National Democratic Party Indian (NDPI) has demanded early Assembly polls and restoration of Statehood in
J&K. Addressing a party workers meeting on Monday, NDPI J&K chief Rajesh Gupta said that situation in J&K has
worsened due to the steps taken in 2019 and after it. There is a complete governance deficit,” he added.
The NDPI president said that no political and economic roadmap was created by the successive regimes in
Jammu and Kashmir. “They had no roadmap. They are doing politics on pity issues. NDPI is the alternative force
that will defeat these parties with overwhelming majority since people have realized the need for change in
Jammu Kashmir,” he said.
NDPI leader hit out at the Central Government for downgrading the historical state and snatching rights to land
and jobs besides trade and business opportunities at the cost of locals and said that Government has failed to
achieve any of the claimed benefits of August 2019 decision.
“We need an era of development in Jammu and Kashmir that provides equal economic opportunities to all. Jobs
need to be created; infrastructure required to be built at par with the modern standards. That is how an all-
round development takes place,” he told workers at party headquarters. He said that dwelling economic
opportunities in Jammu Kashmir have pushed people to the wall. “It allows terrorism to flourish. If we are in
power after elections, I assure you Jammu Kashmir will flourish, a new dawn of peace and development will be
set in with every citizen part of it,” he said.
He said Jammu and Kashmir is deprived of democracy for more than six years and there is total uncertainty
about Assembly elections and restoration of statehood despite commitment on the floor of the house by the
Prime Minister and Home Minister.
“NDPI stands guarantee to peace, harmony, dignity, restoration of statehood and rights to land and jobs,” Gupta
asserted. He said that he will ensure that every person living in Jammu and Kashmir will feel safe if his party is
elected to power. Those who attended the meeting were Umesh Manhas, Kuljeet Singh, Tilakraj, Rajiv Luthra,
Sandeep Anand and others.
Successive regimes fail to address J&K issues: Rajesh Gupta
Live for Others-Being Helpful Foundation organise “District Level Poster Making Competition
Live For Others – Being Helpful Foundation organised a district level Poster Making Competition on the theme of “Say No To Drugs” at Christ School, Poonch under the guidance of Mr. Vivek Parihar, Director of LFO-BHF.
Students of different schools and classes participated in this competition. Around 33 participants participated in this competition. They prepared various colourful posters showing the evil effect of drugs. The objective of this competition was to bring the awareness among students about the bad effects of Drugs.
The students from the school participated in the event enthusiastically. The students were instructed that the poster must be handmade along with stepwise pictures to ensure originality of the work.
S.H.O Ranjeet Singh Rao was the chief guest of this event stated that the aim of this competition is to create awareness about issues related to drugs and strengthening action and cooperation in order to make the world free of drug abuse.
The judges of this event was
Dr. Zeba Manzar Manhas ( Senior Judge), Dr. Sarfaraz Mir, Sardar Surjan Singh & Purva Jaral.
On speaking with Father Shijo, Principle Christ School, Poonch praised LFO-BHF for organising this event and instil a value amongst students and to motivate them to say no to drugs.
Volunteers of LFO-BHF ( Mr. Mazher Hussain & Shahid Shah Kazmi) said that our NGO is always prompt to organise the events of cultural, literary and intellectual importance which sensitize youth towards social issues and ask for their point of view with the aim to channelize their energies towards creativity and positivity.
Kashmiri Pandit employees should be transferred to Jammu till situation improves in Valley: Ghulam Nabi Azad
Srinagar, Dec 26 (PTI) Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday said Kashmiri Pandit employees posted in the valley should be temporarily transferred to Jammu to save their lives in the wake of targeted attacks by terrorists.
“A decision has to be taken as per the situation. When the situation improves, they (KP employees) should come back. But currently, there is fear in the minds of these employees. For the time being, they should be transferred to Jammu so that their lives can be saved. Why should they be killed,” he questioned.
Azad was speaking to reporters after a rally in Anantnag district, 55 kilometres from here. Azad said incidents of targeted killings that have taken place in the past one year have resulted in a situation that Kashmiri Pandit employees posted here do not want to stay.
“How will the other KPs come back in such a situation,” he asked.
Azad said it was during his tenure as chief minister that 6,000 posts were sanctioned under the PM’s Package for KPs.
“It was in my tenure that the Jagti township came up, the accommodation at Budgam and other places was also built under the double shift work,” he added.
