom) to Hyundai and KIA Motors in India first. #BoycottHyundai & #BoycottKiaMotors because India comes first.”

    Kashmir Solidarity Day is a national holiday observed in Pakistan.

    With inputs from News18

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

  • 18-yr-old labour electrocuted to death in Bemina

    Srinagar, Feb 11: An 18-year-old labourer was electrocuted to death in Bemina area of Srinagar on Friday afternoon.

    Official sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that an 18-year-old labourer identified as Sameer Ahmad Bhat, son of Mohi-ud-din Bhat of Ashmuqam area of Anantnag was electrocuted while installing power line in Bemina area of Srinagar.

    They said he was rushed to SKIMS Soura for treatment, however, he was declared brought dead on arrival.

    Meanwhile, police has registered case in this regard and has started investigations—(KNO)