Blog

Says hands involved in luring youth towards violence to be dealt with sternly; violence a big hurdle for J&K’s peace, development; hails J&K police for bagging 257 awards

Srinagar, Aug 15: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Sunday said that the violence free District Development Council (DDC) polls in 2020 marked the end of “Jungle Raj” in the Union Territory while as democracy was strengthened at the grassroots level.

Addressing the 75th Independence Day function at highly fortified S K Stadium in Srinagar, the LG Sinha as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the year 2020 saw successful and violence free DDC polls in which a record number of people participated. “With the successful polls in 2020, Jungle Raj in J&K ended forever,” he thundered from the stage.

The LG while commenting on the August 5, 2019 decision of Prime Minister Narendera Modi led government at Centre said that the move marked the new beginning in J&K.

“Since then, grass-root democracy was strengthened, people started reaping benefits of democracy and the common man started living in a peaceful environment,” the LG said. “The age-old tradition of Kashmiri at was further strengthened and all segments of society were taken along to achieve new heights.”

Referring to the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s slogan of Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jhamoriyat, the LG said that these ideas were not allowed to flourish and there was a “dictatorial kind of democracy in J&K.”

Stating that the militancy was a big hurdle for development and peace in J&K, Sinha said that “our neighbour has been making continuous efforts to instigate youth, but a strong reply is being given to those who are luring youth towards the wrong path.”

“Whosoever tries to lure young boys towards violence will be dealt with sternly,” he said, adding that militancy was not only a hurdle but a big curse for peace and development of J&K. “I assure you that J&K is heading towards peace and a great future is awaiting this beautiful land,” he said.

The LG hailed police for bagging 257 gallantry awards on the eve of 75th I-Day stating it was because of the commitment of security forces that J&K was living in a peaceful environment today.

Sinha said that the next 25 years will see a new wave of development and peace in J&K. “A collective approach will be put in place to achieve new targets and goals till 2045,” the LG said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Aug 15: Muzaffar Wani, the father of slain Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani, hoisted the national flag at a school in Jammu and Kashmir”s Pulwama district as part of Independence Day celebrations Sunday, officials said.

Muzaffar Wani, who is a teacher by profession, unfurled the national flag on the premises of the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Tral, they said.

Burhan Wani”s killing in an encounter with security forces in July 2016 in South Kashmir had triggered a massive five-month summer agitation in Kashmir that left over 100 people dead and thousands injured.

As part of the ”Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”, the union territory administration has directed all departments including the education department to ensure that flag hoisting is held in all offices on Independence Day.—(PTI)

Mian Bashir Ahmed Laaravi ( November 1923-August 2021) was the eldest son of renowned saint Mian Nizam ud Din and father of former cabinet minister and MLA kangan Mian Altaf. Mian Bashir was a minister and senior politician of jammu and Kashmir and a Caliph of Islamic Sufi order (Naqshbandi, Majadadi, Larvi) in Jammu and Kashmir.He was born in November 1923 in Wanghat, Kashmir.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan (the third highest civilian award), by the government of India on 26 January 2008 for his contribution to the society

Srinagar, Aug 14: The Government on Saturday appointed Professor Shakil Ahmad Romshoo as Vice-Chancellor of Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora.

Shakil Ahmad Romsho who is holding charge as head of the department of earth sciences at University of Kashmir has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the Islamic University of Science & Technology, Awantipora, Kashmir.

In an order issued by Jammu kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor who is also a Chancellor of IUST, reads “In exercise of the powers vested in me under Statute 2 (1) of the Schedule appended to the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Act, 2005 I, Manoj Sinha, Chancellor, Islamic University of Science & Technology, Awantipora, Kashmir, hereby appoint Professor Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir as Vice Chancellor of the Islamic University of Science & Technology, Awantipora, Kashmir.

It futher reads that he shall hold the for a period of three years with effect from the date he takes over charge, on the terms and conditions to be notified separately.

New Delhi : A delegation of Pashmina exporters from UT of J&K led by Dr. Hina Bhat Vice Chairperson of Khadi and village industries board (KVIB) met with the union minister Shri Nitin Gadkari and environment minister Shri Bhupender Yadav at their respective offices in New Delhi.

The ministers were apprised about the Threat to Pashnina industry due to delay in clearance at customs, obtaining test reports of seized shawls is a tedious process, the wrong branding and identification of Pashmina shawls as shahtoosh shawls during inspection by the wildlife department -using obsolete Scientific techniques- is causing huge losses to the centuries old Pashmina industry.