On the impact of Bharat Jodo Yatra spearheaded by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Azad said, “Let them do what they are doing, we will do our work. We are also working to unite. We walk in the snow-clad mountains. Some people take the easier task, we take on the tough ones.” Earlier, addressing the rally, Azad said there should be a separate policy to deal with militants which should not be extended to ordinary people.
He said not every Kashmiri should be viewed with suspicion.
“There are two categories of people. One is a militant who gets arms training in Pakistan or here only. Every government has a policy to deal with them. I have not said they should be forgiven. However, there are ordinary people who have no links to militancy, they should not be harassed,” Azad said.
India needs to break free from narrow views of past to achieve heights of success: PM Modi
New Delhi, Dec 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India needs to break free from the “narrow views” of the past to take the country to heights of success.
Speaking at the first ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ event, Modi paid tributes to Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, Guru Gobind Singh’s sons who laid down their lives while defending their faith.
“On the one hand there was terrorism and on the other spiritualism. On one hand there was communal violence while on the other there was liberalism. On one hand there were forces of lakhs while on the other there were just Veer Sahibzaade who did not budge at all,” he said referring to the two martyred children of the Guru.
“Aurangzeb and his people wanted to convert the religion of Guru Gobind Singh’s children on the basis of sword that is why he decided to kill the two innocent children. Imagine that era when against the terror of Aurangzeb, against his plans to change India, Guru Gobind Singh ji stood like a mountain,” he said.
On the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary on January 9 this year, the prime minister had announced that December 26 will be observed as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ The prime minister said in the name of history, people were being taught versions which promoted inferiority complex among them and that to move forward in the ‘Amrit Kaal’ and to take India to the heights of success in the future, “we have to break free from narrow views of the past.” Modi also listened to ‘shabad kirtan’ recited by school children at the event, which was also attended by chief ministers of Punjab and Maharashtra. (AGENCIES)
Modelling Data Foresee Low Circulation Of Covid Virus In J-K, Says Health Expert
SRINAGAR, Dec 26: Modelling data from credible agencies do not foresee any major Covid wave in Jammu and Kashmir, a leading pulmonologist said, but advised people to take precautionary measures as models ”can go horribly wrong”.
In a series of tweets, SKIMS Director Dr Parvaiz Koul said, ”Modelling data from credible agencies (like from University of Washington) predict a low circulation of the virus for coming weeks in JK (Jammu and Kashmir), but models can go horribly wrong.
”So stay calm, observe routine precautions and vaccinate if you haven’t, as per the advisories. NO PANIC PLEASE. Safety saves. Better safe than sorry.” Koul added that he had been receiving many calls from people about COVID-19 alerts in Jammu and Kashmir.
”Receiving many calls for the COVID alerts. Please note that J&K (Jammu and Kashmir) and India as a whole are not experiencing an unusual surge as yet. However since it is winter, the time for circulation of respiratory pathogens in Kashmir, it is in one’s interest to be alert and cautious,” he said.
Koul said the situation in China, which is believed to be going through a massive resurgence of Covid infections, was different on various counts.
”But kindly do not panic. The situation in China is different. They resorted to strict lockdowns which resulted in lower exposure to the virus and a lower immunity by natural infection.
”Also the vaccine used predominantly in China is the inactivated Sinopharm/Sinovac vaccine which is inferior in evoking a robust immune response as compared to the adenovirus vectored vaccine used predominantly in India,” he added.
Dr Koul said as there was no data on the percentage of the Chinese population that had been immunised, China might have opened up ”abruptly”. ”And we do not know the percentage immunized among those vulnerable to severe illness (like the old or those with comorbidities) in China, specifically about booster doses. Possibly they opened abruptly without adequate immunisation of the vulnerable,” he said.
Dr Koul said the variants of Omicron circulating in China had a high transmissibility. ”These BF.7 and XBB have been reported from India for a while but haven’t caused any outbreaks so far. For any variant to survive it has to demonstrate some immune escape, which is why these sub variants of Omicron have survived. However, as a group, Omicron does not cause severe illness and most of the symptoms are those of the upper respiratory tract rather than the lower RT and the lungs,” he added.
Dr Koul, however, warned that new and more virulent variants could emerge anytime. He also emphasised on genomic surveillance to stay on the lookout for emerging variants. ”This is the reason for the advisory from MOHFW (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India). India has a clear advantage of higher vaccinations and more natural infections during the Omicron surge,” he said.
Asked if he recommended voluntary testing, Dr Koul said, ”It is always better to be with ‘eyes open’ rather than ‘closed.” Dr Koul said those who were advised the precautionary dose but did not receive it would be helped by boosting their immunity.
