New Delhi, Dec 13: India on Tuesday strongly condemned the visit of the secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and for his comments on Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the grouping has no locus standi in matters related to the region.
In a sharp reaction to OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha’s trip to PoJK, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said “Any attempt of interference and meddling in India’s internal affairs by OIC and its secretary general is completely unacceptable.” He said the OIC has already lost its “credibility” by taking a “blatantly communal, partisan and factually incorrect approach” to the issues.
Taha was on a three-day visit to Pakistan from December 10-12.
“We strongly condemn the visit of the OIC secretary general to Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and his comments on J&K during his visit to Pakistan. Let me reiterate that OIC has no locus standi in matters related to Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral and inalienable part of India,” Bagchi said.
He was responding to media queries on the visit of the OIC official to the PoJK.
“The OIC has already lost its credibility by taking a blatantly communal, partisan and factually incorrect approach to issues. Its secretary-general has unfortunately become a mouthpiece of Pakistan,” Bagchi said “We hope that he would refrain from becoming a partner in carrying out the nefarious agenda of Pakistan of promoting cross-border terrorism into India, especially in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
A statement by the OIC said Taha briefed Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his diplomatic efforts on the question of Jammu and Kashmir.
The OIC is a grouping of Muslim-majority nations. (AGENCIES)
India Hits Out At OIC Secretary General For Visiting PoJK
Active Covid cases dip to 3,845
New Delhi, Dec 13: India logged 114 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases dipped to 3,845, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.
No fresh fatalities have been reported.
The Covid case tally stands at 4.46 crore (4,46,75,095) while the death toll was 5,30,658, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.80 per cent, the ministry said.
A decrease of 61 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to
4,41,40,592, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.
According to the ministry’s website, 219.97 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year. It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year. (AGENCIES)
Minimum temperatures drops in J&K due to clear night sky
JAMMU, Dec 13: The minimum temperatures again dropped in Jammu and Kashmir due to clear night sky.
Weather was cold and dry in J&K during the last 24 hours as the Meteorological (MeT) office said on Tuesday that similar conditions were likely to continue.
“Cold, dry weather with mainly clear sky is likely in J&K during the next 24 hours,” the MeT department official said.
Srinagar had minus 2.2, Pahalgam minus 3 and Gulmarg minus 5.5 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.
In the Ladakh region, Kargil had minus 10.6 and Leh minus 7.4 as the minimum temperature.
Jammu had 8, Katra 9.3, Batote 2.9, Banihal 0.2 and Bhaderwah 1.2 as the minimum temperature. (Agencies)
IED defused in north Kashmir’s Sopore
An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was found and then defused in North Kashmir’s Sopore, along Kupwara bypass road by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS). The operation was carried out by Army’s 52RR, CRPF and Sopore police. Following the standard operating procedure, traffic was halted on the usually busy Srinagar road, immediately after the big IED was found by the security forces.
The IED looked very big, due to which the bomb defusal operation, which was underway since morning 6 am, took about 4 hours for completion. Significantly the Srinagar road on which the IED was found is a location with heavy vehicular movement – It connects Baramulla, Sopore and also Handwara, Kupwara.
Action initiated against 92 govt employees for absenteeism
Srinagar, December 12
Authorities in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday initiated disciplinary action against 92 government employees who were found unauthorisedly absent from work, officials said. “The district administration Anantnag today cracked the whip on employees coming late to offices and remaining absent without sanctioned leaves during a district-wide drive held on the directions of Deputy Commissioner (DC), Anantnag, Dr Basharat Qayoom,” an official spokesman said.
He said during the drive, senior officials from the administration inspected 58 offices and found 92 employees absent.
The Deputy Commissioner’s office has issued directions to the officials concerned to initiate disciplinary action against employees found absent. The district heads of these offices have also been asked to explain the lack of supervision, the spokesman said.
The offices where surprises checks were conducted included Chief Education Office, Chief Horticultural Office, ACD, REW, DSHO, Fisheries, FCD Anantnag, ARTO, SD Hospital Kokernag, MC Bijbehara, SDM Bijbehara, Girls HSS Bijbehara, Tourism Pahalgam, BDO office Larnoo, TSO office Larnoo, BMO Office Larnoo and HSS Kokernag.
