Page 72 - Jammu And Kashmir

EC begins consultation with parties in J-K to review LS poll preparedness

The Election Commission on Tuesday began consultations with political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to review preparedness for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the Union territory. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and other officials of the poll panel, who arrived here on Monday for a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, held interactions with delegations from the National Conference, PDP, BJP, CPI(M), Congress, and the Aam Admi Party, officials said here. National Conference leader Nasir Aslam Wani, who led his party's delegation, said they impressed upon the Election Commission the need for holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir together with the Lok Sabha polls. "We told the commission that it has been 10 years that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been deprived of their democratic rights. The commission gave us a patient hearing," Wani said. PDP leader Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura said his party also batted for holding assembly and Lok Sabha elections ...

IAF airlifts over 700 stranded passengers between Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh

The Indian Air Force (IAF) airlifted over 700 stranded passengers between the twin union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh on Saturday, an official said. While 514 passengers were airlifted from Jammu to Leh in two sorties of IL-76, 223 persons were flown from Srinagar to Leh in another sortie, the official said. With this, a total of 1,251 persons were airlifted between Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh this week. Earlier on Monday, 331 passengers were airlifted in separate sorties of AN-32, also known as Kargil courier, by the IAF between Jammu and Kashmir to Kargil. The Kargil courier was launched by the IAF on January 22 following closure of 434-km Srinagar-Leh national highway owing to heavy snowfall. The Kargil courier service operates three days a week between Jammu and Srinagar, and twice a week between Srinagar and Kargil to facilitate the stranded passengers. The passengers have expressed their gratitude to all authorities, particularly the IAF, for facilitating

Govt empowers states, UTs to act against 3 banned J-K-based groups

The Centre on Friday authorised all states and Union Territories to take action against three banned Jammu and Kashmir-based groups under the UAPA. The three groups are the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Sumji faction), Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Bhat faction) and Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir. In three identical notifications, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said the Centre directs that all powers exercisable by it under Section 7 and Section 8 of the anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, shall be exercised by state governments and Union Territory administrations in relation to the three unlawful associations. On February 27, the home ministry extended the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir, for five years for continuing activities against the security, integrity and sovereignty of the nation. A day later, it announced that the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Sumji faction) and the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Bh

Watched 'Article 370', film shows complexity of problem: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said he has watched the film 'Article 370' with his family at a theatre here, and said the movie shows the "complexity" of the "problem" as well as the "challenging solution". "Today I went to a cinema hall in Delhi with my family and watched the movie 'Article 370'. I heard praise for this film from many people. The film is inspired by true events and presents the events of the removal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in a very effective manner," Singh said in a post on X in Hindi. "This film shows how complex this problem was and how challenging the solution was and it also presents a good example of women empowerment. I congratulate the producer-director and all the actors of this film for their effective presentation," he wrote. The central government on August 5, 2019, had revoked Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and ...

Every citizen has right to criticise decision of state, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court said that simply because some people develop hatred or ill will against others, it is insufficient to justify a penalty for encouraging enmity among groups

PM Modi reaches Srinagar, scheduled to unveil projects worth Rs 6,400 cr

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday arrived in Srinagar to unveil a slew of development projects worth more than Rs 6,400 crore and address a public meeting, officials said. This is Modi's first visit to the Kashmir valley after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The prime minister landed at the Srinagar airport and then flew to Badamibagh Cantonment, the headquarters of the Army's 15 or Chinar Corps, they said. At the Badamibagh Cantonment, Modi would lay a wreath at the War Memorial and pay tributes to the fallen soldiers. He would then drive to Bakshi Stadium via Gupkar and Zero Bridge in a cavalcade to participate in the 'Viksit Bharat, Viksit Jammu Kashmir' programme, officials said. The security apparatus has secured the road from Badamibagh Cantonment to Bakshi Stadium. Tricolours, BJP flags and hoardings welcoming Modi have been put up along the route that will be taken by Modi. Stringent security arrangements have been put in place to ensure an incident-fr

PM Modi to attend 'Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir' in Srinagar today

At the 'Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir' program at Bakshi Stadium PM will dedicate the 'Holistic Agriculture Development Programme' worth Rs 5,000 crore to boost the agri-economy

PM Modi to address his first rally in Kashmir since abrogation of Art 370

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil multiple development projects and address a public meeting in Srinagar on Thursday during his first visit to Kashmir after his government abrogated the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special rights to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. According to an official statement, Modi will attend the "Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir" programme at Srinagar's Bakshi Stadium and inaugurate initiatives worth nearly Rs 5,000 crore for boosting the agri-economy in the Union Territory. With the Lok Sabha election around the corner and opposition parties seeking an announcement on Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister's scheduled visit has acquired a keen political dimension in terms of what he might have to say on the issue. The BJP-led Centre abrogated the provisions of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The ...

