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Srinagar: In a bid to rein employees found involved in ‘anti-national’ activities, Government has begun the process to act tough which could lead to their dismissal of their services.

Sources told KNS that J&K Government has constituted a panel to scrutinize and recommend cases for dismissal of services of those employees who were involved in ‘anti-national’ activities overtly or covertly.

An order issued by the Government of J&K on Thursday night announced the constitution of a committee headed by Chief Secretary BVR Subramanyam to take stock of all such cases that would be referred to it by the police and home departments, sources said.

They added the action would be taken against ‘anti-state’ employees by invoking Sec 311 of the Constitution that is now applicable to J&K Union Territory.

The provision would be applicable to all those employees about whom there are cases of having taken part in the “anti-national” activities overtly or covertly. It will also apply to those who have served detention.

Notable in the regime of Governor Satya Pal Malik, Government employees were repeatedly warned, soon after Jama’at-e-Islami J&K (JeI) and JKLF were banned, to shun taking part in ‘anti-national’ activities.

Meanwhile one of the critical parts of the fresh order is that the employees’ cases would be dealt with by the police on the basis of their interrogation reports and the collateral evidence which will dispense with the need for any inquiry, and once the cases are examined and recommended, the General Administration Department will issue orders for their dismissal from service as also suspension. This provision will also apply to such pending cases.

There were serious complaints in the past that the employees who were taking part in “anti-national” activities during street protests, instigating people against security forces were not booked, nor FIRs allowed to be filed against them by political governments; the administration was pressed not to act against them. (KNS)

New Delhi: The government is likely to take a final call on the restoration of 4G mobile Internet services in the Kashmir Valley after Independence Day celebrations are over next month, Indian Express reported.

A “favourable” decision is “already under consideration” within the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the sources said.

The government is waiting for August 5, which marks a year since special status under Article 370 was revoked and J&K split into two Union Territories, and Independence Day, to “pass off peacefully” before taking a decision, they said.

On July 26, The Indian Express reported that the J&K administration has told the MHA that it does not have any objection to restoring 4G services. “We have been making (a) representation for this… I feel that 4G will not be a problem. I am not afraid (of) how people will use this. Pakistan will do its propaganda, whether it is 2G or 4G. It will always be there… But I don’t see an issue,” J&K Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu had told Indian Express.

On Tuesday, the Centre sought time from the Supreme Court to verify Murmu’s remarks during a hearing on a petition filed by an NGO asking the court to “look into the statement”. The court will hear the matter on August 7. The government had suspended high-speed Internet in the Valley last August 5.

“The L-G is not wrong. The decision to restore 4G in the Valley is under consideration. Maybe, the statement was a bit premature. Security agencies are not in favour of restoring 4G network until the anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 and Independence Day pass off peacefully. Right now, emotions are high in the Valley and restoration of 4G services may have law-and-order implications. A decision may be taken after August 15,” a Home Ministry official said.

Last year, too, it was proposed to be restored by the end of October since the security and law-and-order threats from high-speed mobile Internet go down with the onset of winter. It was felt then that with four-five months under the belt, things would settle down from April. However, a go-ahead was not given at that time,” another official said.

According to officials, the twin threats from restoring a high-speed network was that it would enhance communication between terror operatives and lead to law-and-order issues in the form of stone-pelting, which “tend to be organised over WhatsApp groups”.

“While terror incidents have continued to happen with or without the Internet, the spread of Covid has ensured that people are not gathering in large numbers in the streets,” the official said.

According to figures compiled by MHA, till June-end this year, there were only 40 incidents of stone-pelting in which a security personnel was injured or a government vehicle damaged in the Valley. Across 2019, the figure was 666.

With inputs from The Indian Express

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah has regretted that he did not revoke the controversial Public Safety Act (PSA) when he had the chance to do so.

“I guess… If there is one regret that I have, it is I did not revoke the PSA from the statute books when I had the opportunity, and when I was in power. I should have done it then, I think the realization dawned on me much later. That realization dawned on me before my arrest, and not post-arrest. Over the last couple of years we had been making the promise that if the NC is returned to power, we would strike down the PSA and remove it from the statute books. I wish I had done that in office,” Omar told The Wire in an interview.

At the same time, he said the way he and other J&K administrations had used the PSA and the way it was being used now was different.
“There may have been some questionable detentions [in our time], but by and large the people we were dealing with were people waging a campaign against the country. Here you are detaining mainstream politicians who haven’t said anything seditious or anything to disturb the peace. None of us have called for agitations, protests for youngsters to pick up the gun or anything like that. All we said was that we will democratically oppose any changes that are forced on the people of J&K, and for that we were punished the way we were,” he said.

Omar was arrested on the intervening night of August 4 and 5 last year when the government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and downgraded the state into two union territories.

On February 6, Jammu and Kashmir government slapped stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) on Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at former chief ministers in the parliament.

Under PSA, described a lawless law by Amnesty International, a person can be jailed from three months to two years without trial or bail.

