SRINAGAR: A 25-year-old youth was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a rented accommodation in Banihal area of Ramban district on Thursday.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that the youth identified as Rayees Ahmed Zohda (25) son of Mohammad Iqbal Zohda of Chanjloo Banihal was found dead in his rented accommodation in Gund Adalkoot locality of Banihal.
He said Rayees was was a driver by profession.
The official said investigation into the matter has been initiated to ascertain the cause of his death.
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SRINAGAR: A group of senior professors at the University of Kashmir have issued a detailed statement thanking the administration for enhancing the superannuation age from 62 to 65 years. They have issued a detailed statement that is reproduced here:
“The teaching fraternity of the Jammu and Kashmir Universities thank the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Chancellor of the Universities for his announcement about the enhancement in the age of superannuation from the present 62 years to 65 years. This decision was awaited since 2007 when the then Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, Government of India enhanced the age of superannuation from 62 to 65 years for teaching positions in centrally funded institutions in higher and technical education institutions.
This matter was also examined by the University Grants Commission (UGC) Committee which was headed by the famous economist of the country, namely Prof GK Chadda. In its report of October 2008, among other things, this Committee strongly recommended an increase in the age of superannuation of teachers to 65 years throughout the country in both State and Central Universities. The Committee reached this conclusion after an in-depth analysis of the pros and cons of the matter. In fact, the Committee, in its report, had stated “that the fears expressed by certain quarters that raising the age of superannuation to sixty-five years would have an adverse impact on the recruitment of young teachers at the entry level is both misconstrued and misplaced”.
It also needs to be emphasized that on an average the number of teachers retiring each year is just 3 to 4 and entry into university service is also delayed due to requirements of PhD degree and post-doctoral experience. While all other service conditions, including Academic Performance Indicators (API) based Performance Based Appraisal System (PBAS), were implemented from time to time but the recommendation concerning enhancement in the age of superannuation to 65 was deferred.
It is against this backdrop that the decision of the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor is appreciated and welcomed. In fact, age of superannuation in many states and institutions in the Union Territory of Jammu &Kashmir, such as the Central University of Kashmir, Central University of Jammu, National Institute of Technology (NIT), and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu is 65 years.
The Economic Survey report for 2018-19 also recommended increase in the retirement age considering the declining fertility rate and increased life expectancy. It stated that the services of healthier faculty beyond the age of 62 years needs to be better utilized because of the investments that have been made on them by the State during their studies, research career and for their capacity building.
A study by the Centre for Development Studies in Kerala brought out that raising the retirement age by just two years would help the State government save around Rs 4,625 crore per year in pension and gratuities. This study also pointed out that pension and other retirement benefits of the Centre and the States have increased by almost three times between 2009 and 2018.
The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), in its Vision 2047 document, has also vouched for increasing the retirement age in the nation in line with western countries to face the challenges of the rising elderly population.
According to a National Statistics Office report, the share of the elderly in the total population is projected to reach nearly 15% by 2036. This means more people will be eligible for pensionary benefits and for a longer duration of time which would put an additional burden on the state’s exchequer. The Central government spent nearly Rs 1.98 trillion on pensions and related payments in FY22.
This decision is also far-reaching since it addresses the disparity that existed in the age of superannuation of teachers in the Central and State Universities in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir despite similar recruitment, promotion and workload. This disparity was discouraging very qualified and well-trained faculty from joining the State universities at higher positions. Many positions of Professors remain unfilled for years together even after repeated advertisements at the national level because of the preference of eligible applicants for Central Universities where the age of superannuation is 65 years.
Also, this increase in the age of superannuation as announced by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor was much needed given the paradigm shift that is taking place in the entire ecosystem of education, including higher education, with the implementation of National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 and retention of senior faculty are of paramount importance for its successful implementation.
National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 makes an explicit mention of the quality and engagement of the faculty as the most important factors in the success of higher education institutions. The policy underscores the need to address all the issues of faculty to ‘ensure that each faculty member is happy, enthusiastic, engaged, and motivated towards advancing her/his students, institution, and profession’.
This decision would also go a long way in addressing the shortage of senior-level faculty in the universities towards which the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor alluded during his address in the inaugural function of the Annual Youth Festival Sonzal-2022 at the University of Kashmir in Srinagar on 23rd November 2022.
It would not only benefit the institution in securing better NIRF, QS rankings and financial support from various funding agencies, but would be equally beneficial to students who despite having qualified Junior Research Fellowship/National Eligibility Test for Lectureship are unable to pursue research due to lack of supervisors and vacancies.
The decision would also correct the diminishing strength of senior-level faculty in the departments/research centres with salutary influence on teaching-learning environment, research output, and would also contribute to providing an enabling environment for more productive engagement with students in achieving the laudable objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020.”
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SRINAGAR: Handicraft artisans from Kashmir have brought laurels to the Valley by bagging two Shilp Guru and six National level awards in different craft categories.
Kashmir Handicraft Artisans honoured with 2 Shilp Guru, 6 National level awards
The Shilp Guru Awards are given to master craftspersons in recognition of excellent craftsmanship, product excellence and the role played by them as gurus in the continuance of crafts to other trainee artisans as a vital part of traditional heritage, said a statement from Department of information and public relations Jammu and Kashmir. The Awards were started in 2002, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the resurgence of Handicrafts in India. The Award consists of a gold coin, Rs 2 lakh prize money, a Tamrapatra, a shawl and a certificate. The National Level Awards are being awarded since 1965 for outstanding craftsmanship in different craft categories. The Award consists of Rs.1 lakh prize money, a Tamrapatra, a Shawl and a certificate.
The Shilp Guru awards were conferred by Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar while the National Level awards were conferred by the Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal at Vigyan Bhawan here.
The award categories were announced for the year 2017, 2018 and 2019 amidst an august gathering that included Officers from the office of Development Commissioner Handicrafts.
Addressing a gathering after presenting Shilp Guru and National Awards, the Vice President said that the unique talent of our master craftsmen is representative of Bharat. “With your subtle workmanship, you embellish and enrich India’s cultural diversity. You represent India’s rich tradition of skills and craftsmanship,” he told the Shilp Gurus awardees.
He described Indian craftsmen as the impactful ambassadors of our culture and creativity and said that by honouring them, the nation is honouring those generations of unknown skilled craftsmen, who have left behind such a rich legacy.
While congratulating the prize winners, he assured artisan community of the country of all possible support. He also stressed upon preserving this unique skill that is responsible for the production of world famous handicraft products.
The awards were given in different categories that included Sozni, Paper Machie and Carpet.
Bashir Ahmad Bhat of Sonpah Beerwah and Iqbal Hussain Khan of Gazi Doori were awarded Shilp Guru awards for the year 2018& 2019 in the Jamawar Shawl craft and Paper Machie respectively.
Similarly, the National awards were conferred upon Muzaffar Hussain Khushoo of Kathi Maidan Srinagar (Paper Machie, 2019), Zahoor Ahmad Bhat of Shalla Bagh Zadibal (Sozni Embroidery, 2019), Safdar Ali Mir of Sonpah Beerawah (Sozni Embroidery ,2018), Parveza Bano of Kathi Maidan Alamgari Bazar (Sozni Embroidery, 2018), Akthar Hussain Rather of Hawal Kral Pora (Paper Machie, 2017) and Ghulam Ali Sheikh of Shahoo Sachan Kulgam (Hand Knotted Carpet, Double Sided, 2017).
Rachna Shah, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Shantmanu, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, awardees from across India and other dignitaries were also present.
Meanwhile, Director Handicrafts & Handloom Kashmir, Mahmood Ahmad Shah has extended his greetings to the awardees.
“The Department is aware of the creative talent that is available in Village Sonpah of District Budgam as a result a DPR for developing the Village as the craft Village has been prepared and submitted to GOI” he said. (ANI)
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SRINAGAR: Amidst raging controversy over State Universities Act, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said the Government is flexible on many issues and will consider suggestions given by the Higher Education experts as this sector has to be run by them and not the Government or the administration, newspaper Daily Excelsior reported.
His remarks came amidst opposition to the State Universities Act by some of the University Associations, faculty and other bodies who cited that the Universities will lose autonomy if the new Act is implemented.
Even ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also expressed reservations over the bill.
“The State Universities Act is under discussions these days. I talked to Kansal (Rohit), outgoing Administrative Secretary of Higher Education Department, but he is now proceeding on the Central deputation and couldn’t hold discussions with you,” according to report Sinha said addressing an event at Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Government PG College for Women, Gandhi Nagar which was attended among others by Vice Chancellors of various Universities and Principals of Degree Colleges.
“We are flexible on many issues,” the Lieutenant Government said.
