SRINAGAR, Jan 28: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday paid floral tributes to the 40 CRPF personnel martyred in a car bomb blast in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district in 2019.
Gandhi, who is in the last leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, laid a flower bouquet at the spot where the CRPF bus was blown up by a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway four years ago.
The Yatra, which is heading towards Srinagar, stopped briefly to pay homage to the slain CRPF personnel.
The Gandhi-led foot march started from Kanyakumari on September 7 and it will conclude in Srinagar on January 30.
Rahul Gandhi Pays Tributes To CRPF Jawans Killed In Pulwama Terror Attack
Police arrest two ‘political activists’ for duping people on pretext of providing jobs in Baramulla
Srinagar, Jan 28: Police on Saturday said that two persons, projecting themselves as political activists, were arrested for allegedly duping people on the pretext of providing government jobs in Pattan area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
“On January 11, Police received information that two self-styled political activists from Pattan area are demanding money on the assurances that they will arrange government jobs and are providing fake appointment orders and are also threatening the general public,” police said in a statement, as reported by GNS.
Police swung into action and promptly registered a case under relevant sections in police station Pattan, the statement said.
“During course of investigation, Police after utilizing all technical and human intelligence and strenuous efforts arrested two accused namely Ubaid Nazir Sofi and Mohammad Iqbal.”
Police said that it was learnt during interrogation that these “scamsters were cheating common people on the pretext of giving jobs in police department and taking huge amount of money from them.”
“Once the victim started asking money back, they used to issue threats to them. Further investigation into the matter is on,” it added.
5G services rolled out in seven cities of Jammu and Kashmir
In Jammu and Kashmir, telecom company, Bharti Airtel yesterday rolled out 5G services in seven cities of the Union Territory. The Airtel rolled out 5G services in Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Akhnoor, Kupwara, Lakhanpur and Khour. It became the first operator to bring 5G to the region. Customers with 5G-enabled devices will enjoy high speed Airtel 5G Plus network at no extra cost until the roll out is more widespread.
Bharat Jodo Yatra: Traffic Police Srinagar issues advisory for Saturday
SRINAGAR: To ensure smooth passage to the commuters, the traffic police Srinagar here have issued fresh advisory in wake of the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on January 28.
According to the advisory issued by the office of the Srinagar Traffic Police, it has asked motorists to avoid NH- 44 from peaks towards Galandar and has asked vehicles to use the old route from Panthachowk- Sempora- Pampore for journey towards Anantnag.
“Motorists intending to travel to Pulwama should use Pohru- BK Pora road. The vehicular traffic will be allowed to move on NH-44 only after the Yatra reaches truck terminal Panthachowk,” reads the advisory.
The traffic advisory issued has requested the general public and tourists to adopt alternative routes to avoid any inconvenience, however, it has asked that medical emergencies will be facilitated.
India issues notice to Pak on IWT
New Delhi, Jan 27: India on Friday issued a notice to Pakistan, blaming it of “intransigence” on the implementation of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), according to reports.
Reports quoting sources said that the “notice of modification” was sent to Islamabad on January 25.
India and Pakistan had signed the IWT in September 1960 after nine-year-long negotiations.
The World Bank was a signatory of the pact.
The IWT envisages a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding the use of waters of a number of rivers.
The reports quoted sources as saying that India has always been a steadfast supporter and a responsible partner in implementing the IWT in letter and spirit.
Pakistan’s actions however have adversely impinged on the provisions of IWT and their implementation and forced India to issue an appropriate notice for modification of the pact, reports quoting sources said.
In 2015, Pakistan had called for appointment of a neutral expert to its technical objections to Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects in India.
In 2016 however, it retracted the request and sought a court of arbitration to adjudicate its objections.
This unilateral action by Pakistan was in contravention of the graded mechanism of dispute settlement envisaged by Article IX of the IWT, reports quoting sources said.
Consequently India made a separate request for the matter to be referred to a neutral expert.
The initiation of two simultaneous processes on the same questions and the potential of their inconsistent or contradictory outcomes creates an unprecedented and legally untenable situation, which risks endangering the IWT itself, reports quoting sources said.
“The World Bank acknowledged this itself in 2016, and took a decision to ‘pause’ the initiation of two parallel processes and request India and Pakistan to seek an amicable way out,” the sources were quoted as per reports.
Clouds in Jammu; rain, snow likely in Valley
Srinagar, Jan 28: The MeT office on Saturday forecast a generally cloudy sky in Jammu division with likelihood of rain or snow in Kashmir division during the next 24 hours.
According to a MeT official, the union territory experienced a dry weather on Friday.
“Generally cloudy sky in Jammu division with chances of light to moderate rain/snow is likely in Kashmir division during the next 24 hours”, the official said.
Meanwhile, Srinagar registered 1.7 degrees Celcius, Pahalgam minus 6.9 and Gulmarg minus 7.2 degree as the minimum temperature.
In Ladakh region, Kargil reeled under minus 14.8 degree and Leh was at minus 13.6.
Jammu recorded 6.1 degrees, Katra 6.6, Batote 2.5, while Banihal and Bhaderwah clocked minus 0.4 and minus 1.4 degree respectively.
Size Of Crowd Was Larger Than Planned…J&K Admin Dismisses Cong’s Claim On Rahul Gandhi’s Security Breach
JAMMU, Jan 28: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s claim of alleged security lapses during Bharat Jodo Yatra in the Union Territory, stating that the size of the crowd was larger than planned which created the impression that security arrangements were not in place.
