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Jammu and Kashmir | 9.8 km tunnel on Banihal-Katra rail link completed

Jammu, Aug 30: The 9.8 km tunnel connecting two stations on the 111 km under-construction Banihal-Katra railway link in Jammu and Kashmir has been completed, officials said.
It is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL) project. This is the third tunnel following the 12.6 km tunnel T-49B, the longest tunnel of Indian Railways, which was completed in January this year.
On August 14, the world’s highest rail bridge over the Chenab river in the Kouri area of Reasi district achieved a milestone when the overarch deck of the bridge was completed with a golden joint.
The breakthrough was executed by conducting a blast and with it, the work on the escape tunnel T-13 was started, said the officials engaged in the work.
“We have succeeded in completing the construction work on the tunnel between Dugga and Sawlakote stations in the Katra-Banihal section of the Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL),” an official said on Monday.

The officials said USBRL is a national project and Indian railways is committed to its time bound completion.
“We completed the 9.8-km-long tunnel today which connects two railway stations located on each side,” the official said.
The Dugga railway station located on its Jammu end has been connected with Basindadar (Sawalkote) railway station towards Srinagar end by completion of this tunnel, the officials said.
“Two out of seven railway stations located in Katra-Banihal section of this railway project have been connected through this tunnel,” they said, adding that the work on the tunnel was started in 2018.
Of the 272-km USBRL project, the work on 161 km was commissioned in phases. The first phase of 118-km Qazigund-Baramulla section was commissioned in October 2009, followed by the 18-km Banihal-Qazigund in June 2013 and the 25-km Udhampur-Katra in July 2014.
The under-construction 111-km Katra-Banihal section has a total of 37 bridges and 35 tunnels. (Agencies)

Jammu and Kashmir DGP Called for ‘Strategically Planned’ Final Assault on Terrorism

SRINAGAR, Aug 30: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on Monday said a “strategically planned” final assault on terrorism is required to eradicate the menace from the Union territory. The security situation in Jammu and Kashmir has shown a marked improvement in the past around three years and the culture of bandh has almost ended.
“We have to put in more efforts to consolidate peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir,” Singh said while chairing a crime review meeting at the police headquarters here. Addressing the meeting, the DGP said, “With the joint efforts of police and other security forces, the security situation in the Union territory has shown a marked improvement during the past around three years.” He directed officers to increase the area domination exercise, particularly in border belts, to restrict terror activities. “At present we have reduced the number of active terrorists in J&K and…strategically planned final assault is required to march towards a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The DGP stressed on all-out efforts to demolish the terror ecosystem which, he said, is providing oxygen to the terror ranks. He said investigators have to equip themselves with the best investigation skills and take each and every necessary measure to ensure convictions in terror and narcotics smuggling cases. He directed that one officer be assigned for ensuring result-oriented investigation in every district. Calling for an intensified war on drugs, the DGP said it not only affects the youth but a major amount of terror funds is being generated from narcotics smuggling as well. (Agences)

Reliance Jio to roll out 5G services by Diwali: Mukesh Ambani

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New Delhi, Aug 29: Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries, on Monday announced that Reliance Jio will roll out standalone 5G services in select cities in the country by Diwali, which falls on October 24. To build pan-India true 5G network, Jio has committed a total investment of Rs 2 lakh crore.

To begin with, Jio announced the launch of 5G services in four metro cities — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

These will be expanded to other cities and towns in phases rapidly to cover the entire country by December 2023.

At the ‘Reliance AGM 2022’, Mukesh Ambani said it will be ‘world’s largest’, ‘standalone’ Jio 5G services.

“Jio 5G services will connect everyone, every place and everything with the highest quality and affordability. We are committed to making India a data-powered economy even ahead of China and the US,” said Muksesh Ambani.

Jio 5G will be the world’s largest and most advanced 5G network. Unlike other operators, Jio’s 5G network will be stand alone with zero dependency on 4G network.