Asserting that some basic issues were incorporated (in the State Universities Act) after lengthy consultations, he, however, said: “Your suggestions will be considered” (a reference towards Higher Education experts present among the gathering).
“After all, the Higher Education has to be run by you and not me or the Chief Secretary,” Sinha said pointing towards the experts.
At the same time, he said, he will urge them to ensure that the system in place should be such that “we achieve the targets as I have mentioned”.
Asserting that the bill was brought after lot of consultations, Sinha said he has discussed the issue with many Vice Chancellors.
The Lieutenant Governor was all praise for outgoing Administrative Secretary of Higher Education Department Rohit Kansal for doing excellent work in the department in short span of time. He expressed confidence that Kansal will return soon saying they will miss him.
It may be mentioned here that Kansal is proceeding on Central deputation.
The Lieutenant Governor said India has become world’s fifth largest economy.
“We are a five trillion dollar economy and at fifth place in the world today. We want to become 10 trillion dollar economy to reach the third place in the world,” he asserted.
Sinha pointed out that even in ancient times when India was called ‘Sone Ki Chidiya’ (golden sparrow), “it was a strong economy because we were knowledge economy and knowledge superpower”.
The country can again become so because of the New Education Policy (NEP), the newspaper Daily Excelsior quoted Sinha as having said.
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SRINAGAR: The Saini community of Jammu has hit the roads to protest against the government’s decision to include them in the list of other castes which are entitled to 4 per cent reservation in jobs and professional educational institutions in the Union Territory.
Following protests by the community, which lives in certain pockets along the International Border (IB), the Jammu and Kashmir government had to put the whole list in abeyance till further orders.
The Saini community in parts of Jammu comprises about 60,000 – 70,000 people. They call themselves Chandravanshi Rajputs and descendants of Maharaja Shoor Sain of Mathura, grandfather of Lord Krishna.
Last Monday, a number of the Saini community elders led by Pritam Singh Saini held a dharna at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to mark their protest on the issue, The Indian Express reported.
Many youth from the community held protests at the Jammu and Kashmir Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission’s office in Jammu, which recommended to the government to include Sainis in the list of other quota-entitled backward communities.
“Our protests at the village level are continuing, especially in villages like Kool (Arnia) and Sarora (Jammu) where the community has sizeable numbers,” said Suksham Saini, president of the youth wing of the All J&K Kashtriya Saini Sabha. “To listen to our views, the Backward Classes Commission has now called us on December 6.” The Commission’s chairman Justice G D Sharma, a retired High Court judge, refused to say anything on the matter.
Accepting the Commission’s recommendations, the Jammu and Kashmir government had on October 19 issued an order including the Saini community along with over a dozen others in the list of the “Socially and Educationally Backward” communities, increasing their total number to 42 in the UT. All these communities together are entitled to 4 per cent reservation in government jobs and admissions to professional colleges.
Through the same order amending the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules-2005, the government has extended the benefits of 4 per cent reservation to Pahari people on the basis of their ethnicity and not language. Quoting directions from J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha for carrying out amendments in the Reservation Rules, a notification dated October 19, 2022, issued by commissioner-secretary of the social welfare department, Sheetal Nanda, stated that “in the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules-2005, words ‘Pahari Speaking People (PSP)’, wherever appearing, shall be substituted with ‘Pahari Ethnic People’.”
However, the government has now put that order in abeyance, with officials saying that another notification would be issued. “It shall come into force from the date as may be notified by the government,’’ an official added.
Opposing their inclusion in the list of other backward castes, Sainis have questioned the Commission’s recommendations. “We have even filed an RTI seeking as to what was the criteria applied and survey conducted by the Commission before recommending our community into the list of socially and backward classes,’’ said Suksham Saini.
Suksham said the community does not fulfill any of the criteria laid down by Mandal Commission for the identification of social, educational and economic backwardness for extending reservation. “Some of these criteria are that such a community has 25 per cent members houseless, marry girls below 17 years, its womenfolk travel at least half km to fetch drinking water and 25 per cent of them work as labourers, besides a high rate of school dropouts in the 5-14 year age group,” he said.
“On the contrary, most members of the Saini community own agricultural lands, have hand pumps installed to get underground water at home and have a good literacy rate,” Suksham said. Asking the government to give this benefit of reservation to some other “deserving community”, he said that “It has been a matter of shame for us to get ourselves called ‘backward’ just for the sake of getting reservation especially when members of our community are competent enough to compete with other upper castes in recruitment in government jobs and admissions in professional colleges.”
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SRINAGAR: Amid dry weather, freezing cold conditions continued unabated in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh on Wednesday.
Quoting a meteorological department official news agency GNS reported that amidst mist this morning, the summer capital of J&K recorded a low of minus 1.6°C against minus 2.2°C on the previous night which was coldest so far this season. The temperature was 0.7°C below normal during this time of the year for the capital city, he said.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 1.6°C against minus 1.8°C on the previous night. The temperature was 0.6°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at minus 3.4°C against minus 4.2°C on the previous night and it was normal for the south Kashmir resort, he said.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 0.3°C against 0.1°C on the previous night and it was 0.1°C above normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 1.0°C against minus 1.5°C against previous night, the official said. It was 2.1°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 2.5°C against minus 2.4°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.4°C below normal for the north Kashmir place, he said.
Jammu recorded a low of 10.0°C against 9.8°C on the previous night. It was 0.3°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of 1.2°C (0.7°C below normal), Batote 4.1°C (0.5°C above normal), Katra 8.9°C (0.3°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 2.8°C (1.5°C above normal).
In Ladakh, Leh recorded minus 6.8°C, Kargil minus 10.7°C and mercury in Drass, the world’s second coldest place after Siberia, settled at minus 9.6°C, the official said. The MeT department has forecast mainly dry weather till December 7.
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SRINAGAR: As a major step towards the empowerment of women in the UT the Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, approved the HR policy for female Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Helpers working in the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) of J&K.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, J&K attended the meeting.
The Administrative Council approved the proposal of comprehensive Human Resource Policy to govern the engagement, leave(s), promotion and other important aspects of this very vital work force of the department.
AWWs and AWHs shall be re-designated as Sanginis (AWWs) and Sahayikas (AWHs). The unit for selection has also been re-defined in terms of electoral ward to remove any ambiguity in the selection process. The new policy also clearly lays down age criteria for selection, with domicile of UT being pre-requisite eligibility for competing in the selection process. Minimum qualification for Aanganwadi Worker shall be 10+2 and maximum graduation and in case no 10+2 candidate is available in the Ward, 10+2 pass candidate from the adjoining ward shall be considered which would require prior approval of Mission Director, ICDS. Weightage shall be given to marks obtained in 10+2 and selection shall be done purely on merit basis. Candidates with qualification higher than graduation shall not be considered.
For selection as Anganwadi Helper, minimum qualification shall be Matriculation. The new HR policy also stipulates the quantum of leave, eligibility for training/capacity building and process for termination of services.
The services of both AWW/AWH shall end on attaining the age of 60 years and vacancy so arisen, shall be filled as per prescribed procedure. Moreover, if the AWW/AWH, after engagement, permanently shifts/changes her place of residence outside the Ward on the basis of residence of which, she was selected, then she shall be deemed to have been disengaged from the post of AWW/AWH and the vacancy so accrued shall be filled as per the stated procedure.
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SRINAGAR: Amid the ongoing mud-slinging in the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kashmir unit is now fighting against each other. This is the new angle to a mess in which it was Apni Party (AP) versus NC and NC-BJP versus AP.
On November 28, 2022 evening, a group of BJP’s SMC Corporators led by Nazir Gilkar held a press conference at party headquarters in Srinagar announcing that after a meeting with Jammu and Kashmir’s BJP President Ravinder Raina in Jammu, the party is taking back the support they had lent to Junaid Azim Mattu in November 2020 when he was elected the Srinagar Mayor for a second time following Altaf Bukhari’s “request”.
“We would support a group of independents who wish to file a no-confidence motion against Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu. This is an official press conference of the party,” Gilkar said.
Srinagar Mayor, Junaid Mattu addressing a press conference with Sheikh Imran (third from left) accusing National Conference of corruption. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
However, on Tuesday, BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur countered his party colleague Gilkar’s announcement claiming that whatever they had said in Monday’s presser was their personal view and not that of the party.
“If there would have been any announcement on withdrawing support to SMC Mayor, it would have been announced by me or a decision would have been made public by Jammu and Kashmir BJP Chief or Kashmir in-charge Sunil Sharma,” Thakur said.
He said the people who have yesterday spoken in the press conference aren’t even authorised to decide who to support or oppose. “BJP hasn’t addressed any press conference on the matter. We officially sideline ourselves (party) from the presser.”