Qayoom said there is a zero-tolerance policy towards absenteeism and lack of punctuality. He said biometric attendance has been installed in most of the offices in the district. Any official flouting the norms will be taken to task, the Deputy Commissioner said, adding such surprise checks will continue in future.
MP Congress leader Raja Pateria detained over his ‘kill Modi’ remarks
Congress leader and former minister Raja Pateria was on Tuesday detained by Panna Police from his residence, in connection with his alleged “kill Modi” remarks.
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on Monday afternoon at Pawai police station in Panna district against the Congress leader and former state minister for making remarks against the prime minister. Pateria has been booked under sections 451, 504, 505 (1)(b), 505 (1)(C), 506, 153-B (1)(C) of the IPC. He was detained from his residence in Hatta of Damoh district early this morning.
State Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Monday ordered filing a FIR against the Congress leader.
On Sunday, Pateria the former Madhya Pradesh minister, purportedly made the controversial remarks at a meeting of Mandalam Sector presidents organized by the District Congress Committee at Powai Rest House.
In the video that went viral, Pateria could be heard saying that “PM Modi will “end elections, divide people on the basis of religion and Dalits face the biggest threat under his regime”. “You should be ready to carry out ‘Modi ki hatya’ if you want to save the Constitution…hatya (kill) in the sense of defeating him,” Pateria is heard saying.
Agitated over his statement, the BJP leaders demanded Pateria’s immediate arrest and also sought the strictest probe into the matter.
In the letter to DGP, the BJP leaders said: “A video in the matter has gone viral over social media and electronic media where a senior leader of Congress was seen appealing to kill the Prime Minister in an open address in a village of Panna. Such an appeal to kill the Prime Minister shows that there is a serious challenge to national security, and a conspiracy to spread anarchy and cause a riot in Madhya Pradesh.”
“This seems to be an attempt to hatch a conspiracy to kill PM Modi and encourage Naxalism in the state,” the letter read further.
Pateria in a clarification video said, “I am a follower of Gandhi ji and Gandhi’s followers can not talk about murder. The video has been misinterpreted.”
“I meant to say that it is necessary to defeat him to save this country’s Constitution, to protect minorities, Dalits, and tribal and to remove unemployment. My intention about the murder has been misrepresented,” Pateria added.
AAP appoints Rajya Sabha member Sandeep Pathak as its national general secretary
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday appointed Rajya Sabha member Sandeep Pathak after it became eligible for national party status following the recent Gujarat assembly election results. Pathak was the election in-charge for Punjab and Gujarat.
“Aam Aadmi Party hereby appoints Dr. Sandeep Pathak as the Rashtriya Sangathan Mahamantri (National General Secretary Organisation),” AAP said in a release. “He will also be a Permanent Invitee to the Politiical Affairs Committee (PAC) of the party.”
The announcement came ahead of AAP’s national council meeting scheduled for December 18.
The meeting is likely to be held at a farmhouse in Delhi and may be addressed by AAP national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, and other senior leaders of the party. All 10 Rajya Sabha MPs, MLAs and party representatives from Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and other states are also likely to attend the meeting.
KVK starts Natural Farming training in Bhadarwah
By King RJ
Bhadarwah, Dec 12 : To encourage farmers to adopt chemical free farming, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare through Krishi Vigyan Kendra starts training programme on natural farming in hilly Doda district from Monday.
The flagship programme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare is primarily aimed at to promote organic farming by motivating and training the farmers to adopt natural and traditional ways of farming techniques there by minimising the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides.
The training programme in which 50 farmers drawn from different panchayts of Doda district are participating started at KVK Bhadarwah, where Scientist and Subject matter specialists (SMS) will train the participants in natural farming.
The programme was inaugurated by DDC Councilor from Bhadarwah west Thakur Yudhvir Singh Billawaria, who was the chief guest on the occasion while Incharge KVK Bhadarwah Dr Amit Charak Presided the inaugural function.
It’s notable to mention here that out of total 766 districts in India 425 districts have been choosen for Natural farming across India by Ministry and District Doda is one among them.
Speaking with the farmers Dr Amit Charak said that Natural Farming is the need of the time and center Govt has made a resolve to replace chemical farming with natural farming.
“Evidence shows that moving towards sustainable practices will conserve natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, potentially reduce cost of production and climate-related risks for farmers. In line with these ideas, the prime minister himself has urged farmers to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and also remarked on the use of ‘zero budget natural farming’ for soil conservation,” Dr Charak said.