India’s leather industry offering world-class StartUp opportunities: Dr Jitendra

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MAINPURI (UP), August 29 :Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that India’s leather industry is offering world-class opportunities for StartUp and entrepreneurship.
Addressing experts, senior scientists and officials of CSIR-CLRI (Central Leather Research Institute), Kanpur and College students, Dr Jitendra Singh called upon the youth to look for lucrative career in the upcoming leather Start-up ecosystem. He said, the leather industry in India has exhibited consistency in high export earnings and it is one of the top ten foreign exchange earners for the country.
The Minister also offered seed funding to prospective Start-ups and innovative entrepreneurs from Technology Development Board under Department of Science and Technology at the centre, which he is heading.
Dr Jitendra Singh assured the students and youth of Mainpuri and adjoining districts that CSIR-CLRI (Central Leather Research Institute), Kanpur will be instructed to organise specific activities like Survey of leather and allied industries, Practical demonstrations, Trade counselling, Vocational and Tailor-made Training Programmes, Consultancy Services, Students’ Internship at regular intervals for promoting leather start-ups and businesses.
Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that the Uttar Pradesh Government under Yogi Adityanath has identified leather goods as an ODOP (One District One Product) for Agra & Kanpur districts and formulated strategic interventions for development of these clusters. He said, t Uttar Pradesh is trying hard to create an enabling ecosystem of export growth and support exporters in scaling up exports of leather goods from Uttar Pradesh. The Minister said, this will open up new opportunities for the entrepreneurs and youth of Mainpuri and adjoining districts.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, India is the second largest producer of footwear, second largest exporter of Leather Garments, fifth largest exporter of Leather Goods and third Largest Exporter of Saddlery and Harness items. He said, the global leather goods market size is valued at $424 billion in 2022 and expected to reach USD 744 billion by 2030 and added that India must tap the huge potential in the global leather pie.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, only youth with innovative thinking can fulfil the rising demand for comfortable, trendy, and fancy leather apparel, footwear, and accessories as leather products are often seen as a status symbol and provide a stylish look.
Abhinandan Kumar, Scientist-In-Charge made a presentation on the status of Kanpur Leather cluster and the activities of the CLRI Regional Centre Kanpur, showcasing various technologies available with CLRI for pollution abatement and value addition in leather making, which would help the industry in achieving environmental compliances and help in better unit value realisation. It was also mentioned that a testing facility for all physical and chemical testing needs of leather and leather products industries is being offered from recently acquired laboratory at KLC Complex, Banthar which helps the industry in ensuring quality at national as well as international standards.
CLRI Regional Centre – Kanpur is one of the four extension centres of CLRI. It was established in 1963 to benefit the Leather and Leather products industries in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The centre is fully equipped with Chemical, Physical & Eco testing Laboratory. This centre has a pilot Tannery which provides varied services to the industry.

Three more Congress leaders resign in support of Azad in J&K

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KATHUA/JAMMU, Aug 29: Three more Congress leaders, including former deputy speaker Gulam Hyder Malik, announced their resignation from the party on Monday in support of veteran politician Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Azad, 73, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, ended his five-decade association with the Congress on Friday, terming the party “comprehensively destroyed” and lashing out at Rahul Gandhi for “demolishing” its entire consultative mechanism.
Malik, a former MLA from Kathua’s Bani assembly constituency, and two former MLCs – Subash Gupta from Kathua and Sham Lal Bhagat from Doda – separately forwarded their resignation letters to the party high command.
“We have received the letters (of support) from Malik, Gupta and Bhagat,” Azad’s close aide and former minister G M Saroori said.
Former deputy chief minister Tara Chand, former ministers Abdul Majid Wani, Manohal Lal Sharma and Gharu Ram and former MLA Balwan Singh also met Azad in Delhi and are likely to announce their loyalty to him on Tuesday after resigning from the Congress, a source said.
Over a dozen prominent Congress leaders, including former Ministers and legislators, besides hundreds of Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members, municipal corporators and district and block level leaders have already left the Congress to join Azad, who will soon launch a national-level party from Jammu and Kashmir. (Agencies)