Altaf Thakur
Thakur claimed that if the BJP J&K President had taken the decision of withdrawing the support to SMC Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu then it would have been done through the party’s chief whip in SMC Arif Raja.
Interestingly, the meeting in Jammu with Ravinder Raina to withdraw support, referred by Gilkar in his Monday presser had Arif Raja in attendance. The photo of the meeting was tweeted by Gilkar.
Raja was flanking Thakur when he countered Gilkar and announced that the party had nothing to do with his statements.
“Many workers come to the office. They speak here but that doesn’t mean what they say is the official line of the party,” Thakur said, adding that the party would seek an explanation from these people and very soon take action. “They addressed the press conference when all the leaders had left the office.”
Gilkar’s presser had come in the backdrop of his earlier allegations against the SMC Mayor and SMC Commissioner Athar Amir. He had alleged that they had spent a whopping Rs 31 crore on the macadamization of just Hazratbal and Zadibal wards while Rs 5 odd crore was spent on the city’s remaining 72 wards.
SMC Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu flanked by his former bete noire Sheikh Imran has been engaged spat with the National Conference and Deputy Mayor Parvaiz Qadri.
Qadri, who has been frequently seen with NC leaders, has also been disowned by the party whose Corporator and Youth President Salman Ali Sagar recently said that the former wasn’t associated with them.
Mattu, once with NC, and Imran once Mattu’s bete noire and party colleague in PC, have levelled allegations against Qadri who they say has committed various wrongdoings when Salman Ali Sagar’s father and NC General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar was a minister in the Omar Abdullah led coalition government.
The duo had also released a paper on Qadri and Sagars along with saying that NC and BJP were in tacit alliance.
Salman had recently reacted to the allegations saying that Qadri wasn’t with NC and he doesn’t deem it fit to reply to Mattu.
Qadri, who was instrumental in the creation of the Srinagar Corporators Front led by former Mattu accomplice Danish Bhat, has also been raising allegations of corruption against the Mayor.
Parvez Qadri is new Dy Mayor Srinagar
With the no-confidence raked up, Mattu today said that he has the numbers to prove the majority in the Corporation.
“I have the support of the Apni Party Corporators, Sheikh Imran Sahib’s Corporator group along with the support of the opposition Congress Corporators,” Mattu said in a press conference.
He said that the NC has 12-14 corporators among which 12 were welcomed into the party fold by NC Vice President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. “The NC owns and disowns them periodically as per convenience. The BJP has 7 corporators, Apni Party 9; and a party which was formed a break-away from Congress has 12. There are 25-26 independents.”
He said until the NC and BJP don’t come together, no motion can be initiated.
Deputy Mayor Parvaiz Qadri in a separate press conference Tuesday said that they have adequate numbers to bring down the Mayor.
“If the Mayor has used foul language against corporators then he should realise that it is the support of these people that made him mayor,” Qadri said.
Gilkar had also raised the same “foul” language issue against the Mayor saying that such language against corporators doesn’t befit a person claiming to be educated.
“BJP made him Mayor when Sajad Lone came seeking support for him in 2018. Then we brought him down when the PC threw him out. We again made him mayor when Altaf Bukhari came seeking support for him,” Gikar said.
Responding to this, Mayor Mattu said that he condemns Gilkar’s statement on Bukhari and also dragging the names of LG Manoj Sinha, Prime Minister and Home Minister.
Commenting on the SMC mess, Ahmed Ali Fayyaz tweeted, “From Day1 of #NayaKashmir, in @SMC_Srinagar we are hearing & watching only egregious accusations of “loot, corruption, kidnapping, blackmailing, moral turpitude, sexploitation” from Mayor/x-Mayor/Dy Mayor/x-Dy Mayor/Councillors against one another & officers. Where’s the BigBoss?”
If such a putrefying 'model of democracy' is also going to be introduced in Kashmir through the UT's Assembly, it will be a shame and a horrendous disservice to the Indian nation, the idea of India and the Indian democracy. Someone in New Delhi will have to own this misfortune.
“If such a putrefying ‘model of democracy is also going to be introduced in Kashmir through the UT’s Assembly, it will be a shame and a horrendous disservice to the Indian nation, the idea of India and the Indian democracy. Someone in New Delhi will have to own this misfortune,” Fayyaz, former bureau chief of The Hindu newspaper added.
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SRINAGAR: Government on Tuesday asked authorities concerned not to authorize the execution of any work or project without proper authorization and asked them to utilize government land for developmental activities.
“Authorization of the Competent Authority/Delegation of Powers for according Administrative Approvals etc. are a prerequisite for ordering execution of any work/project,” news agency GNS quoted a government circular as having said.
Further, the regulatory regime governing acquisition of land for various developmental projects prescribes utilization of government land, as far as possible, for the purpose of infrastructural development, it underlined. “Land should ideally be acquired only in case of non- availability/non-feasibility of government land for execution of the project.” Notwithstanding these norms and guidelines, the government said that it has been observed that many departments including their subordinate offices, without proper authorization, have either executed work(s)/project(s) and have created/admitted liabilities on account of land acquisition from private land owners thereby causing loss to the exchequer as also avoidable litigation on this count in many cases, “a matter which has been viewed seriously by the authorities.”
“It is accordingly enjoined upon all Administrative Secretaries/HoDs and other concerned officers not to authorize execution of any work/project without proper authorization and to utilize government land for developmental activities, as far as possible, desisting thereby from creating/admitting liabilities on this account, especially in cases where land under reference has been donated previously.
Further, the government said, in case of land being donated for any public purpose, it shall be ensured that the same is encumbrance free and requisite follow up like executing donation deed, mutation in favour of the concerned department or agency is effected immediately.
“It shall also be ensured that land compensation component is incorporated in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of all the projects, in case land is required to be acquired. All departments shall compile list of officers who have authorized execution of work(s)/project(s) without proper sanction or have created/admitted liabilities on account of land acquisition/works without proper authorization/authority and furnish the same to the Finance Department for appropriate action within one month.”
These instructions are brought to the notice of all concerned for immediate compliance, the circular added.
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SRINAGAR: Panic has gripped Doulatpora Chadoora as a leopard has taken shelter beneath a vehicle in the area which falls in the central Kashmir’s Budgam district, reports said on Tuesday.
They said that the leopard is apparently is full-grown one and continues to rest under the vehicle, creating panic among the locals.
Quoting a wildlife department official news agency GNS reported that a team of experts was on the way to tranquilize the leopard and shift it to safe sanctuary
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SRINAGAR: A non-local died while another one was hospitalised due to suffocation caused by gas leak in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that the non-local died while his colleague was hospitalised after suffocation caused by gas leak when they were sleeping in a truck in Fruit Mandi Sopore.
The deceased has been identified as Rakesh Kumar and another one, who has been shifted to SDH Sopore has been identified as Anwesh Kumar. “They were residents of Gurdaspur locality of Punjab.”
The official said they were ascertaining further details regarding the same.
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SRINAGAR: A fire has broken out in a ‘Bell Section’ of Power Development Department office at Donipora Sangam in Bijbehara area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Reports said that a fire broke out inside ‘Bell Section’ at around 10:10 AM.
Fire tenders were called in at the site to douse off the fire even as the flames kept spreading rapidly to the structures housing Grid Station and PDD office – when the last reports came in.
More details awaited. (GNS)
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SRINAGAR: On Monday, when the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah drove the BMW to drive the host Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to Seri Perdana, Putrajaya, Malaysia’s capital city, it made a huge statement. The ascend of Anwar Ibrahim, 75, Malaysia’s reformist and opposition leader, to the top position after years of detention and character assassination, in a modern Muslim island nation is not an ordinary development.
A May 31, 2018 photograph showing Prime Minister Modi with Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the then Deputy PM of Malaysia
On November 25, Malaysia’s King Sultan Abdullah announced Anwar Ibrahim to be the country’s tenth Prime Minister. The king’s decision came after consultations at the political level following the November 19, elections throwing up a hung parliament. A ruling party must have 112 seats.
Fractured Mandate
In the 222-seat parliament, Dewan Rakyat, Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition secured 82 seats and former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s Malay-based Perikatan Nasional (PN) bagged 73 seats. Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition – dominated by his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party – emerged with only 30 seats.
The tumultuous election is being seen as historic as UNMO, the party that has dominated the island country’s politics for 60 years finished third. Surviving on, what is being called, Mahathirism, UNMO faced a setback as Mahathir Mohammed and his heir apparent Mukhriz Mahathir lost their seats in the election.