However, 15 companies of paramilitary forces and 10 companies of Jammu and Kashmir Police were deployed for the security of Rahul Gandhi.
Addressing a press conference, RK Goyal, Additional Chief Secretary (FC), Home Department of Jammu and Kashmir said the government is acutely mindful of the security concerns and all arrangements have been made to ensure the best possible security for the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra.
“The size of the crowd was larger than planned which led to the pressure on the available security resources and created the impression that security arrangements were not in place. However, 15 companies of paramilitary forces and 10 companies of J-K police were deployed,” said Goyal.
He further said a large portion of the crowd from the Banihal side who were supposed to have returned to Banihal rushed to the Kashmir side
“Contrary to arrangements worked out between Bharat Jodo yatra organizers and security establishment, a large portion of the crowd from Banihal side who were supposed to have returned to Banihal rushed to Kashmir side,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi while addressing a press conference in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag said that the police arrangement completely collapsed and the police who were supposed to manage the crowd was nowhere to be seen.
“This morning during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, unfortunately, the police arrangement completely collapsed and the police who were supposed to manage the crowd was nowhere to be seen. My security people were very uncomfortable with me walking further on the yatra so I had to cancel my walk. Other yatris did the walk,” Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is in its final leg in Jammu and Kashmir, resumed on Friday morning from the National Highway-44, Banihal Railway station, in the UT’s Ramban district.
Security was tightened in the area in the wake of the recent twin blasts on the outskirts of Jammu city on January 22 which rocked a busy locality in Narwal leaving atleast nine people injured.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which started in Kanyakumari on September 7, will conclude on January 30 in Srinagar after covering 3,970 km, 12 states and two Union territories. The reports of the Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi’s security breach have come to the fore.
A security breach emerged at the Bharat Jodo Yatra on January 17 when an unknown man came out of the crowd and tried to hug Rahul Gandhi in Tanda in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district. However, Gandhi later termed him “excited” and said it was the people’s enthusiasm.
Earlier on January 4, the Congress wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleging “security breaches” in the Bharat Jodo Yatra which entered the national capital on December 24.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal in a letter to the Centre said the Delhi Police behaved like “mute spectators”, and completely failed to control the surging crowd and maintain a perimeter around Rahul Gandhi, who is assigned Z+ Security. (Agencies)
PM Modi to address ‘NCC PM’ rally in Delhi today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the annual National Cadet Corps (NCC) PM rally at the Cariappa Parade Ground in Delhi on Saturday at around 5:45 PM, a release from the Prime Minister’s Office informed.
This year, NCC is celebrating the 75th year of its inception. During the event, Prime Minister will release a special Day Cover and a commemorative specially minted coin of Rs 75/- denomination, commemorating 75 successful years of NCC. The rally will be held as a hybrid day and night event and will also include a cultural programme on the theme ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
In the true Indian spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, 196 officers and cadets from 19 foreign countries have been invited to participate in the celebrations.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister will visit Asind in Bhilwara district in Rajasthan for the 1111th birth anniversary of Lord Devnarayan, a folk deity of the state, it added.
BBC documentary screening Students gathered at DU’s north campus detained
New Delhi, Jan 27 Scores of students who had on Friday gathered at Delhi University’s north campus for the screening of a controversial BBC documentary on the 2002 Godhra riots were detained by police, student group activists alleged.
The action come days after a similar ruckus at Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Millia Islamia over the screening of the documentary.
There was heavy police deployment at the varsity’s north campus after students’ outfits gave a call to screen the documentary.
Earlier in the day, Delhi University Proctor Rajni Abbi said they would not allow the screening and stressed that the students’ outfits had not sought the administration’s permission.
The Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of has announced a screening of the documentary at 4 pm on north campus while the Bhim Army Students’ Federation said it would hold a screening outside the varsity’s Arts Faculty at 5 pm.
Delhi Police personnel entered the Ambedkar University campus to stop Students’ Federation of India (SFI) activists from screening the controversial documentary, several students alleged, even as the outfit made alternative arrangements to watch it on phones and laptops.
Police officials, however, said they were visiting all college and university campuses in the district to ensure peace and tranquility in the area.
The Left-affiliated SFI alleged that the screening could not be held as the administration of the government-run varsity disconnected power supply but a QR code with a link to the film was shared with students so that they could watch it on their personal devices.
Jamia Millia Islamia became the centre of a kerfuffle on Wednesday after the SFI’s plans to organise a screening of the documentary were thwarted by the varsity and the police.
Jawaharlal Nehru University also witnessed a ruckus and protests over the screening on Tuesday.
“Police arrangement completely collapsed…” Rahul Gandhi on cancelling Bharat Jodo Yatra in J-K
CMS IT Services announced on Friday it has appointed Sanjeev Singh as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director.
Singh joins Bengaluru-based CMS IT Services from Wipro where he was Chief Operations Officer and a member of Wipro Executive Board.
Before joining Wipro, he was the CEO at Aegis Ltd for its India and Sri Lanka businesses.
“He has an exceptional leadership track record, strong exposure to Indian and global markets, deep strategic expertise, and proven track record of driving transformation and turning around underperforming businesses,” said Mathew Cyriac, Chairman of the Board.
Currently, CMS IT Services has over 6,500 employees and serves more than 300 leading enterprises across key industries, with infrastructure spread across the country.
“I’m honoured to be invited to lead CMS IT Services, an extraordinary company with deep technology heritage built on strong foundation of values,” said Singh.