Calling for a “back to the basics” approach, Dr G N Jha of KVK said, “We need to replicate this innovative model through which in a few States, farmers are already being trained in this practice. Steps such as this can help in doubling our farmers’ income and KVK through aggressive training in motivating programmes will try it’s best to make it possible in the length and breadth of hilly Doda district.”
Jha said that training on Natural Farming under the ICAR-ATARI, Zone-I, Ludhiana Sponsored project “Outscaling of Natural Farming through KVKs is aimed at to switch farmers to natural farming.
Yudhvir Singh Thakur, DDC Member, Sarpanch Parveen Jaryal, Jaswant Manhas Progressive Farmer (Matka Khad) and others were present on the occasion.
Zero budget natural farming (ZBNF) is a method of chemical-free agriculture drawing from traditional Indian practices.
It was originally promoted by Maharashtrian agriculturist and Padma Shri recipient Subhash Palekar, who developed it in the mid-1990s as an alternative to the Green Revolution’s methods driven by chemical fertilizers and pesticides and intensive irrigation. He argued that the rising cost of these external inputs was a leading cause of indebtedness and suicide among farmers, while the impact of chemicals on the environment and on long-term fertility was devastating. Without the need to spend money on these inputs — or take loans to buy them — the cost of production could be reduced and farming made into a “zero budget” exercise, breaking the debt cycle for many small farmers.
JJSF announces its unit for GGM Science College Jammu
LG Administration playing with the future of youth, alleges Pushvinder.
Keshav Malhotra was nominated as President, Rajat Sadotra as Working President of the College Unit.
Jammu, 12th December: Jammu Joint students’ Federation (JJSF) organized an impressive joining programme at GGM Science College Jammu. The programme was organized under the leadership of Atul Sudan (State Vice-President JJSF) where Advocate Pushvinder Singh Manhas State President JJSF was the special guest of the programme who was accompanied by Rakesh Khajuria General Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Wrestling Association, Anshu Sharma JJSF President Jammu University, Opinder Sharma, Harpreet Singh Lucky, Abhisek, Raghu Nandan and other office bearers of JJSF.
Delivering the welcome address on the occasion Atul Sudan, State Vice President, JJSF said that JJSF has a history that it has led various agitations against the successive governments for discriminating Jammu. He said that JJSF always stood against injustice with the Jammu region in general and student community in particular. He assured all the students of the college that JJSF will work shoulder to shoulder with them for the welfare of the students’ community.
Addressing the students Pushvinder Singh Manhas (State President JJSF) said that JJSF will raise all students concerned issues and will do their best to get them all addressed. He said that today there are many students and youth related issues which need to be raised and addressed. He expressed faith that the newly announced college unit will raise all such issues and will fight for rights and justice of youth and students of Jammu. He lambasted JKUT Administration and JKSSB for exploiting the youth of Jammu Kashmir on the name of recruitments conducted by private firms. He appealed to the Lieutenant Governor that Government recruitment should be completely conducted by Government agencies as they can be made accountable. He said that when the government has each and every resource then why do we need such private agencies which are tainted and are indulged in malpractices. He appealed to the Youth of Jammu Kashmir to support and strengthen the JJSF so that we can fight for reforms in recruitment processes under JKSSB and PSC.
Meanwhile, Adv. Pushvinder Singh Manhas, State President JJSF announced the college unit in which Keshav Malhotra was nominated President, Rajat Sadotra as Working President, Manik Sharma, Azhar, Harish Verma and Anu Sharma as Vice Presidents, Karan Kumar and Kannu as General Secretaries, Aryan Sharma, Abhishek Hans, Danish Manhas, Gaurav Charak, Ankita Devi, Megha Sharma as Secretaries, Arjun as Organization Secretary, Sameer Tadyal as Press Secretary, Rahil Kumar, Anyam Verma, Ankita Bhagati, Ayushi as Spokespersons, Vishwas as Incharge 1st Sem, Avinash Thappa as Cashier, Anirudh as Treasurer where as Kapil Sadotra, Suhani Sharma, Tushar Verma, Pratiba and Jyoti were nominated as Executive members of the Unit. After the program students took out a grand procession in college premises.