Currently the wildlife department sends the seized samples to their labs where
basic optical microscopes are used to study the suspected guard hair found in the shawls. It was explained to the minister’s that these guard
hair belong to Pashmina goats and every handmade Pashmina shawl has some guard hair present. Due to this process of seizure and subsequent hardships, not only exporters had to face huge losses but also take a dent to their
their reputation which had a dire effect on Kashmir and its economy as well.

The exporters also stressed on study of the warp and weft of a shawl at a Textile committee lab or any authorized textile lab to find the Contents of the shawl. Currently no such test is conducted and only the guard hair is tested which could even be a case of accidental contamination.

These procedures have resulted in the decline of exports of handmade Pashmina forcing some of the exporters to either quit export of handmade shawls or choose cheaper machine made shawls to export. It will be devastating for the Pashmina industry if this practice continues and eventually threating livelihood of five lakh artisans and thousands of traders.

Both the ministers heard grievance of the exporters and assured swift action on this matter by adopting latest techniques like using Scanning electron microscopes and DNA technology to identify guard hair of suspected shawls and not seize Pashmina shawls wrongly.

The delegation of exporters included Mr. Mubbashir Ahmed Shaw, Tariq Ahmed Dar, Imran Rashid Darzi , Bilal Ahmed Beigh, Naqeed Qazi and Abdul Manan Baba and many more.

The delegation is very thankful to the ministers for hearing their grievances and assuring full support to the exporters and resolving this issue at the earliest.

Dr.Hina Bhat has assured the exporters, her full support till this matter is resolved as this matter is of grave concern and will affect a large population of artisans in Kashmir valley.

Local producers hail Govt’s initiative for streamlining, facilitating process

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 14: With the launch of the Jammu and Kashmir Film Policy 2021, a new ray of hope has come up for the Film makers and people associated with it.

The policy was launched a week before after through consultations with all the stake holders and people associated with the industry with special focus on involving the locals associated with it. The comprehensive document has also been uploaded on the portal with address http://jkfilm.jk.gov.in making it more accessible at National and International level.

The effectiveness of the policy can be gauged by the fact that the permission was granted to one production house First Line Productions within one day thereby enabling them to carry on their shooting in a hassle free manner.

“It is astonishing that the speed with which we were granted permission for shoot within one day which was unheard of before and we used to chase different departments for weeks together, which was a cumbersome process and acted as a deterrent for so many production houses who were willing to shoot their movies”, says Saima Khan of First Line Productions. The new Film Policy 2021 is a game changer in this regard and we are expecting more film makers to explore their picturesque landscapes of the union territory, she maintained.

“We are hopeful that the policy would infuse a new direction and effectively act as necessary catalyst for the filmmakers to shoot their movies here which would contribute in providing the local talent of the UT new avenues, besides also contribute in the economy”, maintain some of the veterans associated with the field of Art, Culture and Film making.

A ray of hope has beaconed among the young filmmakers who are hopeful of availing subsidies and other related facilities which are being offered for catalyzing the film scenario in the Union Territory.

Pertinently Jammu and Kashmir used to be hub of these types of activities from 1960’s to 1989.

The Policy provides comprehensive guidance to the aspiring to shoot in Jammu and Kashmir with special focus on providing single window clearance thereby saving their time and energy to make their movies. Besides, it has also been taken care of making appropriate security and safety arrangements for the film makers which would be free of cost enabling them to have a hassle free shoot in the locations of their choice.

The concept of providing subsidy has also been introduced for Films, TV shows, Web Series / original show of OTT which according to the people associated with the industry can be a game changer especially for the young and upcoming film makers.

Srinagar, Aug 13: India and Pakistan armies on Saturday exchanged sweets along the Line of Control in Kupwara and Baramulla district on latter’s Independence Day.

“Indian Army as a warm gesture, presented sweets to Pakistan Army at Chilehana Tithwal Crossing Point to extend best wishes to Pakistan on their Independence Day, displaying the will to maintain peace along the Line of Control,” an army officer told GNS. “Over years, India has continuously endeavoured to sweeten and strengthen the bilateral relations with Pakistan through goodwill gestures like this one across the spectrum to ensure peace and tranquility in the region.”

Post the ceasefire agreement in February this year, he said, there has been a prolonged peace along the Line of Control. “The people have appreciated the efforts of the Indian Army to maintain peace in the villages along Line of Control. This gesture is one of the many such efforts made towards achieving peace and development in J&K, he said, adding, “These positive endeavours by the Indian Army will further the cause towards prolonged peace along the Line of Control.”

