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  • Pakistan shells forward areas along LoC in JK’s Rajouri

    PTI

    Jammu: The Pakistani army on Monday violated ceasefire by unprovoked firing and shelling on forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said.

    The firing with small arms and mortar shelling started from across the border in Sunderbani sector at around 2.30 pm, drawing a befitting retaliation from the Indian army, the spokesman said.

    He said the cross-border firing between the two sides was going on when the last reports were received.

    There has been a spurt in Pakistani shelling along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir this year with over 2,027 ceasefire violations reported till June 10.

    Three army personnel have been killed in Pakistani firing in the twin sectors of Rajouri and Poonch in the past two weeks.

  • JK admin replaces B Srinivas with R R Swain as CID head

    PTI

    Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday carried out changes in top police brass, replacing Dr B Srinivas as the head of CID with R R Swain, who returns to the cadre after 15 years, officials said here.

    Srinivas, a 1990-batch IPS officer, who was brough back from his central deputation in 2018 to help the state police revive the intelligence apparatus, has been posted as Commandant General of Home Guard and Disaster Force.

    He will also head the Fire and Emergency Services.

    During his second tenure as the Additional Director General of CID, the state saw intelligence carried out operations leading to several kills in the erstwhile state and later the union territory.

    Srinivas initially joined the CID department in 2010 during the height of stone pelting. However, after Mufti Mohammed Sayeed took over as chief minister in 2015 he was removed.

    He moved to central deputation in SSB before his services were sought again in Jammu and Kashmir when it was witnessing a breakdown of the law and order machinery.

    According to the official figures post-September 2018, when he took over, 85 local militants and 28 foreign terrorists were killed that year. In 2019, as many as 123 local and 31 foreign terrorists were killed.

    The figure stood at 81 local terrorists and four foreign terrorists in 2020.

    As many as 160 militants were killed last year and the figure is already touching 100 this year.

    During his tenure as the Additional Director General of CID, Srinivas had successfully managed in running a campaign to prevent local boys from joining militant groups.

    It was the Jammu and Kashmir CID department which had first informed the Centre about the presence of a large number of volunteers inside Jamaat-e-Tablighi headquarters at Nizaumuddin after which a crackdown was carried out..

    He was succeeded by Rashmi Ranjan Swain, an IPS officer of 1991 batch. He had stayed in Jammu and Kashmir till 2005 and later shifted to central deputation.

    The administration also gave charge of Managing Director Police Housing Corporation to Deepak Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer, who is serving as Additional Director General of Railways.

  • India to witness solar eclipse on June 21

    PTI

    Kolkata: India will witness a solar eclipse on June 21 and it will be annular in some parts of the country, where skygazers will get an opportunity to observe the “ring of fire” during the phenomenon, an official said on Monday.

    However, for most parts of the country, the eclipse will be partial.

    The path of the annular solar eclipse will start near Gharsana in Rajasthan around 10:12 am and the phase of annularity will begin around 11:49 am and end at 11:50 am, Director of the M P Birla Planetarium Debi Prasad Duari said.

    The ring of fire will be visible for that one minute from places such as Suratgarh and Anupgarh in Rajasthan, Sirsa, Ratia and Kurukshetra in Haryana, and Dehradun, Chamba, Chamoli and Joshimath in Uttarakhand.

    However, the ring of fire will not be as prominent this time as it was on December 26 last year and will be a little narrower, Duari said in a statement.

    “The annular solar eclipse occurs when the sun, moon and the earth come in a straight line and almost on the same plane.

    “At that moment, the moon must be farther away from the earth in its elliptical orbit and hence, cannot cover the disc of the sun completely, resulting in a narrow band of light around the dark silhouette of the moon, making the ring of fire visible,” the statement said.

    But from a much wider-region country, people can observe a partial solar eclipse of a different magnitude.

    In Kolkata, the partial eclipse will begin at 10:46 am and end at 2:17 pm, while the timing will be from 10:20 am to 1:48 pm in New Delhi, from 10 am to 1:27 pm in Mumbai, from 10:22 am to 1:41 pm in Chennai and between 10.13 am and 1.31 pm in Bengaluru.

    On June 21, the annular eclipse will first start for the people of Congo in Africa and progress through South Sudan, Ethiopia, Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the Indian Ocean and Pakistan, before entering India over Rajasthan.

