Sunil Sethi, the chief spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir BJP, today criticized both the National Conference (NC) and Congress for distorting history and diminishing the contributions of Maharaja Hari Singh. During a press conference, Sethi alleged that these parties portrayed the Maharaja in a negative light to glorify Sheikh Abdullah and undermine the Maharaja’s role in the state’s history.

Sethi, alongside BJP spokespersons Abhijeet Jasrotia, Lt Gen (retd) Rakesh Sharma, Dr. Tahir Chowdhary, and YV Sharma, emphasized that it was due to Maharaja Hari Singh’s leadership that Jammu and Kashmir became an integral part of India. However, he claimed that NC and Congress repeatedly belittled the Maharaja’s contribution, particularly his work on social reforms, while promoting Sheikh Abdullah as a “hero.”

Maharaja’s Exile and NC-Congress Policies
Sethi highlighted that NC and Congress were responsible for exiling Maharaja Hari Singh and never allowing him to return to Jammu and Kashmir until his death. He pointed out that while these parties celebrated the birthdays of Sheikh Abdullah and observed Martyr’s Day, they ignored the Maharaja’s contributions, leading to public agitation in Jammu demanding a holiday on his birthday.

The BJP, according to Sethi, corrected this historical wrong by declaring a holiday on September 23, Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday. He challenged Rahul Gandhi and the NC to explain why the Maharaja was “insulted,” sent into exile, and barred from returning to his homeland.

Contradictions in Congress’ Relationship with Sheikh Abdullah
Sethi also accused the Congress of hypocrisy in its dealings with Sheikh Abdullah, first imprisoning him on charges of being anti-national, and later appointing him as Chief Minister. He further questioned why a holiday was declared in Sheikh’s honor, while Maharaja Hari Singh’s legacy was ignored.

BJP’s Role in Honoring the Maharaja
Sethi underscored that the BJP has given Maharaja Hari Singh the rightful place in history, unlike NC and Congress. He argued that it is only the BJP that has consistently celebrated the Maharaja’s birthday and upheld his contributions to Jammu and Kashmir.

Abhijeet Jasrotia’s Remarks on Jammu Discrimination
Abhijeet Jasrotia, speaking at the same event, reiterated that both NC and Congress have historically discriminated against Jammu and its people. He criticized the allocation of more Lok Sabha and Assembly seats to Kashmir, despite Jammu having a larger area and population. Jasrotia further condemned these parties for removing the Dogra certificate, which is a significant identity marker for the people of Jammu.

He concluded by stating that only the BJP is committed to safeguarding the future and identity of Jammu and its Dogra community, while Congress has consistently let down the region.

Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu & Kashmir, RR Swain, has sanctioned Rs 2.04 crore as special welfare relief for the next of kin (NoK) of deceased police personnel and Special Police Officers (SPOs) who passed away while in service.

The relief includes Rs 22 lakh each for the legal heirs or dependents of nine police personnel who succumbed to illness during their service. Additionally, the families of the deceased had already been granted Rs 1 lakh for performing the last rites. The relief is drawn from the Contributory Police Welfare Fund, established to support families of police personnel.

In another case, Rs 6 lakh has been sanctioned for the family of SPO Deepak Sharma, who passed away while actively serving in the department. His family had earlier received an immediate relief of Rs 50,000 for last rites.

Marriage Assistance for Martyr’s Daughter
In a separate announcement, Rs 1 lakh has been sanctioned for the marriage of a martyr’s daughter, demonstrating the police department’s ongoing commitment to supporting the families of fallen personnel.

This welfare initiative underscores the department’s dedication to the well-being of the families of its officers and personnel, ensuring that those who serve the community are remembered and their families cared for.

Over 7,000 polling staff and thousands of security personnel have taken positions across 1,838 polling stations in Central Kashmir’s 15 Assembly constituencies, as the region gears up for the second phase of Assembly elections scheduled for tomorrow. The constituencies span across the districts of Srinagar, Budgam, and Ganderbal, where voting will decide the fate of 160 candidates.

Polling staff began arriving at distribution centers early in the morning, with the exercise completed by afternoon. The distribution centers were heavily secured, with roads around them blocked to ensure smooth operations. Polling staff, accompanied by electronic voting machines (EVMs), were dispatched to polling stations by vehicles parked near the distribution centers since yesterday.

Multi-Tier Security Blanket
To ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the elections, a multi-layered security arrangement has been put in place. The security force deployment includes personnel from the local police, armed police, and Central paramilitary forces. Sensitive areas have been identified, with additional forces stationed in these locations to prevent any disruptions.

“The safety of voters is our top priority,” said Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, VK Birdi. “We have made elaborate arrangements to create a fear-free atmosphere at each polling station. Voters can come out in large numbers without hesitation.”

EVMs Secured with Round-the-Clock Surveillance
Post-election, strong rooms where EVMs will be stored have been secured with round-the-clock digital surveillance to safeguard their integrity. In addition, all polling stations will be equipped with webcasting facilities, allowing real-time monitoring by election officials to ensure transparency and prompt response to any issues.

15 Lakh Voters to Decide the Fate of 160 Candidates
An estimated 14,96,556 voters—including 7,51,572 male voters, 7,44,941 female voters, and 43 third-gender voters—are eligible to cast their ballots in tomorrow’s election. Polling will take place from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Srinagar District has the highest number of voters with 7,76,674 registered voters, spread across 932 polling stations in eight constituencies. Budgam District has 5,11,864 voters in five constituencies, and Ganderbal District has 2,08,018 voters across two constituencies.

