Jammu: Mughal Road, connecting twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri with Shopian, reopened after remaining closed for 12 hours due to stone-slide at Shakargah.

Official sources said that that the historic throughfare reopened for traffic a shortwhile ago. DySP Traffic Rajouri Poonch Range, Aftab Bukhari confirmed it to local news agency GNS.

Meanwhile Authorities said that traffic was plying on Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with outside world. SSG Road was through for the traffic, they added.

JAMMU: Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday demanded a debate on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the Lok Sabha, saying innocent citizens were losing their lives in the valley, either at the hands of terrorists, or due to security forces’ mistakes.

Raising the matter as the House took up “issues of urgent public importance”, Chowdhury said, “Innocent civilians are losing lives in Jammu and Kashmir, and it is not stopping.”

“At times by the terrorists’ bullet, and at times due to the mistakes of the forces, innocent people are losing their lives.

“They had said in the House that after abrogation of Article 370, we will capture PoK, and Aksai Chin. But today, Pandits are being forced out of the valley, lists are being made by terrorists to eliminate Pandits,” Chowdhury said.

“We want a detailed discussion in Lok Sabha on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir,” the Congress leader said.

Dausa: The Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra resumed from here on Monday with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and senior leader Sachin Pilot walking alongside the former Congress chief.

Gandhi and the Congress leaders and workers began their march from Bandikui in Dausa. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Gandhi will address a rally in Alwar this afternoon. The yatra will not have an evening session on Monday.

The yatra, which was launched on September 7 in Kanyakumari has traversed Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and now, Rajasthan. It completed 100 days on Friday last.

The yatra will enter Delhi on December 24, and after a break of about eight days, move on to Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and finally, Jammu and Kashmir.Besides participation from tinsel town celebrities, writers, military veterans, including former Navy chief admiral L Ramdas, Opposition leaders such as Shiv Sena’s Aaditya Thackeray and the NCP’s Supriya Sule, and former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, have also joined the march at various points. (Agencies)

JAMMU: Democratic Azad Party (DAP) chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday announced names of several office bearers including the zonal and district presidents of the party besides appointing the head of party’s Jammu women wing.

Azad announced five zonal presidents for south and central Kashmir, Central Jammu, Chenab valley and Pir Panjal regions. Gulzar Ahmed Wani has been appointed as zonal presidents for South Kashmir, Peer Bilal for Central Kashmir, Chaudhary Gharu Ram for central Jammu, Prithviraj Manhas for Chenab Valley and advocate Zahid Malik for Pir Panjal. The committees would be constituted within a week’s time, a spokesman said.

The party also appointed 13 district presidents among whom Ayub Takur has been appointed as district president Pulwama, Mushtaq Ahmed Khandey as Shopian district president, Mir Muneer Kupwara district president, Shoaib Lone Baramulla district president and Vinod Sharma Jammu Urban district president.

Ashwani Khajuria has been appointed district president for Udhampur, Sushil Sharma for Rajouri, Brijeshwar Singh Bindoo for Kathua, Asif Jehan Gattu for Doda, Shabbir Ahmed Lone from Kishtwar, Surinder Singh from Reasi Rural, Rattan Singh (as working president) for Reasi rural and Bishan Mangotra for Reasi urban will act as district presidents.

“The remaining districts and committees will be announced soon,” the spokesman said.
Azad appointed Prabha Salathia as the president of Jammu province women wing of the party and said the members of the committee will be chosen later, the spokesman said.

He said Bashir Aarif has been appointed as the secretary to the chairman, while five prominent leaders were named as members of the Jammu province party along with eight general secretaries and nine secretaries.

“More names of office bearers and members of the executive committee will be announced later,” the spokesman said.

JAMMU: Terming India’s presidency of G-20 as a unique opportunity to showcase the potential of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday called upon Youth Clubs, Women Entrepreneurs, Tourism Entrepreneurs, Innovators to come together to showcase Vibrant & Progressive Jammu Kashmir during India’s G-20 Presidency.