Newly nominated members of the unit headed by Keshav and Rajat while addressing the students said that JJSF is the only non political students organization which always fought for the cause of Jammu and had fought many historical agitations for the people of Jammu and this was the only reason that they decided to join JJSF. They further assured the JJSF leaders that they shall leave no stone unturned in fighting against the injustice with students and youth of Jammu and under the banner of JJSF.
AAP holds massive procession in Udhampur town. No takers for woes and sufferings of common masses in BJP rule: Harsh Dev
Udhampur, 12-12-2022: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a massive rally in Udhampur Town comprising several hundreds of Party workers under the leadership of Mr. Harsh Dev Singh Former Minister, Chairman AAP J&K SCC and senior AAP leader against the govt failure in ensuring even the basic civic amenities to the people of District Udhampur. The protestors assembled in the Mini Stadium Udhampur in the morning and took out a massive procession in the town which started from Jal Shakti Deptt office and after passing through, PMGSY office Municipal Council office, Power Deptt office, main bazaar, Rural Dev office culminated at DC office where a memorandum was submitted pointing towards various acts of omission and commission being committed in various govt Deptts in the District with impunity. The angry protestors alleged that the local administration was acting as mute spectator in the wake of multiple acts of misfeasance, malfeasance and corruption which had triggered massive resentment in the District including both urban and rural areas.
Mr. Harsh Dev Singh while speaking to media persons, said that acute mess prevailed in almost all Deptts in the District and particularly in PMGSY, Jal Shakti, Power Deptt, Education, Local Bodies, RDD, Revenue Deptt, NHAI etc with none to listen to the shrill cries of the public for provision and even restoration of essential services. Pointing towards the acute drinking water problems in town as well as rural areas, Mr. Singh said that all tall claims of govt of providing ‘Har ghar nal’ had proved to be a cruel joke with people forced to fetch water from bowlis, wells, talabs and nallahs. He said ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ so loudly trumpeted for the last 4 years had failed to take off and even the routine works had come to a standstill. Where was the money earmarked under District Plan, State Plan, NRDWSP, NABARD etc going was a million dollar question with none to answer the aggrieved public protesting on roads on day to day basis.
Charging the corrupt elements in the system of having diverted and siphoned funds meant for compensation for lands and houses acquired for PMGSY roads, Mr. Singh regretted that even the funds released by GoI during the last 8-10 years had not been disbursed to the affected land and house owners. He said that the details of many such cases with proofs of compensation funds having been released by the govt in 2012 and thereafter had been provided by him to Deputy Commissioner and other officers who had failed to act against the delinquent officers who withheld the money due to the poor land and house owners which constituted an offence of grave nature and which needed due cognizance of authorities concerned for initiating criminal proceedings against the culprits. Likewise the compensation for crop loss to farmers had been released last year by the govt but had not been disbursed to affected farmers till date. He further pointed towards the shabby plight of roads under PMGSY and NHAI adding further that payments due to labourers and mates had been inordinately delayed by the executing agencies of the said deptts. He further accused the NHAI of dismantling and removing private structures and shops of traders and other house owners on pick and choose basis. Mr. Singh said that Udhampur City had been converted into a dustbin with hillocks of garbage raised in various parts much to the discomfiture and annoyance of the inhabitants therein. He further stated in the memorandum that payments under MGNREGA and ‘Saubhagya’ scheme of rural electrification were also pending for the last several years with concerned authorities maintaining a criminal silence over the payment of wages to labourers for works executed under the said schemes.
Pointing towards the chronic shortage of teachers in rural areas of District Udhampur, Mr. Singh observed that education was the biggest casualty of the criminal apathy of the helmsmen which had largely paralysed academic activity in the educational institutions in the far-flung areas. He called for proper rationalization of staff and lifting of ban on teachers’ recruitment so that careers of rural students could be saved.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Mrs. Manju Singh, Mrs. Ashri Devi DDC, Raj Kapoor, Des Raj BDC Chairman, Dharam Singh Bittu, Rampaul Bhagat, Col.(rtd) Som Raj Sharma, Ravi Shastri, Varun Bhagat and around two dozen Sarpanchs including Sudesh Kumar, Pawan Sharma, Karnail Singh, Uttam Singh, Devinder Singh, Sugriv, Sunita Devi besides others.