Dr Farooq extends support to farmers, pitches for unity

Srinagar

National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Friday extended his support to the farmers who had gathered at New Delhi’s Ramlilla ground to press their demands and urged the people to join hands to overthrow the BJP government.

The spokesman said that Dr Farooq who represents the Srinagar parliamentary constituency has said that the incumbent BJP government at the centre has miserably failed to work for farmers and other marginalized sections of the society. “When the election time is by, the BJP raises emotive issues to garner the support of people by polarizing the society. But the time has come to over throw the incumbent government and rekindle the spirit of secularism in the country,” he said.

NC president said that Kashmiris are with the farmers and support them in their rights. “We all know your plight. We know how you spend everything on your farms and when you do not get the right MSP for your product you have to starve. The farmers’ mega rally in Delhi is a wakeup call for the government,” he said.

Farooq supported the cry of farmers who had gathered there and said that the farmers are the backbone of our nation. He impressed on GOI to increase the Minimum support price for their produce. “It does not augment well for a democratic country to shut its eyes to the woes of farmers. The farmer suicides aren’t joggling the conscience of BJP led government at the centre. It is a farmer who wakes up at 4 o’clock early in the morning and toils to produce the grains that keep the country going. The need of the hour is to relieve the farmers of swelling debts by waving of their loans,” he said.

He said that Jammu and Kashmir chose to be a part of secular India and will continue to do so. “The BJP is hell bent to vitiate the atmosphere but we should show unity and maintain bonhomie amongst us. Your worries are our worries. Let us show unity and overthrow BJP,” he said.

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Cartoons Lampoon Government Help To Kashmir’s Youngest Pellet Victim

SRINAGAR: The youngest pellet victim in Kashmir’s history has attracted the attention of the newspaper cartoonists. This happened, a day after the government’s announcement a financial help of one lakh rupees to the Shopian family.

Kashmir legendary cartoonist BAB on the financial help of Kashmir’s youngest pellet victim, the 18 months old Hiba. The Shopian baby was hit by a pellet in her on November 23, 2018.

“Deputy Commissioner Shopian Dr Owais Ahmed today provided a financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to  Hiba Nisar D/O Nisar Ahmad resident of Kapran,” an official spokesman said. “According to the District Administration Shopian, the 18-month girl child’s eye got accidentally injured on 25th of November 2018 in a pellet-firing incident. DC assured Hiba’s parents that Government would provide the baby girl with all kind of support possible for her early recovery.”

Greater Kashmir cartoonist Suhail Naqshbandi’s cartoon on the tragedy of Kashmir’s youngest pellet victim, the 18 months old Hiba. The Shopian baby was hit by a pellet in her on November 23, 2018.

Kashmir’s legendary cartoonist Bashir Ahmad Bashir (BAB) has drawn a cartoon suggesting the emergence rate list. “Government approved rates,” the cartoon reads, “One Lakh (for) one eye.” BAB has been drawing cartoons for decades and knows the art of delivering a serious message in a few lines. In his career, he had to fight a long battle to manage a breach of privilege motion “against him mooted by the state assembly.

BAB is editing the Srinagar Times.

But his juniors have not been less critical. Using the same theme, Suhail Naqshbandi of the Greater Kashmir’s work appeared in a major Delhi website as No 1 creation of the day. It showed a Barbie doll packaged with a caption: “Barbarian dolls, Exclusively for Kashmiri Kids.” The package has a doll with one eye covered by the bandage.

“Suhail Naqshbandi has a biting take on the pellet gun injury of 20-month-old Hiba Nisar in Kashmir’s Shopian,” the news portal, the Print reported.

Kashmir Images cartoonist S Tariq has drawn a cartoon suggesting that even when the cops target in one direction, it still hits the eye.

All these creative works are part of the anger that was generated when a Shopian farming couple drove their daughter to SMHS for treatment with one of her eyes severely damaged by a pellet. Identified as Hiba, the pellet victim is 18 months old and lives in Kapran village of Shopian. The village witnessed ding-dong battles between the cops and the restive young men who wanted to rescue the trapped militants. Six militants, a soldier and a civilian protester were killed in the events started with the cordon and concluding with the devastating encounter. The encounter and the site of clashes were different.

Kashmir Images cartoonist S Tariq’s cartoon on the tragedy of Kashmir’s youngest pellet victim, the 18 months old Hiba. The Shopian baby was hit by a pellet in her on November 23, 2018.

