Jammu, Nov 16: BSF Additional Director General, Western Command, P V Rama Sastry on Wednesday interacted with the troops deployed along the International border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir and lauded their efforts in foiling the nefarious designs of anti-national elements.
Sastry on the last day of his three-day tour of Jammu frontier visited Sunderbani and Indreshwar Nagar sectors along the IB and was briefed about complexities of management, overall deployment of BSF and domination plan under prevailing security scenario, a spokesperson of the border guarding force said.
BSF Inspector General, Jammu frontier, D K Boora and other senior officers of the force accompanied Sastry who reviewed the security situation on Jammu IB, the spokesperson said.
Deputy Inspector General of BSF, Sunderbani and Indreshwar Nagar sectors, and battalion commanders briefed Sastry on the ground about complexities of management, overall deployment of BSF and domination plan of IB area under prevailing security scenario, he said.
The ADG BSF also visited the vital areas of Sunderbani and Indreshwar Nagar Sectors and examined the operational preparedness of field formations.
During the visit, Sastry interacted with troops in ‘Prahari Sammelan’ and applauded their professional acumen in safeguarding the IB in such stringent conditions, the BSF spokesperson said.
He hailed the relentless efforts of the BSF in successfully foiling all evil designs of the anti-national elements, the spokesperson said.
He said the troops interacted with the ADG with full enthusiasm and zeal.
Sastry reached Jammu frontier on November 14 and reviewed the security situation, including challenges related to drone activities and smuggling from across the border. (AGENCIES)
BSF ADG lauds troops for foiling evil designs of anti-national elements in J&K
Missile that landed in Poland fired by Ukrainian troops: Report
The initial investigation into the incident wherein a “Russian-made missile” hit Poland on Tuesday has suggested that the missile was fired by Ukrainian forces.
Kyiv’s troops were firing at an incoming Russian missile when it landed in the eastern part of Poland, a NATO member nation, near its Ukrainian border, Reuters quoted AP. Two people had died in the incident.
Earlier in the day, US President Joe Biden said that it was unlikely that a missile was fired from Russia. He made the statement at the G20 Summit venue in Bali while pledging support for Poland’s investigation into the incident.
Asked if the missile had been fired from Russia. Biden said: “There is preliminary information that contests that. It is unlikely in the minds of the trajectory that it was fired from Russia.”
This comes as reports said the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday. The incident has stoked fears that the conflict could escalate as members of NATO are committed to collective defence under Article 5.
Missile attack
Polish Foreign Ministry said the rocket fell on Tuesday evening on Przewodow, a village in eastern Poland about six kilometres from the border with Ukraine. The deceased two men were near the weighing area of a grain facility when the missile exploded, reported Reuters.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that the missile was a “single act” and there was no evidence of further missiles. According to Polish authorities, it is not clear who fired the missile, but the weapon was “most likely produced in Russia.”
“We are working calmly and in a very calm manner,” Polish President Andrzej Duda said during an address from the Bureau of National Security in Warsaw. He said the US is sending experts to investigate the site as part of a joint operation.
Russian stance
Russia has refused to take responsibility for the incident, calling out the allegations as a “deliberate provocation aimed at escalating the situation”.
“No strikes on targets near the Ukrainian-Polish state border were made by Russian means of destruction,” a statement read.
Meanwhile, the head of the permanent mission of Russia to the United Nations said on Wednesday that the incident in Poland was an attempt to provoke a direct clash between Russia and NATO.
“There is an attempt to provoke a direct military clash between NATO and Russia, with all the consequences for the world,” Dmitry Polyansky said on his Telegram channel.
Poland’s foreign ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador to explain why a Russian-made missile fell on Polish territory. Poland had also increased its military readiness of selected units of the Polish armed forces, with particular emphasis on airspace monitoring, in connection with the incident.
Poland had also planned to ask its NATO partners for a meeting under Article 4 of the NATO Treaty. Article 4 allows for any member to seek consultations with the rest of the alliance and states. “The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened,” the article states.
Biden phones Polish President
US President Joe Biden, who is in Bali to attend the G20 meetings, has spoken on phone with Polish President Andrzej Duda. Biden is said to have “expressed deep condolences for the loss of life in Eastern Poland earlier this evening,” according to a readout from the White House.
He also “reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to NATO” and both leaders agreed to “remain in close touch to determine appropriate next steps as the investigation proceeds,” the readout said.
Kathua Gangrape: SC Holds Accused Adult, Not To Be Tried As Juvenile
The Supreme Court on Wednesday held that one of the accused in the sensational gang-rape and murder case of an eight-year-old nomadic girl in Kathua was not a juvenile and now can be tried afresh as an adult for the offences.
The top court also held that medical opinion regarding the age of an accused cannot be “brushed aside” in the absence of statutory proof on the same issue.