Union minister assures more opportunities for farmers, pastoralists in J-K

Union Minister Parshottam Rupala has assured all possible support to upscale livestock production, establish a modern fish market and create more livelihood avenues for farmers and pastoralists in Jammu and Kashmir. The minister for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying along with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had on Monday inaugurated a two-day technology exhibition-cum-seed mela at the SKUAST-Kashmir. During the event, various works and programmes, including SKUAST-Kashmir's commercial silage unit, the Krishi Radio and rural internship "Student rural exploration programme of J-K government", were inaugurated, an official spokesman said. Rupala commended the Union Territory's administration for transforming the agriculture and allied sector of Jammu and Kashmir and promoting innovation-based agri startups, he said. The Union minister also announced an aqua park for Jammu and Kashmir. He assured all possible support in upscaling livestock production, ...

New startup policy with focus to set up 2K startups by 2027 launched in J-K

Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha on Sunday launched a new start-up policy with a focus to establish 2,000 start-ups in the Union Territory by 2027. The 'New Jammu & Kashmir Start-up Policy- 2024-27' will also provide patent-related assistance, financial assistance for mentorship to recognised start-ups, facilitation for department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) registration and additional need-based support to start-ups working in diverse fields, Sinha said in Jammu. On February 22, Jammu and Kashmir administrative council headed by the lieutenant governor approved the new start-up policy in supersession to the start-up policy notified in 2018. The new policy provides for providing entrepreneurship facilities to students, women and support to the entrepreneurs through government, private and high net worth individuals (HNIs) for setting up start-ups. Terming the launch of the new policy as a giant leap for start-ups and innovators, the lieutenant governor ...

Ahead of PM Modi's Srinagar visit, security forces put on alert: Officials

Security forces have been put on alert ahead of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to address a public rally at the Bakshi Stadium here on Thursday, officials said on Sunday. The deployment of security personnel has been increased around the renovated Bakshi Stadium with barricades set up for checking the vehicles passing through the venue of PM Modi's rally, the officials said. Police and paramilitary forces are conducting random checking of vehicles at dozens of places in the city and elsewhere, the officials said. Special check points have been set up at various places in the city, including the entry and exit points as a precautionary measure, they said. The security forces have increased patrolling around the venue of the rally as part of area domination exercise to ensure a smooth and incident-free visit of the prime minister. This will be the prime minister's first visit to the Kashmir valley after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. This

Free and fair Lok Sabha polls would be ensured in J&K, says CEO Pole

Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Electoral Officer P K Pole on Saturday said free and fair Lok Sabha polls would be ensured in the Union Territory. Pole reviewed the preparations for the polls in the Anantnag Parliamentary constituency in south Kashmir. "The notification for Lok Sabha polls would be issued in 10-12 days. Election is definitely a challenging task, but our officers are experienced. Our endeavour is to have a peaceful, transparent, free and fair election and improve the voter turnout compared to the last elections," Pole told reporters. Asked about the security arrangements, the CEO said the security environment has become better over the last few years but there were some challenges. "The challenges are still the same and so we have flagged the requirement for forces. The locally available forces and those who come from outside will be deployed according to the norms of the election commission whether it is on polling station duty or area domination or other duties. We will

BJP prepares for PM's first Srinagar visit since repeal of Article 370

The BJP is finalising preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kashmir on March 7, with party leaders saying they expect around one lakh people at his first rally in the Valley since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Modi would address the rally at Bakshi Stadium here. A meeting of the BJP was held here on Saturday to discuss the preparations and arrangements for the rally. "Discussions took place over the preparations for Modi's rally. Different departments of the party were given different tasks and party leaders were asked to mobilise people," BJP's Jammu and Kashmir spokesman Altaf Thakur told PTI. He said over one lakh people are expected to attend the rally. "It will be a mega rally and people from various parts of Jammu and Kashmir will attend. People will come in droves and flood the venue to listen to the PM," he said. Thakur said that at a meeting here on March 4 BJP general secretary and J-K incharge Tarun Chugh would review the party's preparation