Also, the Indian Army and Pakistan counterparts exchanged sweets at Kaman post in Uri Baramulla, official sources said.

Tral: Reacting on social media reports about his ‘resignation’ and ‘warning of termination from services’ Principal Govt Girls Hr. Sec. School Tral Muzaffar Wani held a press conference and called all the reports baseless.

He said that orders to unfurl flag on 15th August have been issued to all the educational institutions of valley, with no particular order, or warning issued to him by anyone, as circulated on social media.

Wani added that recent posts on social media claim that he has resigned from sevices, “which are totally wrong, as i am present on duty as per schedule.”

It’s pertinent to mention here that Muzaffar Wani, is the father of former militant commander Burhan Wani, who has been delivering his duties as the Principal in Govt girls higher secondary Tral.

Srinagar : Er Nazir ah yatoo ex vc and poltical activist termed Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as a statesman of the Century and Ambassador of Peace ,

a leader is born, a politician is also born but a statesman is born in Centuries and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was a statesman whose demise has created void in the state’s political arena.

I want to appeal India and Pakistan to come closer and strengthen friendship”, yatoo said adding that relation of India and Pakistan is directly affecting the atmosphere in Jammu & Kashmir especially along the borders and LoC.

“Leaders of India and Pakistan must address the issues amicably so that the people of the state do not suffer anymore due to escalation of tension on borders and LoC”, he added.

Terming Mufti Sayeed as Ambassador of Peace, er yatoo said that Mufti played a significant role not only on international level by creating an atmosphere in which India and Pakistan become friends, he also proved his mettle as first and only Muslim Home Minister of India.

He reminded the people of the wanning of days of torture, frisking, harassments and mental frustration among youth and said that Mufti gave an atmosphere in which every citizen started living in peace with dignity.

Mufti Sayeed gave a dignified life to the people of this state, he said.

Yatoo said it was visionary approach of Mufti Sayeed to raise voice for peace and friendship of India and Pakistan as he knew that relations between these two neighbors directly affect people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said Mufti invited then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Kashmir where he extended hands of friendship to Pakistan which was great breakthrough in the process of peace and stability in the sub-continent.

He added that Mufti wanted borders irrelevant and it was why he raised voice for opening of routes like Poonch Rawalakote and Uri Muzaffarabad.

Er yatoo said that Mufti’s decision of forming government with BJP was historic as the same was the respect to the mandate of the people of all the three regions of the state.

He added that Mufti combined north and south pole only for a common agenda of development and peace for the state and Mufti was very much right to form this coalition government.

‘I this opportunity will change my life’

Anantnag, Aug 13: A Kashmiri specially abled youth is all set to play cricket at the international level after getting selected for disabled cricket team of India.

Feroz Ahmad Ganaie (30) a resident of Check Panjpora village in Sangam Bijbehara hamlet of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district has been selected to play ODI series against Bangladesh.

Ganaie while talking with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that till 2014 he was playing cricket with normal people including famous Kashmiri cricket players like Aabid Nabi and all, however, in 2014, he met with an accident and was bed ridden for about two years as his right leg received several injuries.

He said that in 2016, he slowly and steadily started playing cricket again and because of his passion for the game, he registered himself with the Board of Disabled Cricket Association.

“After that I got the opportunity to play in Jharkhand, Kolkata, Bangalore Hyderabad and other places, where I was able to showcase my talent,” he said, adding that recently he was called up for a trial camp which was held from August 04 to August 08 where he performed well.

“A day or two day after coming from the trail camp, I received a call as well as a letter informing me about my selection for the Bangladesh series which is scheduled to be held from September 12,” he said.

Ganaie said that it was very difficult for me to restart cricket after the accident, “however, there were some good people around me who encouraged me to make my career in this sport”.

Ganaie said that he struggled hard for more than four years at the national level to get an opportunity to play internationally and finally his dreams have come true.

“I believe that this opportunity will change my life,” he said, adding that since the day he got selected festivities have started at his home.

He said that he has already started preparations for the tour and is hopeful that he will be able to perform well in both the batting and bowling department.

Ganaie parents, friends as well as relatives and neighbors are very much excited about his selection.

“Your disability shouldn’t become a barrier in achieving your dreams and you should try again and again to achieve your goals till you achieve it,” Ganaie said—(KNO)