“Medical opinion regarding age in absence of any other conclusive evidence should be considered to determine the age range of the accused…Whether medical evidence can be relied upon or not depends on the value of evidence,” a bench of justices Ajay Rastogi and J B Pardiwala said.
It set aside the orders of the Chief Judicial Magistrate at Kathua and the high court which had held that the accused Shubam Sangra was a juvenile and hence to be tried separately.
“We set aside the judgements of the CJM Kathua and the high court and hold that the accused was not a juvenile at the time of commission of offence ,” Justice Pardiwala said while pronouncing the verdict.
The girl was raped in a Kathua village in 2019.
A special court, in June 2019, had sentenced three men to life imprisonment in the case and sentenced three police officers to five-year imprisonment for causing destruction of evidence.
However, the trial against Sangra was shifted to the Juvenile Justice Board.
Roadmap for 2024 T20 World Cup starts now, a lot of people will get enough chances: Hardik Pandya
Wellington, November 16
Stand-in T20I skipper Hardik Pandya on Wednesday said the roadmap for 2024 T20 World Cup starts now, adding that going forward a lot of players will be given chances to stake their claim in the side.
India’s 2022 T20 World Cup hopes ended with a 10-wicket defeat against eventual champions England in the semifinals.
Pandya, who will be leading India in the three-match T20I series against New Zealand, starting Friday, said the team needs to overcome from their World Cup failure.
“Yes, we all know there is disappointment of the World Cup but we are professionals and we need to cope with it. It’s how we cope with our success, we cope with our failures and move forward. We look forward to get better by rectifying our mistakes,” Pandya told reporters.
The next T20 World Cup will be played in 2024 in the West Indies and the United States and the Indian squad is expected to undergo a major transition in the next two years with the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma among others being gradually eased out of the set-up.
“Yes, the next T20 WC is almost two years, so we have time (to unearth new talent). A lot of cricket will be played and a lot of people will get enough chances.
“The roadmap starts from now. But it’s too fresh right now. We have a lot of time, so we will sit down and have conversations on those grounds,” Pandya said.
“Right now it’s making sure that the boys enjoy playing here. We will talk about the future later,” he added.
The white-ball tour of New Zealand that includes three T20Is and as many ODIs will not feature Kohli, Rohit, opener KL Rahul, keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik and veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as all have been rested as part of “workload management of players”.
In their absence, the likes of Shubman Gill, Umran Malik, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson have been given a chance and Pandya says it will be an important series for them in the grand scheme of things.
“The main boys are not here but the same time the talent which the guys who are already here, they have also been playing for one and-a-half, two years now,” he said.
“They have had ample chances and enough time in international cricket to express themselves and show what they have. Very excited for them, new bunch of guys, new energy and excitement.
“Every series is important. You can’t play an international game thinking it’s not important. Yes, the World Cup is there but that’s a different format, it’s 50 overs.
“But it is an important series for a lot of boys who if they eventually do well here will be able to put a strong case going forward.”
‘We don’t need to prove anything to anyone’
In a scathing column after the semifinal loss, former England captain Michael Vaughan wrote that India has achieved absolutely nothing since winning the ODI World Cup at home in 2011 and has been the most under-performing white-ball team in the history.
Asked about Vaughan’s remarks, the all-rounder said, “I don’t think we need to prove anything to anyone.
“Obviously when you don’t do well, people will have their opinion, which we respect. I understand people have different points of view,” Pandya said.
“Being at the international level, I don’t think we need to prove anything to anyone. It’s a sport, you keep trying to get better and eventually when the result is supposed to happen it will happen.
“There are things we need to work on, going forward we will rectify and work on them.”
Active Covid-19 Cases In India Dip To 7,561
New Delhi, November 16: India saw a single-day rise of 501 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases have declined from 7,918 to 7,561, the health ministry said on Tuesday.
Currently, the total covid cases stand at 4,46,66,676, while the death toll has climbed to 5,30,535 with two more fatalities — one each from Delhi and Rajasthan.
The active cases comprised 0.02 per cent of the total infections and the recovery rate increased to 98.79 per cent, according to the data.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,28,580 and the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.
As many as 219.82 crore doses of covid vaccines have been administered in the country so far under the vaccination drive. (Agencies)
Dry weather, partly cloudy sky likely in J&K in next 24 hrs: MeT
JAMMU, Nov 16: Weather was generally dry in J&K during the last 24 hours as the MeT office said on Wednesday that dry weather with partly cloudy sky is expected during the next 24 hours.
“Dry weather with partly cloudy sky is expected in J&K during the next 24 hours”, an official of the MeT department said.
Srinagar had 2.4, Pahalgam minus 2.4 and Gulmarg minus 3.6 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.
In Ladakh region, Drass town had minus 13.2, Kargil minus 5 and Leh minus 8.6 as the minimum temperature.