Thank you PM @narendramodi. India is an important partner for Malaysia. I’m looking forward to working closely with you to strengthen ties and cooperation in various areas including trade, investment and culture. https://t.co/XDQSux73sp
However, what was interesting was the rise of the far-right Islamist Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) as the largest party within the PN coalition. The PAS promotes a conservative view of political Islam in its electoral politics and traditionally had its support base in eastern peninsular states, including Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu. This time the PAS won 49 seats and went beyond its traditional strongholds and won in states such as Penang, which were traditionally considered liberal strongholds. It even unseated Anwar Ibrahim’s daughter, who contested the family’s stronghold of Permatang Puah. The seat has been traditionally held by Anwar Ibrahim’s family over several terms.
However, the hung parliament created its own mess. As none of the parties had the necessary majority to form the government on their own, King Sultan Abdullah, after consulting with the PH and PN, announced Anwar as the Prime Minister. Even though Anwar’s PH secured the maximum votes, it fell short of commanding a majority to form the government. The Malaysian monarch suggested the two principal coalitions, the PH and the PN create a unity government, but the latter stayed. This led BN and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to support Anwar. GPS is a regional party with a support base in Sabah province.
Anwar Ibrahim
After the takeover, Anwar Ibrahim is being talked about globally. Before becoming the tenth Prime Minister of the island nation, Anwar had a long track record of being a modern reformer who wanted to have a corruption and bigotry-free Malaysia. For this, he had to be in jail twice, once for a decade, and face humiliation and character assassination.
“This is a national unity government and all are welcome on condition (they) accept the fundamental rules: good governance, no corruption and a Malaysia for all Malaysians,” Anwar said in his pledge at the time of oath-taking, a major reassurance to a country that is racially divided nation, unable to fight corruption and has an economy in a state of mess. “No one should be marginalized under my administration.”
The Member of the Malaysian Parliament, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called on the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on January 10, 2019.
Born in August 1947, in Penang, Anwar has been a student activist who founded the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM) in Malay in 1971. Once, he was arrested for leading protests against rural poverty and hunger. Later, he joined UMNO under Mahathir Mohammad, the man who mentored him and eventually attempted to decimate him as well.
The rise was spectacular. Between 1991 and 1998, he was Malaysia’s Finance Minister and was credited for tackling the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Despite being seen as Mahathir’s successor, there were tensions between the two which led to his sacking in 1998 and expulsion from the party. This led Anwar to lead protests against Mahathir and marked the beginning of a better democratic environment in the region. Soon, Anwar was in jail for corruption and sodomy, a crime, even if consensual would get a 20-year imprisonment. While out of jail, Anwar’s reformist party came close to defeating the UMNO in the 2013 election by polling more than 51 per cent of the popular vote. But the barrage of allegations came up again.
He became deputy prime minister in 1993, a position that continued till 1998. Even his wife was the Deputy Prime Minister of Mahathir Mohammad.
In 2004, Anwar Ibrahim’s first conviction was overturned by a court. As he moved out and led the opposition, more allegations of sodomy were made against him. He went to jail again in 2014.
Politics makes strange bedfellows. In 2018, while in jail, he joined Mahathir to oust the Najib Razak government. In response, Mahathir managed to issue a royal pardon to him.
Rights, Israel
His takeover as the top leader of the island nation has been welcomed by human rights groups. “This is a leader who has personally suffered massive politically motivated injustices,” Phil Robertson, Asia deputy director of Human Rights Watch was quoted saying by CNN. He hoped Anwar would “bring reforms to laws and regulations that have been used in the past to criminalize the peaceful exercise of civil and political rights,” pointing to issues like discrimination against transgender and gay communities, the treatment of migrant workers and child marriage and refugee laws.
Even though a devout Muslim, Anwar Ibrahim is a supporter of Israel’s “right to exist” while being an “unapologetic ally of the Palestinian people”. This has led various influential people in Israel to believe that Tel Aviv can have better relations with Kuala Lumpur. “Unlike his predecessor [sic] Mahathir, Malaysia’s new PM Anwar Ibrahim doesn’t call himself a ‘proud anti-semite’; indeed, his foes slur him as an ‘agent’ of Jews and/or Christians,” Esther Solomon, chief editor of the English-language Haaretz recently tweeted. “Israel would love closer ties with Kuala Lumpur. Could this be the opportunity?” In an article on Anwar’s recent appointment, Haaretz said Anwar’s views showed that he was more open to establishing diplomatic ties with Israel. “This was a significant statement from a senior politician in a country whose passports state ‘valid for all countries of the world, except Israel’.”
Foreign Policy
It is expected that Anwar Ibrahim will come with his own foreign policy. He has already stated that his administration will work with every state regardless of whether they are Muslim or non-Muslim. It remains to be seen how the relations would prosper between Delhi and Kuala Lumpur.
The bilateral trade between India and Malaysia has been a key historic relationship. According to United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade, Malaysian imports into India were at US $10.91 billion in 2021, and Indian exports to the island nation were at US $6.7 billion.
Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Russia
Last time in October 2019, when Mahathir Mohammad had raised Kashmir, Anwar Ibrahim suggested that Malaysia should resolve differences with India amicably. Mahathir’s statement impacted the relations between the two countries. There were efforts later – after Mahathir lost power, to mend the fence. With a totally new regime taking over, it remains to be seen how the relations will work out. Malaysia has a huge Indian origin population. More than 150 thousand Indian professionals work in the island nation.
On January 10, 2019, Anwar Ibrahim as leader of the Malaysian opposition had a detailed meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. Accompanied by two MPs, Anwar had flown to participate in Raisina Dialogue, considered India’s flagship annual geopolitical and geo-strategic conference.
PM Modi has congratulated Anwar for becoming the leader of the island nation. He got the response: “India is an important partner for Malaysia. I’m looking forward to working closely with you to strengthen ties and cooperation in various areas including trade, investment and culture.”
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SRINAGAR: Former chief minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehboob Mufti vacated from her Gupkar residence on Monday and shifted to a private house.
Quoting PDP spokesperson, Najam-Us-Saqib the news agency KNO reported that Mehbooba Mufti has vacated from Gupkar residence today and has shifted to a private residence in Khimber locality.
Jammu and Kashmir administration had asked Mehbooba Mufti to vacate her official residence on the high profile Gupkar road in Srinagar and had stated it was willing to provide an alternative accommodation.
The Estates Department of Kashmir had sent a notice to PDP chief on October 15 asking her to vacate the official residence now known as “Fair View Guest House”.
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SRINAGAR: The body of a man, who had jumped in the river Jhelum in Chankhan area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district was fished out on Monday afternoon.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that the 45-year-old man identified as Ali Mohammed Wani son of Atta Mohammed Wani of Dedwana village of Kupwara had jumped in the river Jhelum today afternoon.
He said following the incident, a team was immediately rushed to the spot for rescue operation.
“After hectic efforts the body was fished out. The body will be handed over to the family after completing medico-legal formalities,“ he said.
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SRINAGAR: A 25-year-old youth was critically injured in a road accident in Ashpeer area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Monday.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that the youth identified as Imran Ahmed Bhat son of Ghulam Mohammed Bhat of Krankshivan Colony was critically injured when he was hit by a four-wheeler.
“Soon after the incident, he was rushed to a nearby health facility where doctors referred him to Srinagar hospital for specialised treatment,” he said.
He adder a case has been registered in local police station in this regard.
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SRINAGAR: A 45-year-old man on Wednesday jumped into the river Jhelum in Sopore area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district even as search and rescue operation has been launched.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that Ali Mohammed Wani son of Atta Mohammed of Kupwara jumped into the river near Chakhan area of Sopore.
He said following the incident, a team was immediately rushed to the spot to launch search and rescue operation
He added search operation was going on to trace man’s body and further details will be shared accordingly.
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SRINAGAR: Most parts of Kashmir and Ladakh continued to reel under sub-zero temperatures with Pahalgam remaining the coldest place in the Valley on Monday.
Quoting a meteorological department official news agency GNS reported that Srinagar witnessed mist this morning and recorded a low of minus 1.8°C against minus 2.1°C on the previous night. The temperature was 0.9°C below normal during this time of the year for the capital city so far, he said.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 1.6°C against minus 1.4°C on the previous night. The temperature was 0.6°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at minus 4.0°C against minus 3.4°C on the previous night and it was 0.6°C below normal for the south Kashmir resort, he said.
Kokernag recorded a low of 0.4°C against minus 0.4°C on the previous night and it was 0.8°C above normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 1.0°C, the same as on the previous night, the official told GNS. It was 2.1°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 2.1°C against minus 1.4°C as on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.0°C below normal for the north Kashmir place, he said.