“It is an opportune moment for Jammu and Kashmir to showcase its cultural richness and tourism potential on the world stage,” the Lt Governor said, addressing the people of the UT through the 21st edition of monthly radio programme ‘Awaam Ki Awaaz’.

He also invited suggestions and ideas from the citizens through My Gov J&K, WhatsApp number of ‘Awaam Ki Awaaz’ for the G-20 events to be conducted in J&K.
Sharing his thoughts on recently concluded ‘My Town My Pride’ campaign, the Lt Governor said that the urban connect movement was celebrated as a festival of vibrant urban local self-governance.

Jan Bhagidari is reflection of a progressive society. It paves the way for ‘Bottom-Up’ approach in governance and helps us formulate the policies as per public needs. Recently concluded ‘My Town My Pride’ campaign was aimed at energizing Urban Local Bodies and directing development efforts in urban areas through community participation, the Lt Governor said.

Awakening of people’s power in the direction of inclusive development is the first step. We all have to make our contribution to bring a positive change in the expansion of infrastructure facilities, cleanliness campaigns, environmental protection, economic activities and green space, lake, river & heritage conservation, he added.

The Lt Governor also shared inspiring stories and voiced several suggestions of citizens received from across the UT.

Making a special mention of Dr Sanya Khan from Doda who is dedicatedly working for women empowerment & gender equality, the Lt Governor congratulated her for special focus on inclusiveness and hoped her work will inspire others to greater effort and success.

The Lt Governor complimented Rankaj Sadotra from Bishnah, Jammu who is providing an enabling environment for youth club & building a bridge between administration and public.

“Youth engagement in villages and towns through youth clubs building a robust social system,” he said.

Saima Shafi from Srinagar has made an immense contribution to popularize pottery. Artist always works from inner source of inspiration. We must appreciate & applaud the creativity of our artists who are an intrinsic part of our priceless artistic and cultural heritage, said the Lt Governor.

Highlighting that Self- Help Groups have become vital agents for bringing about change in the society, the Lt Governor said the success story of Yasmina Jan from Pulwama makes us feel immensely proud, who with the help of Rural Livelihood Mission, became Tral’s first dry fruit seller.

Noting that around five and a half lakh rural women are associated with handicrafts, household and small-scale industries, besides looking after their family and contributing in farming activities, the Lt Governor called on all sections of the society to come forward and contribute in the development of women power.

Only through social cooperation and encouragement, the whole country will be able to appreciate and acknowledge the wonderful work done by the women, he added.

The Lt Governor also mentioned about Self Help Groups of Prabha, Aasia Bano who are doing outstanding work and making their villages centres of trade & commerce and eventually turning Kathua district as a leader in furthering Women Empowerment.

The Lt Governor lauded the efforts of Sajan Gupta, Nikhil Randhawa, Sohan Lal, and Raman Gupta from Jammu, who have been identified as outstanding Agri-Entrepreneurs and have emerged as role models for the younger generation.

The Lt Governor also shared suggestions received from Sachin & Raman Jotshi from Jammu, Mushtaq Ahmad Sheikh from Anantnag, Rashid Chowdhary from Rajouri, Mehreen Altaf from Srinagar on various issues including measures to promote the iconic Balidan Stambh complex, connecting youth with stories of freedom movement, interventions for soil health management, transforming district libraries into vibrant centres of knowledge & wisdom, making morning assemblies in school more engaging and establishing helpdesks in Government departments with expansion of e-office.

Responding to the suggestions, the Lt Governor said many brave martyrs of J&K have made immense contribution in the freedom struggle and ensuring the unity & integrity of the country. To remind the youth of Jammu Kashmir of the glorious history and sacrifices of great men & women, culture and achievements is imperative to motivate the younger generation to contribute towards nation building with a greater sense of responsibility and zeal.

Referring to the suggestion of transforming district libraries, the Lt Governor announced that soon new books will be added to the existing stock of all district libraries. In last one year, work has been done on priority for renovation of all the district libraries, besides stocking of better books and facilities, he added.

The Lt Governor expressed his gratitude to the citizens for sending their invaluable suggestions and actionable points and assured them that necessary action will be taken by the concerned departments.