”International travel to countries with high Covid activity must be undertaken with caution and only if absolutely necessary,” he said.
J&K Women’s Development Corporation Org By Awarness Camp Cum Mela At Kathua
A long day awareness Camp cum Mela organised by J&K Women’s Development Corporation & sponsored by National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation, New Delhi at Kathua. Awareness Camp was attended by Sarpanch Sh Ramesh Kumar, Naib Sarpanch Sh. Rohit Sharma Vice Principal Ms. Anjana , Head Master Sh. Sukhdev Head Master, District Cordinators MSK(DHEW) Ms. Shilpa Sharma & Ms. Shikha, Sh. Pawan Kumar & Balbir Kumar Field Asstt. Social Activist Ms. Meena Kumari, and other prominent personalities. On the Occasion Shashi Kant Sharma District Incharge , JKWDC briefly explained
About the awareness regarding loan schemes especially schemes for backward classes, implemented by the Government for the benefits of females of society which further includes sponsored schemes including women schmes of Union Teritory Jammu and Kashmir. Sh. Pawan Kumar Field Asstt. JKWDC Udhampur has encouraged peoples of the respective area to take benefits from Government Schems at a nominal rate of interest.
BJP’s proxy rule in J&K resulting in peoples’ alienation: Harsh Dev
Chenani, 26-12-2022: Re-iterating the demand for early restoration of democracy in J&K and holding of early assembly polls, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh, Former Minister and Chairman AAP J&K SCC today said that the erstwhile state was being illogically and illegitimately deprived of popular govt in violation of constitutional guarantees as well as the ‘obiter dicta’ laid down by the Apex court over the subject. A remote controlled system of governance could not be the solution for the woes and sufferings of the people of J&K. Its the local leaders and local Ministers and elected MLAs who could better address the concerns of their people and bail them out from their sufferings and pains. The proxy rule of BJP has only led to peoples’ alienation, said Mr. Singh. The outside bureaucrats and New Delhi leaders, despite their best of efforts, could not be the substitute for legitimate, elected govt asserted, Mr. Singh. Seeking the end of BJP’s proxy rule, he called upon the union govt to take immediate measures to hand over power to the sons of soil in J&K who alone could address the peculiar problems of the new set up in J&K. He was addressing public meetings in Kalound and Ladha villages of Chenani constituency today.
“While the unprecedented power cuts and drinking water scarcity had made the lives of people a living hell, the proxy govt imposed by the centre was acting as a mute spectator. No concrete measures were being taken to address the chaotic situation which had created massive resentment all over the UT. The situation was the same with regard to other Deptts including Health, Education, RDD where corruption was at its peak with no takers for the genuine concerns of the aggrieved masses. Elected representatives therefore alone could be the panacea for the ills afflicting the UT which had continued to remain deprived of popular rule for the last four years”, maintained Harsh.
Lampooning the inordinate delay in holding Assembly elections in the new UT, Mr. Singh said that the centre’s proxy rule in J&K was antithetical to democracy and amounted to subversion of the constitution. “The constitution categorically provided for a federal system of governance with timely elections for the Union as well as state legislatures. The people can’t be deprived of their legitimate rights to have an elected govt of their own. Seeking restoration of popular govt, Mr. Singh said that delay and deny over the issue only amounted to violation of the Indian Constitution which the centre claims to have extended to the UT of J&K. It was further violative of the directives of the Supreme Court which has held that election should be completed within six months in all those States/UTs wherein the assemblies are dissolved prematurely”, divulged Harsh.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Mrs. Manju Singh, Rampaul Bhagat, Prem Nath (Sarpanch), Rangil Singh, Naresh Romy, Raj Kumar besides others.Govt approves Chatargalla Tunnel, BJP workers took out gratitude rally in Bhadarwah
By King RJ
Bhadarwah, Dec 26: To express their gratitude towards Government especially Nitin Gadkari and Dr Jitendra Singh, Hundreds of BJP workers and locals of Bhadarwah constituency converged at Bhadarwah to celebrate the sanctioning of prestigious 4,000 cr Chattergalla Tunnel project on Bhadarwah-Basholi-Pathankot road by Union Government
Hundreds of BJP workers and office bearers led by ex MLA Daleep Singh Parihar assembled at Community Hall Kotli Bhadarwah and took out gratitude rally.