Jammu recorded a low of 9.8°C against 9.6°C on the previous night. It was 0.5°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of 3.2°C (1.3°C above normal), Batote 4.9°C (0.8°C above normal), Katra 9.0°C (0.1°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 3.0°C (1.7°C above normal).
In Ladakh, Leh recorded minus 8.0°C and mercury in Drass, the world’s second coldest place after Siberia, settled at minus 12.1°C, the official said.
The MeT department has forecast mainly dry weather for next 24 in J&K and said that no large change was expected till December 7.
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KATRA: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today addressed the valedictory session of 25th National Conference on e-Governance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University.
MoU Signing during the Valedictory session of 25th National Conference on e-Governance
The event witnessed the launch of J&K Vision Document and J&K Cyber Security policy and a historic MoU between IT Department J&K and DITECH Haryana.
The agreement between the J&K Government and Haryana Government is expected to strengthen and deepen the collaboration on knowledge sharing, IT initiatives & best practices in e-Governance, said the Lt Governor.
In his address, Manohar Lal, Chief Minister, Haryana, recalled his deep connection with Jammu Kashmir.
I am witnessing a new, badalta Jammu Kashmir. We are looking forward to the new J&K-Haryana collaboration and committed to support J&K Government in meeting the goals, he said.
Manohar Lal highlighted the IT interventions and several digital initiatives of the Haryana Government to bring transparency in the system and streamlining the public service delivery system.
Expressing his gratitude to the Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal; The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology; Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, all the departments of the Central and State/UT Governments, the Lt Governor said that the 25th National e-Governance Conference in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will prove to be a milestone in the direction of fulfilling our resolve of Digital Society.
Under the guidance of Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji, J&K UT is an emerging model of digital government with focus on transparent governance and citizen-centric approach to delivering public services, he said.
Observing that technology is making a real difference in people’s lives, the Lt Governor said in 2013, the total number of e-transaction was merely 20 Lakh. This year, till 25th November, the number of e-transaction is 38.50 Crore. On an average J&K is recording 550 e-transactions every minute.
Delivering efficient, effective, and accountable governance is our top priority. IT Department coordinating across the departments to ensure citizens interact and access information and services & provide feedback to improve service delivery, he added.
The Lt Governor underscored that despite being a late entrant in digital transformation, J&K has achieved several milestones with solid technical architecture at the service of citizens. Speedy development is the new identity of J&K, he said.
The Lt Governor further observed that the launch of Digital J&K Vision Document and launch of J&K Cyber Security Policy will promote a common approach to use the power of innovation and secure the IT assets in the rapidly changing technology landscape.
Speaking on the digital transformational journey of Jammu and Kashmir, the the Lt Governor shared the vision of the J&K government to expand e-Governance to the next level.
We have prepared a roadmap and action plan for the next one, three & five years. More than 500 services will be made online in the next 3 years for a better digital delivery ecosystem, said the Lt Governor.
Line to online is our prime objective and instead of traveling to Government offices, people just need to walk to the web, he added.
Our strategy is to enable the people to access high-quality services anywhere, anytime, on any device. All services in mobile for mobile workforce, the Lt Governor said.
We are also working on the development of IT infrastructure; technology-led market linkages; encouraging emerging concepts like use of AI in Agriculture for welfare of farmers; layered Public Grievances; use of Metaverse (for Global Tourism) etc, the Lt Governor further added.
The Lt Governor noted that initiatives like e-Office, BEAMS-Empowerment, Aapki Zameen-AapkiNigrani, Aap Ka Mobile Hamara Daftar, e-Unnat, Digi Locker, Meri Pehchaan has established accountability and transparency in governance.
Digital J&K Internship scheme for Youths has been started which will provide an opportunity for a student to secure first hand and practical work experience in the IT sector, he added.
Several digital initiatives of the Rural Development Department have empowered grassroots democracy. In the recently concluded Back to Village program, 3 lakh villagers accessed various government services online which reflects increased trust of the citizens, the Lt Governor further added.
The Lt Governor also invited suggestions from all stakeholders to build a better digital ecosystem in the UT of J&K.
Sanjeev Kaushal, Chief Secretary, Haryana; Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary J&K; V Srinivas, Secretary, DARPG and Ms. Prerna Puri, Commissioner/ Secretary to J&K Government, Information Technology Department also spoke on the occasion and shared their views and the positive impact of the National Conference on e-Governance and initiatives taken during the Conference in bringing Citizens, Industry and Government closer.
On the occasion, J&K Government also signed MoUs with Mata Vaishno Devi University and National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) for capacity building of the youth and collaborations in the IT sector.
Offer letters were handed over to the interns selected for Digital Internship Programme providing youth of J&K with opportunity to contribute to existing digital projects of the Government.
A short film highlighting the e-services extended to the people by the J&K Government was also showcased.
The two-day conference was organized by the government of Jammu and Kashmir in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.
Prof. (Dr.) Ravindra Kumar Sinha, Vice Chancellor, SMVDU; officials from Central Ministries and departments; Vice Chancellors of various Universities; ADGP Jammu; Divisional Commissioner Jammu; CEO SMVDSB; Deputy Commissioner Reasi and delegates from different states and UTs were present on the occasion.
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SRINAGAR: Three districts in Kashmir are militancy free and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed, have gone headless after security forces neutralised their operatives and commanders
Quoting additional Director General of Police (Kashmir zone) Vijay Kumar newspaper Daily Excelsior reported that three districts of Bandipora, Kupwara and Ganderbal are militancy free as there are no active militants in these districts.
He said there are 81 militants at present in Kashmir with 29 being local while 52 are of foreign origin (Pakistanis).
The ADGP said that the security forces have an upper hand now when it comes to containing militancy. “We are working to bring the figure of active, foreign and hybrid militancy to less than 50 in the near future,” the officer said.
He said that in next two years security forces will wipe out militancy from Kashmir.
Kumar said the LeT and JeM are currently headless after the security forces neutralised their ranks in multiple encounters and operations.
The ADGP added that there were about 15-18 active hybrid militants in Kashmir. He said that most of these are in South Kashmir areas of Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag districts.
“We have busted as many as 119 modules this year,” ADGP Kumar said.
Quoting an official newspaper Daily Excelsior reported that Farooq Nalli, a Hizbul Mujahideen top operative, is the only active commander — since 2015 — and he is on the radar of the security forces.
A police official said that 80 top commanders were active in Kashmir about two years ago, there are only three now. Apart from Nalli, the two others are inactive.
The police said their main area of concern in Kashmir for security forces is that the militants are picking up soft targets like non local labourers and Kashmiri Pandits.
“We have, however, ensured that those who target labourers and members of the Pandit community are neutralised immediately and also that they are not kept safe as much as possible,” police said.
Another concern for the police is the recent seizure of some Turkey-made pistols, which is an indicator that Pakistan-based handlers are providing weapons of that country to militants operating in Kashmir.
According to latest police data, there were 99 local recruitments in militant ranks in Kashmir this year, an all-time low over the last six years.
Out of these, 64 were killed and 17 arrested, the data said.
The comparative figures are: 136 in 2021, 167 in 2020, 140 in 2019, 201 in 2018, 147 in 2017 and 95 in 2016.
Twenty-nine civilians were killed by militants this year and these included three Kashmiri Pandits and Hindus each, 15 Muslims, apart from six non-local Hindus and two non-local Muslims.
The officials said security situation in the Valley has improved drastically as there have been no bandhs, no major internet shutdowns, no stone pelting incidents and zero killings of civilians during operations of the security forces post the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
A total of 169 militants (127 local and 42 foreign) have been killed in Kashmir this year, newspaper Daily Excelsior quoted the data as having said.
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SRINAGAR: An elderly woman drowned in a Nallah in Tangmarg village of of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Sunday.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that the woman identified as Haneefa Begum (65) wife of Ghulam Mohammad Mir of Manzgam was walking on the banks of Veshow Nallah when she slipped and drowned.
He said her body was later fished out by locals and shifted to a nearby hospital for postmortem.
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SRINAGAR: PDP’s Youth President Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, who was jailed for over a year in a militancy-related case, Sunday returned to the political stage at the party’s Youth Convention in Srinagar.
PDP youth president Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra addressing party youth convention in Srinagar
Addressing the convention, he said that people are talking about Naya Kashmir in which a lot of things have been taken away but a Kashmiri youth used to get killed prior to August 5 and is still getting killed.
“Truth is that every day there are reports of killings. They say a militant is killed… it can be any name but the safety of our youth is still not guaranteed,” Parra said, adding that Kashmiris need to take a collective decision that they won’t take up guns so that violence against them or any other move cannot be justified.
He said that they will fight for the restoration of pre-August-5 status politically, legally as well as constitutionally.