Prominent Candidates in the Fray
Some of the prominent candidates include:

Omar Abdullah, National Conference (NC) Vice President, contesting from Ganderbal and Budgam.
Ali Mohammad Sagar, NC General Secretary.
Abdul Rahim Rather, former NC Finance Minister.
Mubarak Gul, former Speaker and NC leader.
Aasia Naqash and Ghulam Nabi Hanjoora, former ministers from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Chief of the Apni Party.
Hakeem Mohammad Yasin, former minister.
Sarjan Ahmad Wagay (Barkati), jailed separatist leader contesting from two constituencies: Ganderbal and Beerwah.
Webcasting for Transparency
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ensured that all polling stations will be equipped with webcasting facilities to bolster transparency and maintain public confidence in the voting process. This initiative is aimed at minimizing electoral malpractices and ensuring that the elections proceed smoothly.

The results of tomorrow’s polling will shape the future political landscape of Central Kashmir as voters across 15 constituencies make their voices heard.

Jammu, 23 Sept 2024: Central University of Jammu commemorated the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji with great pride and enthusiasm, honoring the legacy of the last Dogra ruler. The event took place in the university’s main DDE building Corridor and was attended by faculty, staff and students.

The program began with a keynote address by the Honourable Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sanjeev Jain, who paid tribute to Maharaja Hari Singh Ji. Prof. Jain highlighted Maharaja’s contributions to the region and his progressive vision for Jammu and Kashmir. In his address, Prof. Jain emphasized the Maharaja’s unwavering commitment to social reforms, education, and equality. He urged students to draw inspiration from the Maharaja’s life, encouraging them to work for the betterment of society, just as the Maharaja had during his reign.

Prof. Jain, highlighted Maharaja Hari Singh Ji’s leadership, particularly his efforts in promoting education and social justice. He stressed the importance of celebrating historical events in educational institutions, as they play a crucial role in instilling cultural and historical awareness in young minds. He reflected on the Maharaja’s role in shaping modern Jammu and Kashmir, and how his reforms continue to influence the region today.

The celebration further saw students from various departments dressed in traditional attire, symbolizing the rich cultural heritage of the Dogra community.The event concluded with the echo of the slogan “Jai Duggar! Jai Dogra!” which filled the hall, representing the unity and pride of the Dogra people.

Campaigning for the second phase of Assembly elections in 11 constituencies across Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi districts of Jammu division ended this evening. The fate of several prominent leaders, including former ministers and legislators, will be decided when voting takes place on September 25.

Among the high-profile candidates are BJP UT chief Ravinder Raina (Nowshera), former ministers Zulfkar Choudhary (Budhal), Jugal Kishore Sharma (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi), Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari (Surankote), Shabir Khan (Thannamandi), and Aijaz Khan (Gulabgarh). The list also includes ex-legislators like Vibodh Gupta (Rajouri), Baldev Sharma (Katra), Javed Rana and Murtaza Khan (Mendhar), and Mumtaz Khan (Reasi).

In the final days of campaigning, the BJP rolled out its heavyweights. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a major rally at Katra, targeting the Reasi district constituencies. Union Home Minister Amit Shah followed with five rallies in Rajouri and Poonch on September 21 and 22. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also campaigned in the border districts. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari addressed voters in Budhal.

For the Congress, Rahul Gandhi led the charge with a rally in Surankote, accompanied by National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah. Other NC leaders, including Omar Abdullah, also campaigned in key constituencies, as did PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.

Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi districts had 10 Assembly constituencies in 2014, which have now increased to 11 following the delimitation process. In the 2014 elections, the BJP, Congress, and PDP each won three seats, while the NC secured one (Mendhar). The BJP will contest all 11 seats this time, while NC and Congress have split the constituencies per their seat-sharing arrangement. PDP and BSP have also fielded candidates across many constituencies.

Several constituencies are seeing intriguing battles. In Budhal, former minister Zulfkar Choudhary (BJP) is contesting against his nephew, Javed Choudhary (NC). In Sunderbani-Kalakote, BJP’s Thakur Randhir Singh faces his nephew, Thakur Yasuvardhan Singh of the NC, in a family showdown.

In Nowshera, BJP’s Ravinder Raina is set to face a repeat of his 2014 contest with Surinder Choudhary, now running under the NC banner after switching from PDP. Rajouri is also seeing a high-stakes contest where BJP general secretary Vibodh Gupta will compete against Congress’s Iftikhar Ahmed and prominent spiritual leader Mian Mahfooz.

Surankote, a key constituency in Poonch, is witnessing a fierce battle between BJP’s Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari, Congress’s Shahnawaz Choudhary, Independent candidate Choudhary Akram, and PDP’s Javid Iqbal.

In Reasi, the newly formed Shri Mata Vaishno Devi seat has drawn a triangular contest between Independent Jugal Kishore Sharma, BJP’s Baldev Sharma, and Congress’s Bhupinder Jamwal. In the Reasi constituency itself, BJP’s Kuldeep Raj Dubey faces Congress’s Mumtaz Khan.

The second phase of polling in these crucial constituencies is set to take place on September 25, as voters prepare to decide the political future of these key districts.