Hiba’s mother told reporters that when the clashes were going on between the youth and the cops, she was busy cooking as her two kids were playing within the home premises. Later when the cops fired tear smoke shells intensely, she said the smoke filled the room making breathing difficult for the kids. As it became unbearable, she moved the kids out and it was there that a pellet hit one of the eyes of the minor.

Eighteen-month-old Hiba Nisar, the youngest pellet victim in Kashmir. Hiba was hit by pellets on Sunday, November 25, 2018 at her home in Kapran village of Shopian.

Marsala Jan, the young mother said she put her hand on the face of her kid as her son hid behind her. A cop fired pellets and three reached the mother. Two hit her and one her daughter. Quickly the family boarded an ambulance and it was on way to the hospital that the baby regained her consciousness.

On Friday, the district administration in Shopian granted the family a support of one lakh rupees and assured all help till the baby recovers.

She underwent basic surgery the same day and a follow-up intervention is slated for Wednesday. Doctors are keeping their fingers crossed if the little girl can actually get her eye back.

“So far we have done the primary repair of the wound in her cornea,” one of the doctors treating her said. “The condition is not so good but we will be able to tell you her exact condition after she comes for her follow-up on Wednesday.”

Incidentally, the first girl who was completely blinded by the pellets also belongs to Shopian. Insha Mushtaq was a tenth standard student when she was hit by pellets that destroyed both her eyes. She was hit by the pellets when she was in her kitchen.

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Chenab Bridge Work Stops, Kashmir Rail Projects Delays

Srinagar

After missing several deadlines, the Kashmir rail link project is likely to be delayed further as the construction of the Chenab bridge has stopped since October 2018, reported The Wire.

Chenab Bridge

According to report published by The Wire, the Construction work on the main arch for the iconic bridge over the Chenab river in the Katra-Banihal section – which is a part of the flagship Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project – has stopped since October 20 due to contractual issues, according to railways sources.

The report said the rail line is now likely to miss the latest 2020 target also as the main work on the bridge has stopped.

“The work has stopped over problems involving the anti-rust painting of the main arch and other similar contractual issues, according to people with knowledge of the matter,” the report said.

“In order to prevent rusting, there needs to be a certain type of paint applied to parts of the main arch. This has become a problem as there is a difference of opinion between the Konkan Railway and the contractor on the quality of the painting,” The Wire reported.

“Konkan Railway has been given the responsibility to execute the Kashmir rail link work, which is a national project,’ it said.

“Besides the painting problem, other issues including arbitration have also cropped up between Konkan Railway and contractors which have caused stoppage of the work, thus posing further delays in the project,” The wire quoted sources as saying.

The report quoted Vijay Sharma, the chief administrative officer of the Kashmir rail link project said that the issues may be sorted out soon.

“There were contractual issues because of which work has stopped. A meeting between two parties is slated on December 6 and we are hoping that it would be sorted out,” Sharma told The Wire.

“The erection of the Chenab bridge has proven to be a challenging task. The main arch in the 1.3-km-long bridge is crucial for the project as it entails carrying heavy segments from two ends of the bridge – the Kauri and Bakkal ends – and involves the world’s longest cable crane arrangement,” the report said.

“Estimated to cost Rs 1,250 crore, the Chenab bridge work started in July 2017 with a target of completing construction by the end of 2019,” it added.

Report said that Chenab Bridge is designed to be blast proof, windproof and seismic resistant. Image courtesy: Konkan Railway Corporation

“Railway Board Member (Engineering) Vishwesh Choubey, however, maintained that the deadline will be met despite the temporary stoppage of work,” report added.

“There are arbitration issues and work has stopped. But we are hopeful of meeting the target,” the report quoted Choubey said.

“The Chenab bridge is located in the Himalayas and comes with extremely complex, fragile and daunting geological features in the form of faults, folds, and thrusts. Detailed site-specific seismic analysis have been carried out by IIT, Roorkee and IISc Bangalore,” the report said.

“About two-thirds of the 326 km Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link is ready. The portion that needs to be completed is a 111 km stretch between Katra, the Hindu pilgrimage town near Jammu, and Banihal on the slopes of Kashmir valley,” it added.

“Banihal is connected to Baramulla through Srinagar, while Jammu is linked to Katra through Udhampur. The Katra-Banihal project is considered a tough engineering project as it the construction of 27 bridges, including the tallest rail bridge in the world, and 37 tunnels, one of which is the longest in Asia at more than 12 km,” reported The wire.

“The Katra-Banihal railway track, which is the only missing link between Jammu-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line, would link Kashmir valley with rest of the country by train,” the report added.