DDC Chairman Doda Dhananter Singh, Vice-Chairperson Sangeeta Bhagat, DDC Councillor Yudhvir Thakur, Sr leader Advocate Manjeet Razdan, BDC Chairman Omi Chand, General Secretary Sanjay Saraf and Neeraj Singh Manhas along with other senior party workers participated in the rally and expressed gratitude to Union Minister Dr Jatinder Singh and Minister of surface Transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari for providing sanction to the much awaited prestigious project of construction of Chattergalla Tunnel to provide all weather interstate connectivity on Bhadarwah-Basholi-Pathankot national highway.
The Rally after passing through various bazaars including New Bus Stand Kotli, ADC Office, Chobia Link road, Lakshmi Narayan Chowk and Seri Bazar culminated back at Community Hall. The workers raised slogans in favour of BJP party and PM Narinder Modi.
While addressing Media, Ex MLA Daleep Singh Parihar said that the Chattergalla Tunnel will connect Bhadarwah with Pathankot via Basholi. It was a long pending demand of the people of Chenab Region and with the sanction of this project, it will change the fortunes of the region especially of Bhadarwah.
Parihar said that “it’s really a dream come true for the residents of entire Chenab Region in general and people of Bhaderwah in particular as this project will open new avenues of opportunities especially unemployed youth will get job in this mega project.”
“This became a reality only because of the MoS in PMO Dr Jatinder Singh(who is also MP from Doda-Udhampur parliamentary constituency) , who kept his promise and toiled hard to get the tunnel sanctioned,” said Vice-Chairperson DDC Doda Sangeeta Bhagat.
They also express their gratitude to Dr Jatinder Singh for his untiring efforts to get the project sanctioned.
It is notable that few days back, Surface Transport and highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari after a meeting with LG Manoj Sinha and Dr Jatinder Singh accorded sanction for the tunnel under Bharatmala project with a project cost of Rs 4,000 crore.
The Art of living Jammu Chapter Conducted Happiness
Courses – Workshops on Yoga, Pranayama and Meditations
Jammu Dec 26, 2022: The Art of Living Jammu and Kashmir Chapter conducted 2 Happiness Courses in Separate batches in offline mode last week. One happiness workshop got concluded at Gian Mandir Adarsh Enclave Trikuta Nagar Extn., Jammu J&k which ran for 6 days totaling 15 hours on 2/3 hours on daily basis. Another batch in which participants took part was at Art of Living Kathua centre at Dr Mengis Hospital.
The Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s unique Sudarshan Kriya was taught in the workshops conducted by AOL Jammu Chapter in which devotees across the state participated.
A very dedicated team of the Art of Living teachers from Jammu Chapter Suman Sharma and Sh Shakti Sagar Gupta took sessions to give successful completion to the program at Trikuta nagar Jammu Centre and Sh Bhagwati Prashad conducted Sessions at Kathua centre. Apart from the powerful breathing techniques— Yoga, Pranayama and meditation, the program also had interactive wisdom sessions that provided practical life tools to handle any difficult or stressful situation in life. People from different walks of life participated and experienced a tremendous relief from ailments, emotional
imbalance and physical fitness issues. Art of Living teacher Suman Sharma informed that Course which ran six days 2-3 hours every day was meant to give insight to the life skills necessary for the well-being of human kind. Sh Shakti Sagar Gupta who also took sessions said that the unique breathing technique taught during the workshop eliminates stress, fatigue and negative emotions such as anger, frustration and depression, leaving one calm yet energized, focused yet relaxed with resultants of reduced heart rate and blood pressure.
Foreigners Test Covid Positive At Bihar’s Gaya Airport, Isolated
Four foreign nationals who came to attend the religious preaching of Tibetan Spiritual Leader Dalai Lama at Gaya have been found to be Covid positive raising fears of a surge in the number of Covid cases at the religious place. The foreigners have currently been isolated at a hotel in Bodh Gaya, said Civil surgeon Dr Ranjan Kumar Singh.
He also said that random corona screening of the passengers arriving at Gaya International Airport is being done during which the four passengers were found to be Covid positive. “The four foreigners had come to Bodhgaya to attend Dalai Lama’s religious programme to be held from December 29 to 31. One of them is from Myanmar and the other three are the residents of Bangkok,” he said.
“The condition of all four is normal and they are being treated. Following the positive cases, the Covid detection process has been accelerated,” he added.
The testing for Covid-19 is being carried out at the Gaya international airport and Gaya railway station.
As per the Centre’s guidelines, two per cent of international passengers arriving at Indian airports are to be tested.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has already held a meeting with top officials and experts to take stock of the Covid situation in the country.
The entire country is gearing up for a possible fourth wave of Covid-19, with the new Omicron sub-variant BF.7, which is said to be the reason behind the surge in Covid cases in China, being detected in India.