Later, Omar’s sister Sara Pilot approached the Supreme Court seeking to quash the PSA of her brother. The administration however objected to the petition saying “Omar has been a very vocal critic of any possible abrogation of Article 370 prior to its abrogation on August 5, 2019, considering the very peculiar geopolitical position of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and its geographical proximity with Pakistan, the concept of ‘public order’ needs to be examined contextually.”

Omar was released on March 24, after Jammu and Kashmir government revoked his detention under Public Safety Act.

Omar said that it would be open to a future elected assembly of Jammu and Kashmir – as and when statehood was restored – to make proposals to the Central government on the terms of J&K’s relationship with the rest of India.

“If parliament can set terms of reference for J&K’s relationship with the rest of India, then an elected assembly of the state of J&K can certainly place its voice in the form of a resolution or anything else for the GOI at that time to consider. Why not? It is not illegal, it is democratic. You can’t sell a model of democracy to the rest of the country and then tell the people of J&K that they have no recourse. As long as what you are talking about falls within the four walls of the constitution, I don’t see how any government or court of the land can have a problem with it.”

“China’s traditional customary boundary line is in accordance with the LAC” on the northern bank of Pangong Lake, Sun Weidong says.

China’s Ambassador to India Sun Weidong addresses a webinar on July 30, 2020. Photo: Twitter/@ics_delhi

China was not in favour of resuming the process of clarifying the Line of Actual Control (LAC) because it could “create new disputes”, its Ambassador to India Sun Weidong said on Thursday.

He said China’s troops were on its side of the “traditional customary boundary line” on the northern bank of Pangong Lake, where disengagement between the two sides is yet to happen.

That is expected to be taken up later this week at the fifth round of talks between the Corps Commanders of both armies.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said “there has been some progress made” towards complete disengagement along the LAC, “but the disengagement process has as yet not been completed”. “The Senior Commanders of the two sides will meet in the near future to work out steps in this regard,” MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.

China’s Defence Ministry said on Thursday the situation “tends toward de-escalation and the disengagement between the border troops of the two countries is [being] gradually carried forward.” While the Foreign Ministry said earlier this week border troops “completed disengagement in most localities”, defence sources said it had only been “partial” in some spots, such as Patrolling Point 17A in Gogra-Hot Springs and Pangong Lake.

At Pangong Lake, following earlier talks, Chinese troops pulled back from the base of Finger 4, where Beijing’s’s claimed border is, and moved to Finger 5, still well within where India sees the LAC at Finger 8. The ‘fingers’ are mountain spurs on the northern bank of the lake.

The Chinese envoy said, “China’s traditional customary boundary line is in accordance with the LAC” on the northern bank of the lake. “There is no such case that China has expanded its territorial claim,” he said, speaking at a webinar organised by the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) in New Delhi.

“China hopes that [Indian] border troops will strictly abide by the relevant bilateral agreements and protocols, and refrain from illegally crossing the LAC to the Chinese side,” he said.

Asked if this summer’s clashes, marking the worst violence on the border since 1967, had reinforced the need to resume the process to clarify the LAC that had been stalled since 2002, Mr. Sun said “if one side unilaterally delimits the LAC as per its own understanding during the negotiations, that could create new disputes and that would be a departure from the original purpose of clarification of the LAC.”

“The original purpose of clarification of the LAC is to maintain peace and tranquility in border areas,” he said. “When we look back into history, we will find that if one side has unilaterally put its own perception of the LAC during the negotiations, that will create new disputes. I think that is why the process cannot move on.”

Galwan casualties

Asked if China would confirm the number of casualties on its side from the June 15 clash in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed, he said, “What we are now doing is to make joint efforts to de-escalate the situation and ease the tension along border areas. We hope India can understand the goodwill from the Chinese side to not make contradictions even more higher.”

Ashok Kantha, former ambassador to China and director of the ICS, said “even experienced Indian diplomats who are deeply invested in this relationship are speaking of the need for a reset in ties” and the policy of compartmentalising the boundary dispute “had now run its course”.

Mr. Sun said he differed with the view that relations were at a turning point or would be reset. “Basic national conditions as two largest developing neighbours remain unchanged, orientation of being partners, of friendly cooperation and common development remain unchanged, the general structure that we can’t live without each other remains unchanged, and China’s basic policy towards India is unchanged,” he observed.

He expressed concern at calls for India to adjust its China policy, including on Taiwan and Hong Kong. “Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Xizang [Tibet] affairs are totally China’s internal affairs,” he said, “and bear on China’s sovereignty and security.”

With inputs from The Hindu

Programmes to mark the first anniversary of removal of special status.

From August 5, Jammu and Kashmir will start a series of programmes on the first anniversary of removal of special status to highlight the achievements made by the Union Territory (UT) administration in the past 12 months.

The Chief Secretary has asked all administrative secretaries in Srinagar to be present from August 8 to 11. “An important event is likely to be organised in Srinagar on August 10. The event is being coordinated by the Principal Secretary, Information, and the Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj,” an official said.

The UT administration is planning a media blitzkrieg to highlight the achievements. Four IAS officers have been assigned to “facilitate and educate” reporters from outside the UT about the achievements made in the past 12 months.