Jammu had 11.7, Katra 11.2, Batote 3.5, Banihal 4.4 and Bhaderwah 2.5 as the minimum temperature. (AGENCIES)
J-K High Court dismisses ex-minister Choudhary Lal Singh’s plea against eviction notice
Jammu, November :
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Tuesday dismissed former minister Choudhary Lal Singh’s petition against an eviction notice issued to him and directed him to vacate the government residence allotted to him previously within six weeks.
Singh, the Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party president, was among several politicians who were served notices by the Estates department last month to vacate government accommodations at Jammu’s posh Gandhi Nagar locality.
The former minister had, however, moved the high court against the notice on the pretext that he was covered under ‘Z-category security’.
The case came up for hearing before Justice Sanjeev Kumar Shukla, who dismissed the petition after hearing the arguments from both sides, senior Additional Advocate General Monika Kohli told PTI.
She said the court gave six weeks’ time to the former minister to vacate the bungalow.
In its notice, the Estates department had asked Singh, who has been occupying the bungalow for the past two decades, to vacate the building by November 15.
A two-time MP and three time MLA, Singh switched from the Congress to the BJP in 2014 and was also a minister in the previous PDP-BJP government, which collapsed in June 2018.
Several months before the fall of the government, Singh had resigned from the BJP and floated his DSSP, following an uproar over his participation in a rally in support of the accused in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in January 2018.
Choudhary Lal Singh, however, defended his participation in the rally but claimed he was there to “defuse the situation”.
Later, he launched an agitation to press for a CBI inquiry into the incident.
Besides Singh, the government has also served a notice to PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, asking her to vacate her plush Fairview government bungalow in Srinagar.
Another former chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah vacated his official bungalow on Gupkar Road in 2020, even before the administration issued an eviction notice to him.
The change in entitlements for former chief ministers in the wake of the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories meant that they could not continue to live in the official residences provided to them in the erstwhile state.
Last year, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had directed the government to evict former ministers and legislators who were in “illegal occupation” of government bungalows.
“It is very unfortunate that some former ministers, legislators, retired officers and politicians have illegally and unauthorisedly managed to continue to stay in the residential accommodations provided to them by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, though they are no longer entitled to such accommodation,” the court had said in an order in February last year.
The Estates department, in its status report filed in the court, named 89 former ministers and ex-legislators who continue to occupy government bungalows. Some of the prominent names in the list include J&K BJP chief and former MLA Ravinder Raina and former J&K deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta.
G20 summit begins; economic recovery, climate change high on agenda
Bali: The 17th G20 Summit kicked off on Tuesday in the Indonesian resort island of Bali, with issues pertaining to world economic recovery, world health systems and climate change taking the centre stage.During the two-day summit under the theme “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”, other issues including digital transformation and food and energy security will also be discussed, reports Xinhua news agency.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the summit, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said he hopes that the summit can be a catalyst for inclusive global economic recovery.
Being responsible means respecting international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter consistently, and creating win-win not zero-sum situation, the President stressed.
“We should not divide the world into parts,” Widodo said, calling on the world to act wisely, shoulder the responsibility and show their leadership.
The summit comes as the world is facing multiple challenges such as the fragile economic recovery, the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic, an inflation higher than seen in several decades, tightening financial conditions in most regions, among others.
The International Monetary Fund in October projected the global economy to grow by 3.2 per cent this year and 2.7 per cent in 2023, with a downward 0.2-percentage-point revision for 2023 from the July forecast.
The international community pins its hope on major economies to strengthen coordination on macroeconomic policies and promote multilateralism, openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation at the summit.
Established in 1999, the G20 is a central forum for international cooperation on financial and economic issues.
It comprises 19 countries plus the European Union.
The countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, Britain and the US.
Tribal committee’s role in J&K’s development crucial: LG
Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Tuesday said that the tribal committee’s role in Jammu and Kashmir’s development was crucial.An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that addressing a Janjatiya Samagam on the launch of week-long festivities on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, the LG said, “We recognise the critical role and contribution of the tribal community in the development of J&K. They are the prime mover of the progress. Tribal community is our moral compass and taught us the values of co-existence, oneness, harmony and sustainable living.”
The LG shared various initiatives and resolutions taken by the J&K government for the welfare of the tribal community and tribal youth.
“We are making dedicated efforts to harness the potential and channelise the productive energy of tribal youth and women so that the new generation can transform the economic fortunes of their families and contribute to cultural and social vitality,” the LG said.
He said that special emphasis was being laid on beneficiary-oriented schemes and welfare infrastructure with priority to road connectivity, power supply, drinking water, modern tribal villages, self-employment, healthcare, skill development, scholarships and education.
The LG said that livelihood generation for tribals by harnessing the wealth of ‘Van Dhan’ aims to tap into traditional knowledge and skill sets of tribals by adding technology and IT to upgrade the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Vikas Yojna at each stage and convert tribal wisdom into a viable economic activity.
