Srinagar, Aug 26: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Friday described Ghulam Nabi Azad’s resignation from the Congress as a body blow to the party, saying it was “sad” and “scary” to see the grand old party implode.
“Long rumoured to be in the offing but a body blow to the Congress none the less. Perhaps the senior most leader to quit the party in recent times, his resignation letter makes for very painful reading,” he tweeted.
“It’s sad, and quite scary, to see the grand old party of India implode,” Omar added. (Agencies)

Srinagar, Aug 26: Partly cloudy sky with light rain in isolated places is likely in Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours, said the Meteorological (MeT) Department on Friday.

The UT had partly cloudy weather during the last 24 hours.

“Partly cloudy with light rain at isolated places is likely during the next 24 hours in J&K,” an official of the MeT department said.

Srinagar had 18.7, Pahalgam 14.6 and Gulmarg 10 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.

Drass town in Ladakh had 11.4, Leh 14.4 and Kargil 15.4 as the minimum temperature.

Jammu had 25.8, Katra 23.8, Batote 18.7, Banihal 17 and Bhaderwah 18.4 as the minimum temperature.

NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday resigned from all positions including primary membership of the party.
In a letter addressed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Azad alleged after Rahul Gandhi was appointed vice-president of the party in 2013 all senior and experienced leaders were sidelined and “inexperienced sycophants” started running the affairs of the party.

Srinagar, Aug 26: Chairperson of district development council Baramulla Safina Baig was Thursday elected as head of Jammu & Kashmir Haj Committee after her name was proposed and seconded by two other members of the panel who are affiliated with the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP).
Sources said that Safina Baig was elected as chairman of the Haj committee after her name was proposed by former MP Choudhary Talib Hussain. “Her name was seconded by Muhammad Rafiq Chashti (district president BJP Poonch),” they said.
During the meeting, according to sources, the name of member parliament Justice (retired) Hasnain Masoodi was proposed by Molvi Muhammad Ashraf, but it was seconded none.
“Syed Mohd Rafiq, who is also a member of the panel, was not present during the proceedings,” they said.
It is worthwhile to mention that Safina Baig had started her political career from the Peoples Democratic Party. She had joined the Peoples Conference in 2021 but later she maintained that she was independent and would remain as an independent candidate. (KNO)

New Delhi: Inaugurating the 8th India International MSME Start-up Expo and Summit in New Delhi, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Thursday said that the Jammu and Kashmir government was focusing to rejuvenate the traditional Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that speaking at the expo the LG said that the J&K government’s focus was to rejuvenate traditional MSMEs with greater access to credit and market linkage to ensure a higher growth trajectory for MSMEs.

The expo provides a much-needed platform for SMEs, startups, trade, industry, and service providers to explore new opportunities, and buyers-sellers meet and knowledge sharing about various schemes of the J&K government and Centre.

Expressing gratitude toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing a revolution in the MSME sector, the LG said that in the last 8 years, the MSME sector had undergone a rapid change.

“New strength, resilience and global competitiveness of MSMEs will make India a preferred destination for manufacturing for the world,” he said.

The LG said that the Indian MSME sector today could be described as a Magical, Steadfast, Magnificent Enterprise, which was contributing nearly 45 percent of overall India’s exports.

“The number of initiatives under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is driving economic progress and social development,” he said. “MSME is the nerve center of the country’s business.” The LG said that Productivity, connectivity, and Standardisation were three important factors for MSMEs sustained growth.

“Vocal for local, district export hubs, GeM portal, market linkage of domestic and global value chains, all these interventions are results of PM’s efforts to ensure that MSMEs contribute to realise the vision of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat and Aatma Nirbhar Jammu Kashmir,” he said. “The industry-centric policies, provisions of financial assistance, handholding to new and existing enterprises have encouraged MSMEs and other industries in J&K. The business ecosystem is exuding with confidence.”