Identification of minorities: Centre seeks more time from SC to hold meetings with states

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NEW DELHI, Aug 29: The Centre sought more time from the Supreme Court on Monday to hold meetings with states and Union Territories on the issue of identification of religious minorities, including Hindus, at the state level.
In a status report submitted to the court in response to a plea filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, the Ministry of Minority Affairs said comments/views of the State Governments including those of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and UT of J & K have not been received as on date.
“A reminder was sent to these states requesting them to furnish their comments/views. Further, comments of states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are also awaited. In these states, the issue may have wider ramifications. The Ministry proposes to hold meetings in the ensuing weeks with the remaining State Governments/Union territories in order to have their views on the matter also.
“That in view of the position stated above, it is humbly submitted that this Hon’ble Court may kindly consider to defer the hearing and allow more time for holding meetings with other State Governments/Union Territories, and also to enable the State Governments/Union Territories and stakeholders with whom the consultative meetings have already been held, to finalise their considered views in the matter,” the ministry said.
The apex court is scheduled to hear the PIL, filed through advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey, on Tuesday.
The top court had earlier expressed displeasure over the Centre taking different stands on the issue of identification of minorities, including Hindus, at the state level and directed it to hold consultations with states on the issue within three months.
In supersession of its earlier stand, the Centre had told the apex court that the power to notify minorities is vested with the Union government and any decision in this regard will be taken after discussion with states and other stakeholders.
The Centre had in March said it was for the states and Union Territories (UTs) to take a call on whether or not to grant minority status to Hindus and other communities where they are less in number.
The apex court had earlier granted time to the Centre to respond to a plea seeking directions for framing guidelines for identification of minorities at the state level, contending that Hindus are in minority in 10 states.
Upadhyay had challenged the validity of section 2(f) of the National Commission for Minority Education Institution Act, 2004, alleging that it gives unbridled power to the Centre and termed it “manifestly arbitrary, irrational, and offending”. Section 2(f) of the Act empowers the Centre to identify and notify minority communities in India. (Agencies)

Life adversely affected in Jammu city by bandh call

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Jammu, Aug 29: Life was adversely affected in Jammu city on Monday by the Bandh call given by the Jammu High Court bar association, Chamber of commerce and industry and Yuva Rajput Sabha.
Shops were closed in many areas of the city. Lawyers stayed away from the courts and members of the Jammu chamber of commerce and industry stayed away from business activities.
Although the transporters had announced that they would not join the strike, at many places protesters were seen stopping public transport vehicles forcing them to join the strike.
The authorities have imposed restrictions under section 144 CrPc along all the major bridges in the city. Protesters were seen defying these orders. The situation was peaceful in the city as police did not intervene to restrain the protesters.
Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (JKHCBA) has given the bandh call in support of their demand to house all courts to function from one complex in the city for the facility of advocates and general public.
Yuva Rajput Sabha has demanded that Maharaja Hari Singh’s birth anniversary date of September 24 be declared a annual holiday in the state. (Agencies)

Baldev Raina elected as chairperson FADA Kashmir

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Srinagar: Baldev Singh Raina, MD & CEO, Peaks Group of Companies, Jammu & Kashmir, was elected as the State Chairperson of the FADA Kashmir Chapter for the years 2022–2024 at the 58th Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA).

As per the statement, Raina was elected unanimously as FADA Kashmir Chapter State Chairperson for the years 2022–24.

The Apex National Body of the Indian Automobiles Retail Industry, or FADA, was established in 1964 and is involved in the sale, service, and spare parts of 2/3-wheelers, passenger cars, SUVs, commercial vehicles, including buses, lorries, and tractors. FADA India covers the whole auto retail industry on behalf of more than 15,000 auto dealers with 26,500 dealerships, as well as other associations of car dealers at the regional, state, and local levels.