Textile unit invests Rs 120 crore in Kathua, to employ 650 youths

Bloomtex Industries is one of the industrial units that has set up their unit in SIDCO, the new industrial estate at Kathua's Bhagthali

MHA bans both factions of Muslim Conference Jammu & Kashmir for 5 years

As per the notification, the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Sumji faction), chaired by Ghulam Nabi Sumji, is known for its anti-India and pro-Pakistan propaganda

PM Modi to address public rally in Kashmir in March in 1st visit to valley

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir next month and address a public rally in Anantnag district, BJP sources said here on Tuesday. This would be the prime minister's first visit to the Kashmir Valley after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The public rally will be held as part of the BJP's election campaign for the forthcoming general polls, the sources said. "The prime minister's public rally is scheduled in Anantnag district next month," the BJP sources said. "While the exact date is yet to be finalised, the rally will take place any day between March 14 to 17," the sources said, adding the party was waiting for the final dates from the Prime Minister's Office. The BJP is focussing on the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat which comprises of the south Kashmir areas of Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag, and Rajouri-Poonch areas in Jammu. Before delimitation of the constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, Anantnag seat comprised only of the four south

Talks going on with INDIA bloc partners on seat-sharing in J&K, says Cong

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Vikar Rasool Wani on Sunday said that talks are going on with INDIA bloc partners National Conference and PDP on seat-sharing in the Union Territory for the Lok Sabha elections. People will hear good news soon as talks with the NC and the PDP (on seat-sharing agreement) are going on and we will fight the parliamentary elections together, Wani told reporters on the sidelines of a function here. Several political and social activists from the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch joined the Congress in presence of Wani and other senior leaders. My appeal to the people is to strengthen the Congress and our alliance partners so that all of their issues are resolved and J&K is pulled out of the prevailing crisis, he said. Accusing the BJP of destroying Jammu and Kashmir, he said, Only the Congress can mitigate the problems of the people, restore statehood, ensure protection of their rights over land and jobs, hold ...

Matter of shame that elections in J-K had to be announced by SC: Omar

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said it was "a matter of considerable shame" that the Supreme Court had to issue a directive about elections in Jammu and Kashmir rather than the Election Commission of India. The National Conference leader also contended that the view that Article 370 was at the root of all problems of Jammu and Kashmir was not correct, and terrorist attacks are now being reported in areas which were earlier free of terrorism, in particular the hills of Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch. More Kashmiri Pandits have been killed in targeted attacks in the Valley during the tenure of the present government than in the past, he claimed, speaking at ABP Network's 'Ideas of India' Summit 3.0 here. "What is the BJP and what is the Government of India going to do about the deadline the Supreme Court has set," Abdullah asked, noting that the court has said that assembly elections should be held in Jammu and Kashmir by the end of September 2024. "It .

J&K to be north's power hub after hydro projects completion: Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir is all set to emerge as north India's major "power hub after the completion of ongoing power projects with a total capacity of 6,000 MW. The Minister of State in the Prime Minister's office visited the 120-MW Seva-II hydropower project located on Himachal-J&K border near Bani in Kathua district, a part of his Udhampur parliamentary constituency. Reviewing the status of hydropower projects with NHPC, Director (Finance) R P Goyal and other officials, the minister said at least seven major Hydro power projects have come in the region in a short span ever since Narendra Modi took over as Prime Minister in 2014. Talking about the ongoing power projects in Kishtwar, he said the largest capacity project is Pakal Dul with a capacity of 1,000 MW which is expected to be completed by 2025 at an estimated cost of over Rs 8,000 crore. Another major project is Kiru Hydroelectric project with a capacity of .

One foreigner dead, another missing in Jammu & Kashmir's Gulmarg avalanche

Personnel of the Army and a patrolling team of the Jammu and Kashmir administration are carrying out rescue and search operations