JAMMU, Feb 4: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the latter’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that L-G Sinha had used words like “beggars” Kashmiri Pandits. Hitting out at Gandhi, Sinha said that he could not use such words, adding that if he had said it, it would have been on record.

When Republic TV asked J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha about Rahul Gandhi’s allegation against him alleging that L-G used “beggar” for Kashmiri Pandits, Sinha said, “I should not give any reaction on this. Some people come for entertainment and then go back. It would have been on record if I had made any such remark. I can say it responsibly that I cannot say ‘beggar’ to anyone.”

Notably, the Wayanad MP in his letter to PM Modi said, “When the Kashmiri Pandits, pleading for their safety and their family’s concerns, are expecting sympathy and affection from the government, then it is irresponsible for the Lt. Governor to use words like “beggars” for them. Prime Minister may not be familiar with this insensitive approach of the local administration.”

SRINAGAR, Feb 4: Weatherman on Saturday forecast mainly dry weather for the next 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir with very light rain and snow at one or two places in northern Kashmir.
Quoting a meteorological department official, that there was a possibility of scattered light rain and snow during the subsequent two days.
Amid cloud cover, the minimum temperature saw an increase except at a few places with Srinagar recording a low of 0.4°C against minus 0.6°C on the previous night. Today’s minimum temperature, he said, was above normal by 1.1°C for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against minus 2.6°C on the previous night and it was 0.9°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of 0.9°C against minus 1.5°C on the previous night and it was 5.2°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 1.8°C against minus 2.7°C on the previous night and it was 0.6°C above normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 5.5°C against minus 7.0°C on the previous night and it was 2.1°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 1.8°C against minus 0.8°C on the previous night and it was 4.1°C above normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 8.9°C against 7.2°C °C on the previous night. It was 0.5°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 1.8°C (above normal by 1.0°C), Batote 5.8°C (above normal by 3.7°C), Katra 9.5°C (2.5°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 2.4°C (3.0°C above normal).
Leh and Kargil in Ladakh district recorded a low of minus 8.0°C and minus 13.2°C respectively, the official said. While Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21 has ended, Kashmir is under the grip of a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’. It will be followed by a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.

The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is all set to begin its maiden 11-day SARAS fair also known as SARAS Aajeevika Mela from today till the 4th of February at Jammu. The event will provide a platform for rural SHG women to sell and promote their self-made products and create marketing linkages with various selling platforms. Artisans and Self Help Groups’ women from across the country are showcasing their crafts, handcrafts, handloom and foods during the 11-day mega event. Over 75 stalls and 10 food courts have been erected at the exhibition site.

Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha and Union Minister for Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Giriraj Singh will inaugurate the 11-day-long fair today at Aquaplex Crown at Bagh-e-Bahu, Jammu. The 11-day fair is witnessing the participation of Self Help Groups women from around 25 States and UTs across the country to sell their self-made products.

The fair is the first of its kind in the Union Territory of J&K for which Jammu Kashmir Rural Livelihood Mission (JKRLM) is utilising the services of the Tourism Department and Department of Information and Public Relations for promoting SARAS Fair 2023 through their promotional channels all over India.

The venue of the fair has been equipped with all basic facilities such as drinking water, toilets, security and medical facilities. Besides, all the necessary fire safety protocols are being followed. The first aid kiosks and 24X7 ambulance services are also made available at the venue of the mega event. The Self Help Groups’ will display handicrafts, handloom and natural food items from different rural areas across the country in their stalls.

This would be a National-level fair that will exhibit unique and famous indigenous products from various states and UTS of the country. The 11-day exhibition is also going to witness several cultural events, aids and plays on different Government schemes and campaigns as well.

NEW DELHI, Feb 3: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to look into the “plight” of Kashmiri Pandit employees who do not want to return to the Kashmir Valley without a guarantee of their security, and accused the Union Territory administration of adopting an “insensitive” approach towards them.
In a letter to Modi, Gandhi flagged the issue of the recent spate of targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits and others by terrorists, which he said, has created an atmosphere of fear and gloom in the Valley. He wrote to the prime minister, saying a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits met him during the Jammu leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra that was aimed at uniting the whole of India in a thread of love and unity.
“They (Kashmiri Pandits) said government officials are forcing them to go back to work in the Kashmir Valley. In these circumstances, forcing them to go back to the Valley without any surety of their safety and security is a cruel move,” Gandhi said.
Till the situation improves, the government can take services from these Kashmiri Pandit employees in other administrative and public facilities, the former Congress chief said in his letter in Hindi to Modi.
“At a time when the Kashmiri Pandits are pleading for their safety and families’ concerns, and expecting sympathy and affection from the government, use of words like ‘beggars’ by the Lt. Governor for them is irresponsible. Prime Minister, you may not be familiar with this insensitive style of functioning of the administration,” Gandhi said.
“I have assured the Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters that I will try my best to convey their concerns and demands to you. I hope that you will take appropriate steps in this regard as soon as you get this information,” he said in the letter on Thursday.
A Kashmiri Pandit delegation had called on Gandhi during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Samba district and briefed him about their issues, including the “targeted killings” by terrorists and the resultant protest by those employed under the prime minister’s package.
Nearly 4,000 Kashmiri Pandits are working in different departments in the Kashmir Valley after their selection under the prime minister’s employment package announced in 2008. The package has two major components — 6,000 jobs for the youth from the community and building as many accommodation units for the recruited employees.
However, many of the employees fled to Jammu after one of their colleagues, Rahul Bhat, was shot dead by terrorists inside his office in Budgam district on May 12 last year in what was described as a case of targeted killing. (Agencies)