This was Parra’s first appearance after his release on bail in May this year.
Earlier, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti while addressing the youth convention said that the quintessence of PDP is Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra.
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SRINAGAR: The former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and 3 former legislators to vacate government quarters in the Housing Colony Khanabal area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that Mehbooba Mufti and 3 other former legislators were served eviction notice by Executive Magistrate (1st Class) Anantnag on Saturday on the directions of deputy commissioner Anantnag.
He said the occupants of government quarter number 1, 4, 6 and 7, which belong to ex-MLA Mohammad Altaf Wani, ex-MLA Abdul Rahim Rather, ex-MLA Abdul Majeed Bhat and former CM Mehbooba Mufti respectively have been asked to vacate within 24 hours.
The government quarters are located at the Housing Colony Khanabal and the occupants have been warned of action under law if they fail to vacate the premises within the stipulated time.
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SRINAGAR: Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded the coldest night of the season at minus 2.1 degree Celsius against minus 1.0°C on the previous night.
The cold wave has tightened grip in Kashmir for the last one week amid forecast of dry spell.
The minimum temperature continued to settle below freezing point in the Valley as majority of stations recorded sub-zero temperature.
The minimum temperature at world famous ski-resort, Gulmarg was recorded at minus 1.0 degree Celsius on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday while Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a temperature of minus 1.4 degree Celsius.
The mercury in Kokernag in South Kashmir settled at minus 0.4 degree Celsius while in Qazigund the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 1.4 degree Celsius.(KNO)
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SRINAGAR: The traffic movement on Jammu-Poonch highway was stopped this morning amid ongoing massive search operation in Nar forest area of Mendhar in Poonch district for last few days by security forces, officials said.
Quoting officials news agency GNS reported that a combing operation was launched by army several days back on apprehension of presence of militants in the dense forest area.
As a precautionary measure, the vehicular traffic on highway between Bhimber Gali and Jaranwali Gali was suspended, they said. The traffic on highway was also stopped on Thursday after it was restored yesterday morning at around 8100 hours, they said.
A police official confirmed that the highway was closed again and said that search operation was continuing.
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SRINAGAR: At least four cowsheds were damaged in a massive blaze, which broke out on intervening Friday and Saturday night, at Tulbagh Shangus in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Reports said that four cow-sheds belonging to Mohammad Rafiq Khan and Abdul Majeed Khan, sons of Abdul Ayoub Khan, were gutted in a massive fire mishap. A pet dog was also charred to death in the incident.
Confirming it, quoting a police official news agency GNS reported that there was no human loss or injury reported in the incident.
The cause of fire is being ascertained, the official further said.
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SRINAGAR: Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil on Friday passed a resolution seeking Statehood for Ladakh, protection to the rights of locals under 6th Schedule of Indian Constitution and fulfillment of other demands, reported Daily Excelsior.
According to report, the four point resolution was passed in the House and supported by all the members, except the BJP affiliated Councilors, who abstained the General Council meeting of LAHDC Kargil.
Through the resolution, the House resolved that a request be made to Government of India by the LAHDC highlighting the aspirations of the general public of Kargil for grant of Statehood to Ladakh, protection under 6th schedule of the Indian Constitution, separate Lok Sabha seats for Kargil and Leh districts and establishment of Ladakh Public Service Commission with the Ladakh Resident Certificate as a mandatory requirement for all recruitments for Gazetted posts in the Union Territory, the report said.
It said that the resolution was moved by Er Punchok Tashi (Executive Councilor) and seconded by Syed Abass Razvi, Councilor of 05-Tai Suru Constituency. Out of total 29 Councilors , 22 of them supported the resolution while remaining seven, affiliated to BJP, abstained the proceedings. Those who abstained, included four nominated Councilors.
Through this resolution, National Conference and Congress dominated Kargil Hill Development Council has sought to exert pressure on the BJP-led Central Government, which has already rejected the demand of Statehood to Ladakh.
In the House of 30 in LAHDC Kargil, National Conference has 10 members followed by Congress having eight, BJP seven and five Independents. One Councilor, namely Mohd Qasim had passed away a few months back.
Seeking grant of Statehood for Ladakh, the resolution claimed that after the re-organisation of the State of J&K, there has been a greater resentment among the general masses of Ladakh regarding the representation of the public in the Government, which has further given rise to apprehensions among the public with regards to safeguard of land, job, culture and ecology etc.
“With federalism being a very important feature of the Indian Democracy, the general public of Ladakh has great faith in the federal representative form of Government and therefore there is need of providing full-fledged Statehood to Ladakh UT keeping in view of its strategic importance, unique culture, population, and importance & feasibility of granting of Statehood,” it explained .
Also demanding protection under the 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees necessary provisions for protection of tribal areas, the resolution reminds that the Chairman of National Commission for Schedule Tribes, on 11th September 2019 during the 119th meeting of the NCST, has already recommended to the Union Home Ministry & the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry to declare Ladakh as a Tribal area under the 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
“Further, in view of the revocation of the Articles 370 & 35-A of the Constitution of India, the protections provided by these Articles, regarding land, culture, jobs, and ecology is no more there and hence, it has been unanimously agreed across all strata of Ladakh that only the 6th Schedule can ensure due protection of the land, jobs, culture & ecology of Ladakh,” said the resolution.
With regard to the demand for separate Lok Sabha seats for Kargil & Leh districts, the resolution said that before the re-organisation of the erstwhile State of J&K, Ladakh had public representatives in the form of four MLAS and two MLCs in the Legislature. “However, with the re-organisation of the State, the only public representative is the sole Member of Parliament, whose election often creates rift between the peaceful Ladakhi populace as it pits the people of Kargil against the people of Leh due to the sole seat of MP,” claims the resolution adding that internal division and rift among the local populace of this strategic location may prove detrimental to the national security and therefore the Government of India is requested for granting two separate seats of Lok Sabha for Ladakh region, one each for Kargil and Leh districts.
The resolution further demanded that there must be representation of the people of Ladakh in the Upper House of Parliament which must be materialized by granting one Rajya Sabha seat to the Union Territory.
The resolution also sought establishment of “Ladakh Public Service Commission” with the Ladakh Resident Certificate as a mandatory requirement for all recruitments for Gazetted Posts in the UT.
“The Re-organisation Act of 2019, Part XIII, 93 (2) mandates that the UPSC shall serve the needs of the Union Territory of Ladakh. It is a known fact that the educational scenario of Ladakh is still in its infancy and, therefore, the students of Ladakh are not at par with candidates from the rest of country. Therefore, there is a great resentment among the youth that the lack of level- playing field would deprive them of their due opportunity,” said the resolution while explaining reason behind the demand.
Furthermore, the resolution demands that all Gazetted posts of UT Ladakh must be reserved exclusively for the residents of Ladakh by making the Ladakh Resident Certificate a mandatory requirement for the same.
Besides trying to exert pressure on the BJP-led Central Government, both National Conference and Congress have also sought to re-align their political equation in Kargil through this resolution.
It may be recalled the 2018 elections to the Council had produced a hung verdict following which both NC and Congress had joined hands to elect Feroz Khan as the Chief Executive Councilor. However, after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the NC and the Congress fell out. The NC then entered into a coalition with two PDP Councilors and four Independents to continue in power. A few months later, both PDP Councilors had defected to the BJP but CEC Feroz Khan managed to control the Council without support of Congress.
The LAHDC Kargil has its term till August 2023 and today’s resolution hint that both NC and Congress may join hands once again for a coalition.
Meanwhile, Er Punchok Tashi along with some other Council addressed a press conference and said that they have come together for protection of rights of Kargil people, reported Daily Excelsior.
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SRINAGAR: On Friday, during the Wales vs Iran World Cup 2022, football match, Iran beat Wales 2-0 to grab three points and rise to the second spot in Group B.
Rouzbeh Chesmi of Iran scored the first goal and produced a clinical finish into the bottom corner in the eighth minute of injury time.
Ramin Rezaeian added a second goal, a moment later and Iran wildly celebrated while some of the Welsh players dropped in disbelief to the field.
Welsh goalkeeper, Wayne Hennessey was given the red card in the 86th minute, for a high challenge on Mehdi Taremi.
Iran looked like a completely different team from the one that received a thrashing defeat of 6-2 by England in the earlier match.
Unlike in their first match against England, the Iran players sang along to their national anthem before the match. Tensions ran high at Iran’s second match as fans supporting the Iranian government harassed those protesting against it and stadium security seized flags, T-shirts, and other items expressing support for the protest movement that has gripped the Islamic Republic.
Iran will be playing against the United States on Tuesday in order to reach the round of 16 of the world Cup.
