Srinagar, Oct 3: BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir president, Ravinder Raina on Monday said that the rallies to be addressed by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah in Rajouri-Poonch and north Kashmir’s Baramulla district during his upcoming visit will be “grand and historic in nature”.

Talking to reporters, Raina claimed that a “sea of people will participate in the twin rallies of Amit Shah in Rajouri and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir, ” news agency KNO reported.

He said that Amit Shah will arrive in Jammu today and tomorrow he will address a massive rally in Rajouri and day after, he will address a historic rally at Baramulla, wherein people from all across the valley will participate.

Raina said that the decision of holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir lies with the Election Commission of India and that BJP was always ready for elections in J&K. “BJP has started its preparations for elections and whenever ECI decides to hold elections here, BJP will be ready,” he said.

Srinagar, October 3: A non-local bank manager escaped unhurt after terrorists fired at him in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said.
The incident took place in Goushbugh in Pattan area of the north Kashmir district, they said.
Further details are awaited. (Agencies)

Srinagar, October:

On the eve of Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to J&K, a policeman was killed and a CRPF constable injured when militants attacked a joint checkpost laid by security forces in Pulwama district.The attack came hours after a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant was killed in an encounter in Shopian after a three-hour operation.

The police said the militants targeted the check post at 3 pm. “Terrorists fired upon a joint naka

party of the CRPF and police at Pinglena, Pulwama. In the terror attack, one policeman got martyred and one CRPF man got injured,” the Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet. The slain policemen has been identified as constable Javid Ahmad Dar. The injured paramilitary soldier was immediately evacuated to a hospital, the police said, adding that reinforcement was sent and the area cordoned off. Shah will be arriving in J&K on a three-day visit on Monday. Besides reviewing the security situation, he will address two rallies in Rajouri and Baramulla districts. In Shopian, security forces had launched an operation after inputs about the presence of a local militant linked to the LeT at Baskuchan village.

As security forces personnel approached the suspected spot, the militant fired upon the search party, leading to an encounter. The militant, identified as Naseer Ahmad Bhat of Baskuchan in Shopian, was killed and his body retrieved from the encounter site.

Jammu, October:

The J&K Commission on Socially and Educationally Backward Classes has recommended reservation for the Pahari-speaking people ahead of the three-day J&K visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Highly places sources in the government said the commission, led by Justice GD Sharma (retd), had submitted its report with the government and recommended reservation to the Pahari community that could further intensify their tussle with the Gujjar community which has come out against government’s attempt to give scheduled tribe (ST) status to the Paharis.

The Pahari community is expecting that Amit Shah will announce ST status for it during his Rajouri rally on October 4. The border district of Rajouri has significant population of both Paharis and Gujjars, who already have the ST status.

Sources said the panel had also recommended reservation for other tribes in far-off areas of Paddar of Kishtwar. Communities like Gada Brahman and grave diggers, who are mostly from the Muslim community, may also get reservation. It has been learnt that the commission has also recommended reservation for the residents of Teetwal, the last village in Kupwara along Line of Control (LoC).

Members of the Gujjar community in Poonch have said they would have to take to roads if the government grants ST status to Paharis. They say Gujjars still reels under poverty, backwardness, and systemic discrimination.

Gujjar leader Jameel Kohli, chairman of the Block Development Council (BDC) in Poonch, said the Gujjar-Bakerwal youth and activists were against the ST tag for Paharis. “Surprisingly, politicians from the community have maintained silence on the issue,” said Kohli.

A Pahari community leader from the PDP, seeking anonymity, said, “After decades, the Union Government is about to grant us the ST status. It will not affect the other community that has expressed fears of dilution of their rights. It will strengthen the bond between the two communities.”

After his Rajouri rally, Amit Shah will leave for Baramulla on October 5 and later review security situation in Srinagar.

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Sunday said that the government was determined to build the J&K of Mahatma Gandhi’s dreams empowering every section of the society without discrimination.

An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that attending the finale of month-long celebrations held in schools across Jammu and Kashmir to mark the 153rd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi organised by the Department of School Education, the LG said, “When the country was in a state of gloom in 1947, Pujya Bapuji saw a ray of hope in Kashmir.”