    It will then move on to Tibet, China, Taiwan, before ending at the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

  • NGDR system launched in J&K

    PTI

    Jammu: The National Generic Document Registration System was launched in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, a spokesperson said.

    The new system aims to facilitate public with a transparent and hassle-free registration process, he said.

    Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, K K Sharma, e-launched the NGDRS developed by the department of land resources through the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the spokesperson said.

    The new system will aptly address the diversity and variation prevailing across the union territory on account of languages, processes and formats, he said.

    Sharma said generic customizable software when universally adopted in the country will enable anywhere access to data and information to both the common man and the enforcement and regulatory agencies.

    Financial Commissioner, Revenue Department, Pawan Kotwal said this event signifies a remarkable transition from a manual system of carrying out the process of registration to a fully computerized system.

  • Tata Motors speeds to Q4 loss, sales fall

    Automobile major charts out plan to cut costs, conserve cash; lowers capital expenditure target

    Tata Motors Ltd. has revealed aggressive cost reduction and deleveraging plans after it reported a consolidated net loss of ₹9,894.25 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, compared with a profit of ₹1,117 crore a year earlier. Lower vehicle sales and the impact of COVID-19 on its domestic and the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) luxury car unit hurt the business.

    JLR recorded a loss of £501 million while the domestic business of Tata Motors witnessed a loss of ₹4,871 crore.

    The losses include an exceptional item of ₹2,500 crore related to asset writedowns in the domestic business. Revenue during the quarter declined 28% to ₹62,493 crore.

    For the year ended March 31, the company reported a consolidated net loss of ₹12,071 crore compared with a loss of ₹28,826 crore in the previous year.

    The domestic business reported a loss of ₹7,290 crore for the year, compared with a net profit of ₹2,021 crore. The company’s consolidated revenue for the financial year declined 14% to ₹2,61,068 crore.

    During the year, JLR vehicle sales fell 12% while Tata Motor’s commercial and passenger vehicle sales declined 22% and 25%, respectively.

    P.B. Balaji, Group CFO, said JLR’s fourth quarter results were significantly impacted by the pandemic. Despite this, the business improved its earnings before interest and tax by 60 basis points over the previous year, he said.

    “Project Charge has delivered cumulative savings of £3.5 billion. [The target] has been increased to £5 billion for March 2021. We see improvement in JLR’s performance because of recovery in China, the U.S. and Europe,” Mr. Balaji said.

    “Steep volume decline, particularly MHCV, and resulting negative operating leverage impacted profitability and cash flows” at the domestic business, he said.

    The CFO said the first quarter of this fiscal too was expected to be significantly weaker for both JLR and the parent firm.

    He also said that the company was taking steps to significantly deleverage the Tata Motors Group, with JLR set to become ‘sustainably’ cash positive from fiscal 2022.

    He asserted that the company would focus on conserving cash. “The company has called out a cost savings program of ₹1,500 crore and a cash improvement program of ₹6,000 crore. As part of this, company has deferred or cancelled lower margin and non-critical investment and is targeting capex spending of ₹1,500 crore in FY21, substantially lower than the ₹5,300 crore in FY20 and FY19,” he said.

    With peak lockdowns in the first quarter, the company expects significantly lower sales in the quarter and negative free cash flow of about ₹5,000 crore n the first quarter, about ₹3,500 crore of which is related to one time working capital outflows, the company said.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Tamil Nadu | 7.5% quota for govt. school students in MBBS intake

    Ordinance to be promulgated

    The State Cabinet on Monday approved an ordinance, envisaging 7.5% horizontal reservation in the State government’s quota of MBBS/BDS seats, for students of government higher secondary schools.

    The “quota within quota” covers government seats in private colleges too, said sources, adding that the proposed ordinance would be sent to Governor Banwarilal Purohit for assent.

    The prerequisite for qualification is that students of government schools should have qualified in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

    ‘Reasonable’ limit

    Though the proposal was speculated to be for a 10% quota, the Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, kept it at 7.5%, as it felt that the quantum prescribed should be “reasonable”.

    The Cabinet decision was based on a recommendation made by a panel, which was headed by former judge of the Madras High Court, P. Kalaiyarasan.

    The panel’s report was submitted to the Chief Minister last week.

    The panel had observed that there was a “cognitive gap” among students studying in government schools.

    The committee suggested that students who had passed the higher secondary exam after having studied for seven consecutive years in government schools be provided the reservation.

    Asked whether the government’s move would stand legal scrutiny, the sources replied in the affirmative.