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SRINAGAR: Praying for universal brotherhood, the essence of Sanatan Dharma’s eternal philosophy of Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana on Friday called for putting united efforts for harmonious growth of the society besides promoting peace and tranquility.
“The basic tenets of Sanatan Dharma and the great Indian civilization considers the world as a family and this ethos holds promise for global peace, especially now when the cold war is gripping the continents,” Rana said while interacting with devotees after participating in the Puran Ahuti of Maha Vishnu Yagya of eleven days at spiritually blessed Akhnoor this afternoon.
The Yagya was performed by Suresh Shastri which attracted thousands of devotees from various parts of Jammu all the eleven days.
Rana joined Suresh Shastri Ji and hundreds of devotees in Parikrama.
Devender Rana said in the recent years India has been taking a leading role for forging universal bonding in true spirit of “Vasudeva Kutumbakam’, be it the crisis unfolded by Covid pandemic or the Russia Ukraine conflict. This is because of the deeply ingrained Vedic philosophy, which does not differentiate between the people on regional, religious or continental basis but treats them as one. This effort has been appreciated globally. He said every Sanatani begins the day with the prayers of everyone to be happy, everyone to be in good health and everyone to prosper as they believe God in every particle, least to speak of human beings.
Rana stressed the crucial need of strengthening the bonds and amity and brotherhood, saying this has been the cornerstone of Indian ethos. He said the spiritual land of India has emanated the message of humanity from times immemorial and guided humanity to peace, prosperity and spiritual bliss. He urged the devotees, present in the congregation, to spread the message of love, peace and compassion, which, he said is imperative for national integration and promoting inclusiveness across the country and in Jammu and Kashmir. He hoped that everyone will play a role towards the growth of the society based on social justice and equality.
Suresh Shastri addressed the congregation and referred to the week-long event being held annually to promote spirituality. He said the hallmark of these discourses is to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood. He made a special reference to various evils inflicted to the society and stressed the need for imparting values among the youngsters.
Those present were Prem Sagar Aziz, former Minister and Sr BJP leader, Baba Chanchal Singh, Sanjeev Singh, Sarpanch ,Rajan Singh (Happy), Kuldeep Singh Langeh, Rekha Manhas, Kabal Singh, Dayal Singh (Lucky) and others.
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SRINAGAR: Following the proposal of winter vacations, the School Education Department has decided to announce the closure of schools in a phased manner in Kashmir and winter zones of Jammu division from December-05 to 19.
Quoting top officials in the administration news agency KNO reported that it has found it appropriate to announce the closure of schools for winter vacations in a phased manner from December-05.
“For primary level classes upto 5th standard, the vacations will be announced from December-05,” the official said.
It also said, “For 6th to 8th standard, the closure of schools for winter vacations will be announced and applicable from December-12.”
The official further said that in case of secondary and senior secondary level students, vacation will be announced from December-19.
Pertinently, a day before, Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) had proposed the government to announce the winter vacations in a phased manner between December—01 to 10.
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SRINAGAR: After completion of delimitation and revision exercise, Jammu and Kashmir’s final electoral rolls were published on Friday.
Quoting sources NDTV reported that “around 7 lakh” new voters have been added to the electoral list, which is an increase of 10 per cent in the total number. The exercise, carried out after a gap of more than three years, will be formally complete on Friday.
In August, Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Electoral Officer had said that 20-25 lakh new voters would be added during the Special Revision, and that non-locals ordinarily living in the UT would be enrolled. That statement triggered a major controversy and backlash from regional parties who alleged that the central government of the BJP was trying to change poll outcome with inclusion of “imported” voters.
The region had around 76 lakh registered voters before the last Lok Saba elections in May 2019. That number has now risen to 83 lakh, it is learnt. “There may be a small change in the number once the final list is published,” said an official.
The completion of the exercise also paves the way for holding assembly elections. The former state is without an elected government for the last more than four years. The last assembly polls were held in 2014.
Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory – Ladakh was carved out as a separate UT – as the region was stripped of its statehood and special status in August 2019.
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SRINAGAR: In a FIFA World Cup 2022 match, Potugal beat Ghana by 3-2 goals at a football stadium in Ras Abu Aboud, Doha, Qatar.
After a goalless first half, Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo (65’) scored the first goal with a penalty and became the first man to score in five world cups.
Andrew Ayew (73’) equalized for Ghana but Joao Felix (78’) and Rafael Leao (80’) scored their first world cup goals to put Portugal 3-1 up.
Portugal picks up the three points against Ghana after a hectic first and second half.
Osman Bukhari scored the second goal from Ghana in the eighty-ninth minute of the game but that is where the scoring ended as Portugal took the three points.
During the whole game, Ronaldo grabbed everyone’s attention after his ouster from Manchester United, a week ago. It was a mutual decision taken between the club and him.
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SRINAGAR: Cold conditions prevailed in Jammu and Kashmir as Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, recorded season’s coldest night on Friday.
Quoting a MeT department official news agency GNS reported that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 1.4°C against minus 0.8°C on the previous night. The temperature was 1.5°C below normal during this time of the year for the capital city so far, he said.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 2.2°C against minus 2.0°C on the previous night. The temperature was 2.3°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at minus 3.6°C against minus 4.4°C on the previous night and it was 1.2°C below normal for the south Kashmir resort, he said.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 0.5°C against minus 1.0°C on the previous night and it was 1.1°C below normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 0.0°C against minus 2.4°C on the previous night, the official told GNS. It was 2.1°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 2.4°C, the same as on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.9°C below normal for the north Kashmir place, he said.
Jammu recorded a low of 9.8°C against 9.1°C on the previous night. It was 1.7°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of 5.0°C (2.6°C above normal), Batote 5.6°C (0.8°C above normal), Katra 9.8°C (0.1°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 3.4°C (1.3°C above normal).
In Ladakh, Kargil recorded a low of minus 11.3°C, Leh minus 8.8°C and mercury in Drass, the world’s second coldest place after Siberia, settled at minus 12.7°C, the official said.
The MeT department has forecast mainly dry weather for next 24 in J&K and said that no large change was expected till the end of this month.
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After remaining engaged with Great Game for a long time, Lt ColonelSir Francis Edward Younghusband(May 31 1863 – July 31, 1942) was appointed as British Resident in Kashmir for three years from 1906. Perpetually in love with Kashmir, Younghusband has written extensively on the Valley. In this brief essay, he has captured the beauty of the garden that Kashmir now calls, the Emporium Garden. He lived in the Residency Garden and was personally involved in its upkeep.
The old Kashmir Emporium building in the erstwhile Residency Garden Srinagar.
Among the beauties of Kashmir, the Residency Garden must surely not be omitted. The Maharaja has provided for the Residency one of the most charming houses in India – a regular English country house. And successive Residents, in my case aided by Mr Harrison and Major Wigram, have striven to make the garden worthy of the country and the house. Here grows in perfection every English flower. The wide lawns are as soft and green as any English lawn. All the English fruits- pears, apples, peaches, apricots, plums, greengages, cherries, walnuts, mulberries, gooseberries, currants, raspberries, and strawberries – grow to perfection and in prodigious quantities; and the magnificent chenar and innumerable birds add a special charm of their own.
Perhaps a record of the cycle of the birds and flowers will give an idea not only of the beauties of the garden but of the climate of the valley.
The Spring
Early in March, the garden beauties begin to develop. The turf is then still quite brown and the trees leafless, but on March 8th, when I returned to Srinagar, violets, pansies, wall-flowers, narcissus, crocuses, and daisies were all in flower. Daffodils, hyacinths, stock and a few carnations were in bud. Columbine and larkspur leaves were sprouting. Peas and broad beans sown in November were a few inches high.
And of the trees, willow leaf buds were just – bursting and showing a tinge of fresh light-yellow green, and one apricot tree was nearly bursting into blossom. Of birds there were thrushes, minas, bulbuls, sparrows, crows, kites, blue-tits, hoopoes, and starlings; and of butterflies, a few tortoiseshells and cabbage-whites.
The maximum temperature in the shade was 55° and in the sun 104°, and the minimum temperature was 31°.
Wisteria plant in bloom in Residency Garden Srinagar. It was the home to British resident for most of the Dogra rule in Kashmir.
On March 17th the willow trees had acquired a distinct tinge of green, as also had the grass, wild hyacinths (blue-bells) and yellow crocuses were well out. The maximum temperature was 68° in the shade and 110° in the sun, and the minimum was 32°.
On the same day in the previous year, the maximum was 56° and the minimum 35°, and four days later there was snow.
By March 20th the apricot blossoms were in full bloom. Willow trees were in half-leaf, garden hyacinths, daffodils, crown imperials, and English primroses were just beginning to bloom; and greengages were in blossom.