Paying floral tributes to Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, he said, “Violence has no place in a civilised society. Truth and non-violence were the true powerful instruments of Bapu. I urge people to imbibe the timeless teachings of Bapu and contribute to nation-building. Misguided youth should shun the path of violence and join the mainstream.”

The LG said that Gandhi had shown the way to change the world and this change had to start with every individual.

Paying floral tributes to Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, he said, “Violence has no place in a civilised society. Truth and non-violence were the true powerful instruments of Bapu. I urge people to imbibe the timeless teachings of Bapu and contribute to nation-building. Misguided youth should shun the path of violence and join the mainstream.”

The LG said that Gandhi had shown the way to change the world and this change had to start with every individual.

“Let us ensure that Gandhiji’s thoughts and wisdom of one nation, one people enriches our diversity and strengthens our plural culture. We must follow his ideals to achieve the dream of Gram Swaraj and modern education rooted in our ancient values,” he said. “It should be the responsibility of the citizens to strive to translate Bapu’s ideals into action to create a society which is progressive, prosperous and contributes to building a strong Atma-Nirbhar Bharat.”

Noting that Gandhi does not belong to any religion, the LG said that all those who were politicising Gandhiji’s favourite prayers need to understand that his ideals belong to the entire humanity.

“The country under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working on the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas’ and spreading the message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti’ to the world,” he said. “Following the ideals of Bapu, we are strengthening three-tier Panchayati Raj Institutions to make the villages Aatm-Nirbhar. Far-flung areas are witnessing unprecedented development.”

The LG said that education was another important aspect on which the government was working with dedication and commitment.

“We are encouraging vocational training and developing schools as model education centers. Our focus is on nurturing scientific temper and curiosity among the children,” he said. “J&K is making unparalleled progress in all sectors. The rights bestowed by the constitution have been extended to the deprived class and tribal community. We have made progress in the direction of empowering farmers, youth, and women.”

Later, the LG felicitated the students and educational institutions that excelled in different activities and competitions including essay writing, speech competition, and quiz competitions during the month-long Gandhi Jayanti celebrations. He also released eminent scientist Prof Gautam Desiraju’s book ‘Bharat: India 2.0’ and appreciated the author for shedding light on the constitution and the civilisational vision of India.

The LG also remembered former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary.

Advisor to Lt Governor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar lauded the efforts of the students and the teachers of the School Education and Higher Education Departments for the successful conduct of the month-long celebrations of Gandhi Jayanti.

The Shanti Yatra which was started from Anantnag and Jammu on September 7 as part of the celebrations also culminated at the SKICC on Sunday.

Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta said that Gandhi was a living ideology of truth and non-violence and inspired the goal of making J&K 2.0 which would have no place for fear, corruption, drug abuse, and violence of any

Noted Gandhian and Chairperson Swaraj Peeth Trust Rajiv Vora spoke on the movements led by Gandhi against the evils of society.

Eminent scientist and author Prof Gautam R Desiraju gave an overview of the theme and content of his book and enlisted steps for making India a more prosperous and global power.

NAAC grading awards were presented to the colleges from across J&K besides Swachh Vidyalaya Awards were conferred to the best performing schools.

A documentary on the month-long celebrations of 153rd Gandhi Jayanti in educational institutions of J&K was also showcased on the occasion.

Padam Shri S P Varma; Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo; Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, R K Goyal; Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Rohit Kansal; Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Alok Kumar; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole; and ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar were also present on the occasion.

Jammu, Oct 3: The Meteorological (MeT) department on Monday forecast mainly dry weather in Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.

“Weather is likely to remain dry in J&K during the next 24 hours”, an official of the MeT department said.

Meanwhile, Srinagar recorded 9.6 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 4.9 degrees and Gulmarg 4.6 degrees as the minimum temperature this morning.

Drass in Ladakh had 0.4 degrees, Kargil 7.8 and Leh 3, while Jammu registered 20.3 degrees, Katra 18.4, Batote 12.2, Banihal 8 and Bhaderwah 10.3 degrees.