    They cited the case of Karnataka, where there is a scheme of horizontal reservation of 15% of State government seats for rural students in admission to professional courses.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Kargil battling another COVID-19 wave due to “poor quarantine protocols, delayed testing”

    Samples are taking at least 13 days for results leading to virus spread, says politician

    In the first 55 days of the lockdown, the COVID-19 curve in Ladakh’s Kargil district touched the bottom with no case reported on May 15, but only to see another wave surging in the past one week, which is attributed by locals to “poor quarantine protocols and delayed testing”.

    From touching the base, the number of COVID-19 patients in the past three weeks has reached 425 with 404 active positive cases, according to official figures. Most of them were reported this month.

    Unnerved, the Kargil administration, in a fresh order issued two days ago when 69 tested positive for the virus in just 48 hours, extended the lockdown restrictions up to June 30. They were lifted on May 18.

    No traffic is allowed between Kargil and Leh of the Union Territory (UT) except for essential services, officials said.

    “Even vehicles carrying essentials are being allowed on one-plus-one basis [which means only a driver and a helper will be allowed],” the order said.

    “The Kargil administration has started facilitating return of stranded students from the outside. It has become the cause of spread as the quarantine protocol is poor. The samples taken from the quarantined take at least 13 days for results. By that time many asymptomatic people mix up with the population. This is responsible for the surge,” Sajad Kargili, a local politician, told The Hindu over the phone.

    Kargil, with 1.41 lakh population, has its nearest testing lab 200 km away in Leh. “Many samples are sent to Delhi,” Mr. Kargili said.

    Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil, chief executive councillor, Feroz Ahmad Khan urged the administration to speed up testing. “The delay in timely receipt of sample results is creating confusion, especially those under institutional and home quarantine,” Mr. Khan said.

    He appealed to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, to clear the backlog of samples.

    “Of 69 cases reported in 48 hours, many are already kept in institutional and strict home quarantine,” District Magistrate, Kargil, Baseer-ul-Haq said.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Nepal move on map is unilateral, makes talks difficult now, say sources

    India had provided overflight to flights to Nepal from several other countries, including China as well, the sources pointed out.

    Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s move to bring a constitutional amendment that alters Nepal’s map to include territory in India, has “prejudged” any future discussions, said New Delhi, virtually ruling out talks with Kathmandu for the moment.

    With the vote on changing the map depicted in the Nepali national symbol to include Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura being passed unanimously in the lower house of the Nepal parliament on Saturday, and another one expected to go through the upper house this week, the Modi government appeared to take a tougher stand with Kathmandu than it has in the past few weeks.

    However, the comments by sources, who refused to be identified, were at variance with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s comments, at a party address on Monday, that the issues would be resolved through dialogue.

    “We have always conveyed our willingness to talk,” sources said refuting Mr. Oli’s allegation that the Modi government had not responded to calls for Foreign Secretary-level talks on the Kalapani dispute and claiming that it had even offered talks last month.

    “We had offered talks and a video-conference before the tabling of the [constitution amendment] bill (on June 1) also. However, the unilateral act of PM Oli has created a difficult situation and prejudged the outcome of any future talks. It is now for Nepal to create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue,” the sources added, claiming that the Nepal PM had hidden India’s offer from his parliament and party colleagues.

    The sources, however, declined to give precise dates of the offer made by New Delhi. An official in the Nepali government “outrightly rejected” the Indian claim that there had been any offer.

    Visibly upset by Mr. Oli’s suggestion during the debate in parliament that “85% of Nepal’s COVID-19 cases had come from India”, the sources said the accusation was “false and distorted”.

    Of 8 million Nepalese people who live and work in India, only a small number had returned over the India-Nepal border given the lockdown in both countries, they said, and they entered Nepal with the permission of their government. Hence, it was Nepal’s responsibility to ensure any returning citizen was quarantined and treated for the virus.

    India had provided overflight to flights to Nepal from several other countries, including China as well, the sources pointed out, and it was unfair to single out just one country for the spread of the virus.

    Meanwhile, the sources questioned Mr. Oli’s motives for bringing up the dispute over Kalapani, saying it proved “the intention is to politicise the boundary dispute”. They also claimed that Nepal has itself encroached on Indian territory in Narsahi and Susta by settling its own population in disputed areas, and asked why all the claims over issues settled during the 1815 Treaty of Sugauli (Article V) were being raked up after “200 years”.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Jammu & Kashmir Congress terms BJP’s virtual rally a ‘flop show’, criticises Defence Minister’s speech

    It also alleged that BJP is more concerned about political interests at the time of grave crisis following the outbreak of coronavirus.