By the end of March, the maximum temperature had reached 75° in the shade and 125° in the sun, while the minimum stood at 40°. This, however, was an exceptionally warm March.
By April Ist the garden was exquisitely beautiful. The willows were now well out and in all the charm of fresh young spring foliage. Apricots and peach trees formed little clouds of delicate pink and white dotted lightly over the garden, and not too dense to hide the glories of the snowy mountains in the background. The tall pear trees were nearly in full bloom. A few of the pinky-white apple blossoms were just appearing.
The May leaves were showing a tinge of green. Chenar leaves were just appearing. The mulberry leaf buds were beginning to burst. Catkins were hanging from the poplars. Rose leaves were fully out. The grass had nearly turned from brown to green. Iris’s buds were showing a tinge of purple.
Hyacinths were well out, and Crown Imperials and daffodils in full bloom.
On April 8rd the first of the pretty little wild tulips, striped white and pink, appeared, and on the following day, the first of the large dark purple irises and two or three large white irises came into bloom. Heavy rain fell, and on the 5th the grass was entirely green. On that day the pears were in full blossom. Two of the magnificent scarlet Kashmir tulips, which are a joy to any garden, came into blossom, and two English tulips also came out. Rosebuds were beginning to form.
The maximum temperature was 59° and the minimum 42°, On April 7th the first columbine came into bloom, and on the 9th the first shrike appeared.
This is an entry to the Kashmir Arts Emporium in Srinagar that is housed in Residency Garden.
Now followed a deluge of rain. On the 12th 24 inches fell. By the morning of the 18th 14-65 inches had fallen since January Ist, in comparison with a normal fall of 10:6 inches. And, most unexpected of all, on the night of 12th-18th snow fell! The maximum temperature was only 50° and the minimum 83°. In a single night all the lovely delicate peach blossoms, the crowning glory of the Kashmir spring, were withered up, and for the moment we seemed plunged back once more to winter.
But April 15th was one of Kashmir’s most lovely days. The poplars were now in fresh light foliage. May was in full leaf. Irises were plentiful. Several columbines were in bloom.
Both the Kashmir and English tulips were well out; and the strawberries were in blossom. On this day, too, I saw a flight of green parrots with long yellow tails in the garden.
The first rose bloomed on April 17th, a white climber whose name I do not know, growing on the south verandah. The previous year the first did not appear till the 26th.
May came into bloom on April 24th, and on the 25th a scarlet poppy and a white peony blossomed. For some days then the weather had been exceptionally warm, the maximum rising to 80° in the shade and 129° in the sun, and the minimum to 51°.
The first golden oriole appeared on the 26th – the same date as that on which it appeared the year before. The golden orioles have a glorious deep, liquid, flute-like note which thrills through the whole garden. Two or three pairs always settle there, and all day long their brilliant yellow plumage is seen flashing from tree to tree.
Three days later another brilliant visitant appears, the paradise fly-catcher. He has not the beautiful note of the golden oriole, nor such striking plumage. But he has exceedingly graceful form and movements. He has a very long, wavy, ribbony tail, like a paradise bird, and the two or three pairs of them which yearly settle in the garden may be seen at any hour undulating through the foliage or darting swiftly out to catch their prey.
The May trees were in full blossom. The bank on the south side of the garden was a mass of dark purple and white irises, and of an evening when the sunlight glancing low along its length caused each flower to stand out in separate state, became a blaze of glory. Another beauty of this season were bushes of what is generally known as Indian May, with long slender stalks bent gracefully downward like a waterfall of snowy flowers. Stock was in full bloom. Pansies were out in masses. Both the English and Kashmir lilac were in blossom, and the columbines were in perfection. I had had out from Barr & Sons a number of varieties, and the success was remarkable. The Kashmir soil and climate seem to suit columbines, and varieties from every part of the world, deep purple, light mauve, white, mauve and white, pink and red of many different graceful forms, came up luxuriantly. They were one of the successes which gladden an amateur gardener’s heart.
The maximum in the shade was 60°, in the sun 122°, and the minimum 48°.
The first strawberries ripened a week later. The first horse chestnuts came into blossom on May 10th, and on that date, the single pink rose, sinica anemone, on the trellis at the end of the garden, was in full bloom and of wondrous beauty; a summer house covered with Fortune’s yellow was a dream of golden loveliness; I picked the first bloom of some English roses which a kind friend had sent out, and which had been planted in a special rose garden I had made for them—William Shean, Mrs Ed Mauley, Mrs WJ Grant, and Carmine Pillar; and we had our first plateful of strawberries.
A light mauve iris, a native of Kashmir, now came into bloom; geraniums and some lovely varieties of Shirley poppy which I had obtained from Mr Luther Burbank, the famous plant-breeder of California, began to blossom; and roses of every variety came rapidly on till the garden became a blaze of colour.
The first of some remarkably beautiful delphiniums—some a deep blue, some sky blue, and some opalescent—which I had also obtained from Luther Burbank appeared in bloom on May 17th.
A spell of hot weather now set in, and on May 21st the maximum temperature rose to 84° in the shade and 134° in the sun, and the minimum to 54°.
By May 25th the roses were at their maximum of beauty. The sweetly-scented and delicately-coloured La France roses were at perfection. Rich bushes of General Jacqueminot, of John Hopper, of the pink rose of Kashmir, and of many other kinds whose names I do not know, formed great masses of colour against the soft green leaves and the plentiful foliage of the chenar trees, William Alan
Richardson climbed over the trellises. The Shirley poppies gave every deep or delicate shade of red and pink. Sweet peas were in full bloom, and of them also I had had a marvellous variety from England. Pinks and carnations were coming rapidly on. A mauve and yellow iris had appeared.
Luther Burbank’s delphiniums formed welcome patches of real true blues in the herbaceous border round the lawn. The light and graceful gyp-sophylis and phlox were in bloom; gladioli were just coming out; and the horse-chestnut trees were all in gorgeous blossom.
Early in June the gladioli, Canterbury bells, pinks, sweet-Williams, and foxgloves were in full bloom, and the sweet-William especially gave masses of beautiful and varied colour. The temperature now rose to 88° in the shade and 185° in the sun, and the minimum to 54°. On June 10th, carnations, phlox, and Eschscholtzia were in full bloom. And by June 15th, though many of the best roses had passed over, two beautiful climbers which I had obtained from home, Dorothy Perkins and Lady Gay, were in full blossom, and the delicate pink and graceful form of the latter were especially lovely. Geraniums and fuchsias were now fully out, and masses of tall hollyhocks in many different shades of colour were most effective. A few cannas and some lilies also came into bloom,
By the end of June, apricots were ripe. Petunias and dahlias were out, and a few columbines still remained in bloom. The temperature had now gone up to 94° in the shade and Wee in the sun, and the minimum to 62°; and early in July it rose to 97° in the shade, which is about as hot as it ever becomes in the valley.
In Autumn
On returning to Srinagar on September 7th I found the bed of scarlet salvias giving brilliant patches of colour and most effectively lighting up the garden. The autumn crop of roses was beginning, though the blooms were not so fine as
the spring crop. Geraniums, fuchsias, asters, cannas, zinnias, gaillardia, and verbena were in abundance; stock and phlox were still out, and the hibiscus bushes were in full bloom. Burbank’s delphiniums were also having a light second bloom. The maximum in the shade was 81° and in the sun 128°, and the minimum 52°. The rainfall to date from January 1st was 27-4 inches in comparison with a normal fall of 21:7 inches.
Sir Francis E Younghusband, a 1937 portrait
By the beginning of October cosmos was blooming luxuriantly. Christmas roses were in full blossom, and the first chrysanthemum appeared. During the month these blossomed in great beauty and became the chief attraction in the garden. Towards the end of the month and beginning of November, the great chenar trees gradually assumed the gorgeous autumn colouring. The Virginian creeper on the porch turned to every rich hue of red and purple. Then the glories of the garden slowly faded. The leaves fell from the trees. The frost turned the turf brown.
In Winter
On December Ist there were still a few brave remnants of the summer splendour—a few tea roses, stocks, phlox, wallflower, chrysanthemums, carnations, petunias, gaillardia, nasturtiums, salvia, snapdragons, and one or two violets. But the temperature was now 25° at night, and the maximum in the day only 54°, and these flowers soon disappeared, and the only consolation left was the clearer view of the mountains which the absence of foliage on the trees allowed. Thus ends the story of a garden’s glory.
(The passages were excerpted from Kashmir painted by Major E Molyneux and described by Sir Francis Younghusband. The book was published by A And C Black, London in 1908.)
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