JAMMU: The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are set to get the Geographical Indications (GI) tag for nine products.
“The GI applications of all these products have been filed at the GI Registry in Chennai. The Consultative Group Meeting of all these products has already been successfully held and the products are in the final stage of being granted the tag. The final GI tag is expected soon,” a spokesperson said.

The products in line to obtain the GI tag include the famous Basohli paintings (Kathua), Basholi pashmina woolen products (Kathua), Chikri wood craft (Rajouri), Bhaderwah rajma (Doda), Mushkbudji rice (Anantnag), Kaladi (Udhampur), Sulai honey (Ramban), Anardana (Ramban) and Ladakh wood carving (Ladakh), he said.

GI tag grants legal protection to the original producers and prevents their unauthorised use by third parties. It also boosts exports, promotes the goods at the international level and brings economic prosperity to producers and stakeholders.

“Only an authorised user has the exclusive right to use the GI tag in relation to goods in respect of which it is registered. As a result, no person can copy it from beyond the geographical area,” the spokesperson said.

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development took the initiative to identify unique products from Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, in consultation with various stakeholders. It sanctioned a project for GI tag registration of products from both the Union Territories, he added.

NEW DELHI: A Border Security Force (BSF) official informed that a ‘rogue’ drone entering into India from Pakistan along the International Border (IB) in Punjab was shot down by the force on Wednesday.
The incident took place during the intervening night of February 7-8 near border post ‘Babapir’ in Amritsar sector of Punjab.
“BSF troops fired upon the rogue drone and deployed all counter-drone measures. As a result, the drone, which was returning to Pakistan, fell down in Pakistan territory across the IB,” the spokesperson said.

Srinagar, Feb 8: Weather was partially cloudy in J&K during the last 24 hours as the MeT office said on Wednesday that dry, partly cloudy weather is likely during the next 24 hours.

“Dry partly cloudy weather is likely in J&K during the next 24 hours,” an official of the Meteorological department (MeT) said.

Srinagar had minus 0.1, Pahalgam minus 7.6 and Gulmarg minus 6.5 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.

In Ladakh region, Kargil had minus 6.4 and Leh minus 13 as the minimum temperature.

Jammu had 8.3, Katra 8, Batote 3.5, Banihal 4.4 and Bhaderwah 1.1 as the minimum temperature.

LAHORE, Feb 8: Pakistan’s ousted prime minister Imran Khan has said that the only way forward in relations with India is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi restores the special status of Kashmir. In 2019, Indian Parliament revoked Article 370 of the Constitution which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
“India had revoked the special status for Kashmir. Now the only way forward in holding talks with India is first the Modi administration restores it,” Khan told PTI on Tuesday evening while interacting with foreign media at his Lahore’s Zaman Park residence.
To another question about rule of law, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader said, “There will be no future for Pakistan if there is no rule of law. Take India for example. It progressed because of rule of law.”
Khan is looking up to the judiciary to “protect the Constitution” and “foil” the ruling PML(N)-led coalition’s design to delay elections in Pakistan’s Punjab and Kyber Pakhtaunkhawa provinces where polls are due in 90 days following the dissolution of assemblies last month.
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader, who was ousted as prime minister through a vote of no confidence by PMLN and its allies in April last year, alleged that the ruling coalition with the backing of their handlers in the military establishment has planned to oust him from politics.
“They have made a plan to disqualify me. All efforts are being made at all powerful quarters in the country to keep me out of politics,” he claimed.
Asked if Army Chief Gen Syed Asim Munir was also behind such efforts, Khan said, “He has been in office for two months and I give him a benefit of doubt.”
Khan also alleged that his political rival and three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, wants him disqualified. “Nawaz has set a condition (to the establishment) for his return from the United Kingdom and that is my disqualification,” he claimed.
The PML(N) recently declared that its supreme leader Nawaz Sharif will return ahead of the general elections.
Imran Khan also claimed that the PML(N) and its allies have also planned to target his party’s leaders and rig the elections.
Khan also accused Nawaz Sharif of striking a deal with former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa during his extension vote in the parliament.
“Giving an extension to Gen Bajwa was my biggest mistake. It was a huge blunder. After a deal with Nawaz, Bajwa ensured that Nawaz, his family members and partymen get relief in multi-billion corruption cases,” he alleged.
Imran Khan said he fails to understand how the military establishment can “side with the corrupt criminals like Sharifs and Zardaris”.
“There is a visible gulf between the Pakistan Army and the people. They are angry over the Army’s support to those who looted this country. And let me tell you this is very dangerous for the country,” Khan said.
Imran Khan said that he will be the first to court arrest during the Jail Bharo protest to press for the demand of holding the polls in Punjab and Kyber Pakhtaunkhawa provinces in 90 days.
“I will lead the Jail Bharo Tehreek which is a non-violent movement,” Khan declared. (Agencies)

Asserting that there is no restriction in Kashmir to hoist the national flag after the abrogation of Article 370, Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday said that he was once jailed for hoisting the Tricolor in the Union Territory.

“I was longest serving BJP Youth Wing President, from 2010 to 2017. I took a yatra from Kolkata to Kashmir to hoist the national flag. I was put in jail to hoist the national flag in Jammu and Kashmir. Today, I see Jammu and Kashmir is a different state with no such restrictions,” Thakur said while speaking at the first Y20 meeting under G20 India at IIT Guwahati. The minister further said that after August 2019, when the article was ruled out by the Central government there are no such restrictions in the territory.

“In Jammu and Kashmir, it was difficult to even hoist the national flag. But after the abrogation of Article 370, you could see last year during the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ program, there was a Tiranga hoisted on each and every house in Kashmir,” Thakur said.

The first Y20 meeting in 2023, under G20 India, began in Guwahati on February 6.

The deliberations at the Youth20 were aimed at reaching out to the youth and holding consultations with them for ideas “for a better tomorrow”.

More than 150 Youth delegates from G20 countries are participating in the three-day meeting.

Over 12,000 college and university students are also expected to participate in these events.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will also present research papers from students and academicians of Assam.

The state government, along with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, has taken up several initiatives to make the youth aware of Y20 and involve them in the process of nation-building.

Jammu, Feb 8: The Jammu and Kashmir Police has said that terrorists involved in the Dhangri village attack are hiding in the upper reaches of Rajouri district and announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for anyone providing information about them.
In an advisory issued on Tuesday night, police also warned of stern action against those facilitating the terrorists in any way.
Seven people were killed and 14 injured as terrorists attacked Dhangri village in Rajouri on January 1. While five people, including two brothers, were killed after the terrorists opened fire at some houses, two children died when an improvised explosive device (IED) left behind by the attackers went off the next day.
On Sunday, Dhangri residents expressed concern over the “failure” of security agencies in tracing the terrorists behind the attacks in the village. They threatened to go on a hunger strike if the security agencies are unable to eliminate the terrorists within the next 15 days.
“The terrorists who engineered the attack in Dhangri village… are still hiding in the hills of Rajouri. They can engineer a terror incident again,” police said.
“There are a few people who are facilitating the movement and survival of these terrorists besides providing them information on the movement of police and (security) forces,” they said.
A close vigil is being kept on these “terror facilitators” and stern legal action will be taken against them very soon, they added.
“Rs 10 lakh and other rewards will be given to anyone who will share information about the terrorists. The name of the informer will be kept secret,” police said.
Appealing to people to remain alert, they said, “Peace is a prerequisite for development and people should cooperate with police in maintaining peace in all possible ways.”
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing the Dhangri attack. Police and security forces are conducting massive operations in Rajouri to track the attackers.
Over 120 operations have been conducted in the last five weeks, according to officials.