    PTI

    The Jammu and Kashmir unit of Congress on Monday termed the BJP’s ‘Jan Samvad’ virtual rally in the Union Territory a ‘flop show’ and claimed that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had failed to send a loud and clear signal to hostile neighbours including China and Pakistan.

    It also alleged that BJP is more concerned about political interests at the time of grave crisis following the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic besides severe external challenges.

    Addressing a virtual ‘Jan Samvad’ rally for Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, the Defence Minister said India never compromises on its national pride amid a standoff with China on the Ladakh border and asserted that its security capability has risen and it is no longer a weak country.

    Reacting to the address of the Defence Minister, chief spokesperson of Pradesh Congress Committee Ravinder Sharma said Mr. Singh failed to send a loud and clear signal to the hostile neighbours who are flexing muscles and transgressed deep into the Indian territory.

    It was expected that he would reiterate the often repeated pledge that every inch of our territory including Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir shall be retrieved but he twice repeated that country’s armed strength is for self-defence only and not to terrorise any country.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to see eye to eye with China and teach a lesson to Pakistan. Where is that promise? the Congress leader said in a statement in Jammu.

    However, he said the entire country stands shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces and the government of the day to deal with external challenges.

    Describing the virtual rally a ‘flop show’, Mr. Sharma said it only highlighted the fulfilment of BJP’s agenda about revocation of Article 370 but did not discuss the growing resentment over several post-abrogation actions adversely affecting the people, especially the youth of the region.

    The top BJP leadership only talked about the fulfilment of the party agenda to abrogate special status but failed to mention a word about post-abrogation protections as promised resulting into resentment and concern among the local population, especially the youth of Jammu besides large scale anger over the disbanding and downgrading of the historical Dogra state, he said.

    The PCC spokesperson said the Union Minister did not speak about the promise to restore Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir despite lapse of about 10 months, the increased graph of unemployment after BJP failed to fulfil its hollow and false assurances of providing over 50,000 jobs and the anti-youth recruitment policy and norms.

    Mr. Sharma said the new faulty domicile law, non-fulfilment of demands for revocation of SRO 202, restoration of 4G mobile internet services and burdening people of Jammu with toll plazas were the other issues which needed to be addressed.

    Taking a dig at the local BJP leaders for their failure to raise the public issues, he said they only indulged in showering praises but did not raise the plight of the local youth besides displaced people from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJ&K) apart from border residents who are becoming soft targets on regular bases due to increased ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

    BJP is more concerned about political interests at the time of grave crisis and people dying of COVID-19 besides severe external challenges but the Modi government and the ruling party is holding political rallies which are unfortunate, he further said.

  • PC, Congress join hands to defeat no- confidence motion against SMC Mayor

    Junaid Mattu meets GA Mir

    Srinagar: In a significant development, Peoples Conference and Congress on Monday joined hands to defeat a no-confidence motion against Srinagar Municipal Corporation mayor Junaid Azim Mattu.

    The incumbent mayor of Srinagar Junaid Azam Mattu reached residence of Pradesh Congress Chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir this afternoon to seek his support for defeating a non-confidence motion supported by BJP to oust him from key position in the civic body.

    “I called on JKPCC President Jenab GA Mir Sahab at his residence this afternoon to discuss the current situation in SMC. The 22 Corporators of the @JKPC and the 17 Corporators of @INCIndia and some independents will abstain from the’ NO Confidence Motion’ tomorrow,” Mattu tweeted.

    He said all future modalities including a future course of action between Congress and PC will be discussed and deliberated upon the leadership of both parties in the following days.

    In a statement to news agency–Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the party said it has decided that its corporators shall not be part of voting process in the Corporation.

    “The INC corporators shall not be part of voting process in the Corporation. The corporators have been issued whip and the same has been conveyed to concerned authorities in the Corporation,” reads the statement.

    According to the law, if any corporator violates, he/she will lose membership of the Corporation. It is worthwhile to mention that BJP is backing the no-confidence against Mattu. The BJP’s Kashmir media-in charge, Manzoor Bhat had told KNO that party is supporting the no-confidence motion against Mattu—(KNO)