“The cost of the Kashmir rail link project was estimated at Rs 2,500 crore when it was approved in March 1995, it was expected to be completed in 2002.  After missing that deadline, the then Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had in 2002 declared Jammu-Srinagar rail link as a national project and fixed August 15, 2007, as the deadline for its completion,” The Wire reported.

“Since then it has missed several deadlines set by successive governments,” reported The Wire.

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Panchayat Polls: Shutdown in poll-bound areas on JRL call

Srinagar

A complete shutdown is being observed in poll-bound areas of Kashmir valley on the call of Joint Resistance Leadership.

Reports said that all shops and other business establishments remained closed in poll-bound areas while public transport remained off the roads.

The poll-bound Arin, Sopore, Khaipora, Chandilwanigam, Newa, Dadsara, Devsar, Pahloo, Shaahabad, Hiller and Verinag.

JRL has called for election boycott and shutdown in poll-bound areas in phase-sixth of Panchayat Polls.

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Shutdown in sopore on third straight day against militant killing

Srinagar

A complete shutdown is being observed on the third consecutive day in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district to mourn the killing of a local militant, on Saturday.

A picture for representation

Reports said that all the shops and other business establishments are closed in the town while public transport is off the roads. However, a thin movement of private transport was witnessed in the area.

Meanwhile, People in hoards from various areas of the town are visiting the residence of slain militant to offer condolences.

Pertinently, Mehraj-ud-Din Khan, a local resident of Sopore was killed along with a top LeT commander Naveed Jatt, from Pakistan during an encounter in Chattergam area of Budgam.

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No space, scope for political activity, Mirwaiz says as authorities foil Hurriyat’s delegate session

Srinagar

Authorities on Saturday placed Hurriyat (M) Conference Chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest while the one day Hurriyat workers session was barred and head office at Rajbagh office of the amalgam also sealed.

Soon after his house arrest, Mirwaiz took to his widely followed twitter handle and wrote: “One day #Hurriyat workers /delegate session barred! Put again under #HouseArrest! Rajbagh office of Hurriyat sealed! Not allowed any space or scope for any political activity! So much for practising honest democracy Governor sahab !”

The amalgam had scheduled a one-day workers convention at the head office.

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In J&K, Sikh girl donates kidney to Muslim friend

Srinagar

In a noble gesture, a Jammu based Sikh girl has won hearts after she decided to donate one of her kidneys to a Muslim friend from Rajouri district of Jammu region.

A photograph of Manjot in a black dress and Samreena in white, PIc source: Facebook

A resident of Udhampur in Jammu, Manjot Singh Kohli, 23, is set to lose a kidney but has won a lot of hearts after she took a major decision of donating one of her kidneys to her 22-year-old  Muslim friend Samreena Akhtar, 22, who is sufferings from the organ’s failure.

The news was circulated by the Srinagar’s SKIMS hospital where the two friends are waiting for the transplant surgery for the last seven months now. Earlier Samreen’s mother had decided to donate her kidney but she was declared unfit by the doctors due to some rare condition.

The family then went public with Samreen’s medical condition and posted it on Facebook for relatives and friends to see. But none of the relatives turned up. It was then Manjot who contacted the family and expressed her willingness to donate her kidney.

Samreena and Manjot

Manjot, a just graduated girl is currently a chairperson of Jammu-based NGO called Anti-corruption and Human Rights Council. Manjot’s gesture has earned her all-around praise on the social networking sites and social media users display all love for her.

In a video, which is now widely being shared on social media, Manjot said that her family is not happy with the broad decision, as her family fears that Manjot is taking too much of a risk with her own health. This has prompted the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar, where Samreen has been admitted, to delay the surgery.

“I’m not scared of anything. My only concern is that humanity should not lose out. My family has got swayed by emotion… but I shall go ahead anyway,” The Telegraph quoted Manjot as saying.

“My strong belief in humanity is motivating me, and you can see the communal harmony my decision is creating…. Had my family supported me, it would have made me very happy,” she added.

Manoj said that as an adult she has a right to take a decision and no law bars her to donate her organ. The duo, Manjot and Samreena are friends from last four years, the duo had met each other in an event first and since then they are in touch with each other “The moment I got to know (from someone else about Samreen’s need for a kidney), I verified whether she was my (friend) Samreen. I called her and said, ‘I’m coming to do it’. I told her I needed nothing from her and that I was doing it for her,” Manjot told The Telegraph.

The doctors at SKIMS Soura hospital have delayed the surgery as they were waiting for the consent of Manjot’s family.  Samreen, who undergoes regular dialysis at the hospital, has thanked Manjot for the much-needed help on time.

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