The LG said that after August 2019, J&K’s economy had been living up to its expectation.

“In FY 2021-22, MSMEs export registered 54 percent growth and importer-exporter registration has gone up by 173 percent. Strategic focus on food processing, handicraft, and organic products has stimulated the economic growth,” the LG said. “J&K has one of the fastest growing horticulture markets in the country. Our strengths in natural resources and skilled workforce, best in class incentives through new Industrial development scheme are well known and make J&K an ideal MSME destination.”

Highlighting the government’s endeavours to empower MSMEs, he said that JKTPO was continuously organising buyers-sellers meetings, exhibitions, and capacity-building programmes to provide entrepreneurs with requisite support for their businesses.

“In the last financial year, J&K Bank was given a target to provide credit facility to the accounts of 60,000 entrepreneurs and we have ensured credit of Rs 3579 crore to 81,238 accounts, exceeding the target,” the LG said. “MSMEs from the manufacturing and service sectors contribute 8 percent to the GSDP of J&K. Our GDP in this financial year is estimated to reach Rs 2,03,716 crore which will be 7.5 percent higher than last financial year.”

He said that J&K was making rapid strides in both manufacturing as well as the services sector.

“Setting up a biotech park at Kathua will help us exploit the opportunities in sunrise areas and further open up opportunities in the knowledge economy,” the LG said.

Highlighting the need to adopt a holistic approach to tackling fast-moving global business scenarios, he advised all stakeholders to pay special attention to three priorities – sustainability in business, brand-building with a focus on market and customer research and quality, time-bound service, and value addition.

The LG also visited the stalls of MSMEs and other stakeholders from J&K displaying local products.

Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department Vivek Bhardwaj, Secretary to the Government, Tourism Department J&K Sarmad Hafeez, Chairman MSME Development Forum Rajnish Goenka, foreign and domestic business delegates, investors, entrepreneurs, and members of MSMEs were also present on the occasion.

Srinagar: The J&K government is taking several reformative measures for the advancement and upgradation of health infrastructure besides providing affordable healthcare services to the people here, an official spokesman said here Thursday.

An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that the J&K administration is fulfilling the vision of a new and healthy J&K by developing the medical infrastructure constantly.

He said five new medical colleges, two AIIMS, nearly 1000 healthcare and wellness centers, five new nursing colleges, the start of BSc paramedical courses, and more than 100 percent increase in medical seats were contributing toward the development and advancement of the healthcare sector here.

The spokesman said that to overcome the shortage of postgraduate doctors and to prepare specialists at that level, the Health Department has also started Diploma of National Board Courses in the new and old medical colleges of the districts, which would increase at least 250 seats.

He said that the MD Psychiatry seats had also been increased in GMC Srinagar recently.

The spokesman said that the increase in MD (Psychiatry) seats from eight to 12 in Government Medical College, Srinagar would boost mental healthcare after the National Medical Commission (NMC) approval.

He said last year MBBS seats were increased from 500 to 1100.

“Around 111 more MBBS and BDS seats and 50 PG seats under EWS have been sanctioned. Besides, 14 dental PG seats were approved. A total of 225 DNB seats in 16 disciplines were also approved. Nearly 600 paramedical seats in nine courses were sanctioned,” the spokesman said.

He said that this follows the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) report regarding faculty, their experience, publication, and other infrastructure available at GMC, Srinagar.

The spokesman said that the admission for new seats would start from the academic year 2022-23.

“It is to inform that MARB reviewed the assessor’s report on July 16 regarding faculty, their experience, publication, and other teaching facilities including infrastructure available at GMC Srinagar under the University of Kashmir for an increase of seats in MD (Psychiatry) for the academic year 2022-23,” said Member and President MARB, National Medical Commission.

The NMC asked the GMC to provide all infrastructure facilities in terms of teaching and non-teaching staff, buildings, equipment, and hospital facilities as per the NMC norms.