“We are promoting a culture of excellence in our schools in tribal-populated areas through smart classrooms. These schools will act as a vital source of new knowledge and innovative thinking, and as providers of highly skilled students,” he said.
Enumerating the steps taken to give impetus to the socio-economic development of the tribal community, the LG said that apart from Forest Rights Act, several infrastructures like transit accommodation, boys and girls hostels, Eklavya model residential schools, mini sheep farms, new dairy units, smartcards, trucks for migratory population, Pradhanmantri Aadi Aadarsh Gram Yojna, coaching programmes for NEET and JEE, UPSC, Technology Enabled Education Scheme, and Tribal Research Centre had been created.
“I urge those undertaking Padyatra to return home. Some people with vested interest are spreading rumours on reservation. They are the same people who do not want peace and progress in the region,” he said.
The LG said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was working tirelessly to fulfill the dreams of tribals.
“I urge people not to fall for those instigating people on reservation. The Home Minister has assured Gujjars and other communities’ interests will be protected and there will be no decrease in their quota even by one percent,” he said.
The LG said that after decades of wait, the PM had transformed the dream of social equity and justice into reality.
“It has brought fast and radical change in the lives of tribal communities and paved the path for socio-economic growth,” he said.
Paying tributes to Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his Janm-Jayanti, the LG remembered his immense contribution.
“I am confident the Janjatiya Gaurav Saptah will not only celebrate the rich contribution of the tribal community but instill a sense of pride in the tribal tradition and cultural values,” he said.
The LG said that Janjatiya Gaurav Saptah would act as a fillip to the efforts for preservation of tribal arts and culture in this hyper connected and internet driven world, to encourage upcoming artists and students of tribal literature.
Earlier, he launched a web portal for tribal awards to streamline and bring transparency in the nomination process.
Advisor to Lt Governor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar extended his wishes and greetings to the tribal community for the Janjatiya Diwas and highlighted the reforms introduced by the government for the empowerment of tribal population of J&K.
He lauded the contribution of tribal communities in the progress of J&K.
Secretary to Government, Tribal Affairs Department, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary highlighted the landmark initiatives for the welfare of tribal community.
Performances by the artists showcased the tribal culture and heritage of J&K.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar and DC Jammu Avny Lavasa were also present on the occasion.
Gujarat Assembly polls: AAP releases 17th list of four candidates
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday released its 17th list of four candidates for the next month’s Assembly polls in Gujarat.
The AAP has fielded Dinesh Thakor from Kheralu, Jayantilal M Patel from Visnagar, Bhaskar Patel from Mansa and Sandeep Singh Raj from Padra.
Earlier, AAP had announced Isudan Gadhvi, the party’s national joint general secretary and a member of the party’s highest decision-making body, the national executive.
Gadhvi will contest the Assembly polls from the Khambhalia seat, in his home district of Devbhumi Dwarka.
Gadhvi is a member of the AAP’s National Executive, the party’s highest decision-making body.
The party unveiled its CM face after a crowdsourcing campaign during which people were asked to send their suggestions on a phone number and an email id till 5 pm on November 3.
AAP national convenor Kejriwal launched the campaign on October 29 asking people to choose who they wanted to be the party’s chief ministerial face.
Even before the Assembly elections in Punjab, the AAP had conducted a similar crowd survey in which Bhagwant Mann emerged as the popular choice. Mann went on to become the chief minister riding a landslide victory for AAP.
AAP has also released a list of star campaigners for the upcoming Assembly polls in Gujarat where the party is looking to take on the ruling BJP.
Big names of the party including Delhi Chief Minister and party’s supremo Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy in the Delhi government Manish Sisodia, and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann are among the star campaigners of the party.
AAP MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha also feature in the list of 20-star campaigners for Gujarat where the party is eying to make inroads.
Former cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Harbhajan Singh will also campaign for the party in Gujarat as a star campaigner.
Besides, AAP’s Chief Ministerial candidate in the state Isudan Gadhvi and party’s state president Gopal Italia in Gujarat are also in the list.
Others who feature in the list include Alpesh Kathiria, Yuvraj Jadeja, Manoj Sorathia, Jagmal Vala, Raju Solanki, Praveen Ram, Gauri Desai, Mathur Baldaniya, Ajit Lokhil, Rakesh Hirapara, Baljinder Kaur, Anmol Gagan Mann.
Notably, in the list, two women ministers of the Punjab government, Baljinder Kaur and Anmol Gagan Mann have also been named.
The 182-member Assembly elections will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will occur on December 8, which coincides with Himachal Pradesh’s result date.
The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has been in power in the state for the last 27 years and the party is seeking its seventh term in office this year.
While Congress is seeking to oust the BJP, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also making efforts to put up a strong performance in the polls.