An official said the spending under the ₹80,000-lakh Prime Minister Development Package, the market intervention scheme to buy apples directly from farmers, issuance of domicile certificates among different communities, election of chairpersons for the block development councils will top the highlights.

The new employment rules to bring in transparency, more focus on the written tests rather than interviews, and more powers to grassroot representatives and extending insurance schemes are likely to be highlighted during these functions.

The major achievements included application of all Central laws, a massive drive by the anti-corruption body, domicile certificate made basic eligibility condition for government recruitment and issuing these certificates to discriminated categories such as West Pakistan refugees, Gurkhas, Safai Karamcharis, women married outside etc.

The J&K administration also mentioned the drive to fill 10,000 posts and reservation to Paharis, International Border residents.

The abolition of the Lakhanpur as part of the one nation one tax, unbundling of power department and structural reforms carried out in Industries, Tourism, Finance and Police departments are other focus areas of the UT administration.

“J&K becomes 100% (ODF) Open defecation free,” it claimed.

The administration also highlighted as an achievement the unique public outreach, with 36 Union Ministers visiting J&K in one week.

Meets Lt. Governor

Meanwhile, General Officer Commanding (GoC) 15 Corps, Lieutenant General B.S. Raju, called on Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar, days ahead of the anniversary.

An official said the Army officer briefed the Lt. Governor about the recent internal security developments and the prevailing security scenario in the Union Territory.

The Lt. Governor advised heightened surveillance and stressed on keeping a close watch on all vital installations to ensure the safety and security of the people, the official said.

With inputs from The Hindu

Positive cases have poured in from all 68 medical blocks of Valley, say officials

Srinagar: The deadly pandemic has engulfed entire Kashmir in a way that not a single medical block is virus free, officials revealed to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Thursday.

They said that Covid-19 positive cases have poured in from all 68 medical blocks of Kashmir division and no area is virus free. An official said that Srinagar district which has 13 medical blocks has reported around 4500 positive cases and these cases were recorded in all blocks and zones of the district.

He said that Anantnag district which comprises of seven medical blocks including Achabal, Bijbehara, Larnoo, Mattan, Sallar, Shangus and Verinag has reported 1258 cases so far and no block is virus free.

He said that Pulwama district which once was declared Covid free has four medical blocks including Pulwama, Pampore, Tral and Rajpora and all four blocks have 1363 positive cases and cases are from every block.

He said that Kulgam district has been divided into five Medical blocks— Kulgam, Qaimoh ,DH Pora , Qazigund and Yaripora that have 1491 positive cases which belong to every block.

“Shopian district has 1416 positive cases and these cases are from all three blocks including Shopian, Keller and Zainapora,” the official told KNO

Bandipora has reported so far 678 cases which are from its all three blocks including Bandipora, Gurez and Hajin, the officials said. “Baramulla has 09 medical blocks and 1835 reported cases so far are from every block of the district,” an official said.

Kupwara and Budgam districts have 10 medical blocks each with positive cases 1069 and 1228 respectively and no block in twin districts is virus free, he said, adding that Ganderbal district which has reported so far 387 positive cases and these cases were reported from all four blocks of the district.

Pertinently, out of 19419 positive cases reported, 15201 are from Kashmir which are 78.28 percent of the total positive cases.

Director health services Kashmir Dr Samir Matoo told KNO that there are 68 medical blocks in Kashmir division and positive cases have been reported almost from every block of Kashmir division—(KNO)

Srinagar: Pakistan Army has returned a boy from Kupwara who had crossed over to Pakistan administered Kashmir.

Sources told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that the boy was returned on Thursday morning during a flag meeting between two armies.

“Rayees Ahmad son of Mohammad Yaqoob a resident of Sudpora Kupwara was handed over to Indian authorities on LoC in Teetwal area of Kupwara district,” sources said.

Sources said it was still unknown how he had crossed over to LoC.

A police official said they are investigating the matter. “We are investigating how he crossed over the LoC,” the official told KINS.(KINS)

Srinagar, July 30 (KINS): National Conference (NC) senior leader and Member of Parliament (MP) Mohammad Akbar Lone Thursday said tendering resignation by National Conference (NC) MPs will not resolve any problem.

“What difference our (NC MPs) resignation will make. It will be a sort of protest only if we resign. But we have contested polls and people have elected us. We are adopting other ways to register our protest (against abrogation of Article 370),” Lone said as per news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

NC has three MPs that comprises party patron Dr Farooq Abdullah, Hasnain Masoodi and Muhammad Akbar Lone.

NC has been on forefront to defend the special status of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir which was scrapped on 5 August 2019 and was divided in two union territories.

“If our resignation would make any difference, we will do that. But it will not. The resignation of three NC MPs is a solution to nothing,” he said.

He said their resignation would not bring statehood or special status back. “If it can, we are ready to resign. But if it cannot, what is the fun to tender it (resignation),” he said.

Upset over downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir to the status of a Union Territory following abrogation of Article 370, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said he will not contest assembly elections till full statehood is restored. (KINS)