Together, FADA employs 45 lakh individuals in auto dealerships and service centres, continuously retraining and up-skilling them without evicting them from their current residences.

An accomplishment recognised by Maruti Suzuki India Limited is Raina’s opening of more than thirteen Maruti showrooms in less than 15 years. Maruti Suzuki India Limited has recognised the workshop established at Akhnoor Road as one of the best workshops in the nation. In less than two years after joining the Tata commercial vehicle dealership, he quickly expanded into various Kashmiri locations. In J&K, his organisation now has a 40% market share. The Interlaid Peaks Group has grown to be a major employer in J&K, providing a living for more than 5000 direct and indirect associates.

Vinkesh Gulati, President of FADA, congratulated Baldev Singh Raina on his appointment as State Chairperson for Kashmir Chapter welcomed him on board and showed his confidence in his leadership to drive the FADA Movement in Jammu and Kashmir.

Outsiders in J&K electoral rolls: PAGD to hold another all-party meeting in Jammu next month

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SRINAGAR, Aug 29: In an attempt to garner the support of more political and social parties against the inclusion of “non-locals” in Jammu and Kashmir’s electoral roll, the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) is holding an all-party meeting here next month.
Senior CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami on Monday said the meeting will take place under the leadership of PAGD president Farooq Abdullah at his Jammu residence and is scheduled for 2 pm on September 10.
“The all-party meeting is part of the ongoing consultations to come out with a joint strategy to stand united against any move to include outsiders in the electoral rolls in a bid to influence election results,” Tarigami, who is also PAGD’s convener and spokesperson, said.
The alliance had convened a similar meeting in Srinagar on August 22, which was attended by the Congress, Shiv Sena and the Akali Dal (Mann), besides all of its constituents.
However, the Sajjad Lone-led People’s Conference and Altaf Bukhari’s Apni Party had stayed away.
“Any decision to include non-locals in electoral rolls of Jammu and Kashmir is unacceptable and will be contested by all means, including in court,” Abdullah, the National Conference (NC) president and a former chief minister, had said after the meeting.
Abdullah, who chaired that meeting, had said they were united against the move to extend the voting right to “outsiders” as it would rob Jammu and Kashmir of its identity.
“The state’s identity is about to end. The Dogras, Kashmiris, Paharis or Gujjars or Sikhs, who reside here, will lose their identity. The assembly will be in the hands of the outsiders. We all oppose it,” he had said.
PAGD, an amalgam of five political parties – NC, PDP, CPI(M), CPM and Awami National Conference – is campaigning for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status within the Indian Constitution.
Tarigami, who is in Jammu for the past couple of days, said invitations will be forwarded to all parties except the BJP to attend the “important meeting”.
The BJP has been critical of the PAGD and has accused the NC, Peoples Democratic Party and other parties of spreading “propaganda” to poison the minds of the people over the issue of “inclusion of non-local voters” in the revised electoral rolls.
“There is no issue of ‘locals or non-locals’ as the Constitution gives all citizens the right to vote in the country after attaining the age of 18.
The Representation of the People Act was implemented across the country in 1950 and was extended to Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 (in August 2019),” BJP president Ravinder Raina had said, adding the revision of electoral rolls was taking place in accordance with the Act.
However, senior AAP leader and former minister Harsh Dev Singh had accused the BJP of misrepresenting and misinterpreting the law to justify the inclusion of non-local voters in the Union territory.
The controversy erupted after Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Electoral Officer Hirdesh Kumar said the Union territory is likely to get around 25 lakh additional voters, including outsiders, after the special summary revision of electoral rolls, which are being held for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration, however, had issued a clarification, saying the reports were a “misrepresentation of facts by vested interests” and the increase in numbers will be due to the voters who would attain the age of 18 years by October 1, 2022.
Dissatisfied with the clarification, the NC and other parties claimed the administration has not addressed their main concern on whether “outsiders” ordinarily residing in Jammu and Kashmir will be allowed to enrol as voters. (Agencies)