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Dismantling terror ecosystem in Naya J&K

Kashmir youth have said no to guns, stone pelting and street protests have become a history as the people in the Valley have chosen to stay away from violence…reports Asian Lite News

Security forces dismantling terror ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir have brought down the local recruitment in terrorist outfits to zero leaving the terror sponsors sitting in Pakistan frustrated.

From January to October this year, 40 foreign terrorists have been killed in different encounters in the Himalayan region and the ones who are on run are being chased by the security forces.

All the terror outfits are facing leadership crisis as the mercenaries sent by Pakistan are finding it hard to garner local support.

Post abrogation of Article 370, a temporary provision in the Constitution of India, terrorist bosses sitting across the Line of Control have made multiple attempts to disrupt peace in J&K but all their attempts have been thwarted due to security forces working in close coordination with each other and the people.

Foreign terrorists, who have been killed in the first 10-months of this year, were instrumental in provoking and luring local youth into terror groups and pushing them on the path of death and destruction.

The foreign terrorists operating in J&K have been using locals as shields to save themselves from getting killed. But now the time has changed as the locals are refusing to become cannon fodder.

Kashmir youth have said no to guns, stone pelting and street protests have become a history as the people in the Valley have chosen to stay away from violence.

During the past few months security forces have seized ready-made IEDs in the Jammu region. These IEDs were air dropped through drones. Using the low cost IEDs is a new strategy aimed at keeping the conflict alive.

Infiltration, compared to previous years, was on decline from January to October this year but after the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the international watchdog on terror financing and money laundering, removed Pakistan from its ‘grey list’ last month the infiltration attempts have increased. Terror camps have returned to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the terrorists are planning to infiltrate into J&K in a big way.

(Photo – Nisar Malik IANS)

Pak putting facade of ceasefire

On October 26, 2022, Army accused Pakistan of trying to disrupt peace and harmony in Kashmir “while putting on the facade of ceasefire.”

The Army said that a major infiltration attempt by terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector in North Kashmir was foiled on the night of October 25 by killing an infiltrator, while his accomplices managed to flee back. The killed terrorist was identified as Mohammed Shakur, 32, son of Yakub, belonging to Syedpura in PoK.

The Army said that a number of inputs pertaining to possible infiltration by a group of terrorists through Sudpura in Kupwara district were received by the security forces and since then the area has been kept under surveillance.

“Timely action and close coordination between Indian Army, JKP and other Intelligence agencies led to foiling of the infiltration attemptin Kupwara and potential threat to peace in hinterland,” the Army said, adding, “Continued engagements along the Line of Control are uncanny reminders of efforts by Pakistan to infuse terrorism in Kashmir and disrupt peace and harmony while putting on the facade of ceasefire understanding. Youth in PoK are being used as cannon fodder by Pakistan from the last three decades with a fruitless aim to constantly disrupt progress towards collective peace.”

During the past few days, the Army has foiled multiple infiltration attempts along LoC in Kashmir and Jammu regions. Pakistan after being delisted by the FATF is trying to push in terrorists into J&K as the terror bosses seem to have regained the lost freedom in the neighbouring country.

Terrorists playing dirty game

By targeting the members of minority communities and the outside labourers working in Kashmir terrorists are playing another dirty game.

Such actions are being carried out to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in Kashmir and to damage the age-old fabric of communal harmony.

Terrorists want to provoke people across India to target Kashmiris working in other states. But the people are acting in a matured way and are not falling into the trap laid by the hate mongers.

Photo Nisar Malik IANS)

People don’t want terror to return

People in Kashmir have understood that Pakistan is neither a well wisher nor a sympathizer. A common man in J&K has witnessed unprecedented development during the past three years. He doesn’t want bloodshed, shutdowns and stone pelting to return.

Residents of J&K are acting as ears and eyes of the security forces and have joined the battle against terror. They are refusing to provide shelter, food and other logistic support to terrorists and are providing tips to the security agencies about the presence of terrorists in their areas.

Local youth are not showing any inclination towards joining the terror groups. Nor are they acting as their conduits. J&K youth after 2019 have learnt to chase their dreams and are staying away from the violence. Only a handful of misguided youngsters are falling in the trap of terrorists and are helping them to execute their nefarious plans but most of the youth have said no to stones, guns, grenades and bombs.

Pak refuses to accept defeat

J&K denizens saying no to violence, has annoyed the terrorists and their bosses and they are making every possible attempt to punish the locals for refusing to become a part of their proxy war.

Pakistan is in denial and is refusing to acknowledge the defeat. The terrorist handlers have passed the instructions to foreigners in J&K to take over the lead role to keep the pot boiling. They somehow want to derail the development process in J&K so that fear and terror return. However, the security forces and the J&K natives are working in close coordination and are determined to defeat the elements inimical to peace. There is no possibility about terror returning to the Himalayan region.

The terrorism is on its last legs as all the stakeholders have come together to play their role in restoring everlasting peace and normalcy in J&K.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led dispensation has put such a system in place in �which a common man has become an equal stakeholder. He is aware that peace is prerequisite for development and the foreign mercenaries being pushed in by Pakistan cannot be entertained in “Naya Jammu and Kashmir”.

ALSO READ: J&K 2020: New Chapter Of Success

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SPECIAL 2022: J&K on Self-Reliant Mode

In the two years since the bottlenecks of Article 370 were removed J&K is witnessing a new dawn. JKUT is defining itself as a hungry untapped economy, finally entering the playing field with the rest of the nation….reports Asian Lite News

 Developmental work in Jammu and Kashmir is raising the bar for efficient engineering, good governance, and a pluralistic yet united approach to growth in the country. The Union Territory is working its way up in silence under Prime Minister Modi’s direction to transform JKUT into a Smart City with impetus on its culture and tradition. The Center is building a highly self-reliant model demanding responsibility and accountability from the people for employment and growth.

With an open-door policy on grievances and feedback, a transparent system of management is shaping up. Transparent Governance through an “Empowerment” portal which enables monitoring and public overview of works being executed and resources is another initiative of the government. Citizens can view online details of development works being implemented in their areas, offer feedback and suggestions. 32,889 works costing Rs 9,757 crore are presently available online. The youth is being mobilised to engage themselves in the greatest era of development. A few of such landmark projects are detailed below.

Major consumer services such as electricity and water bills can be paid online, allowing freedom of time and place. The Housing and Urban Development Department too has shifted its base online with a response time of 21 days for building permissions, among other services. The website shares all its master plans, services, emergency contact list to allow maximum public knowledge and participation.

In Jammu, the development project of the Tawi River Front has been sanctioned. The project is based on the well-received model of the Sabarmati River Front to give an aesthetic look to Tawi. 3.5 km of pathways along the river are being constructed for public access. Presently the Phase-1 of the project stands at the cost of Rs 194 crore and will take about 1.5 years to be completed.

JKUT’s dream project, “A road to every village”, broke the record in the country by achieving the highest ever road length under PMGSY in 2020-21 — construction of 3,167 km roads and blacktopping of 5,500 km roads. The transport ministry has specially focussed on the beautification of roads with tourism potential.

Power Development in the UT has a distinguished history. Recently hydropower projects of 3,000 Megawatts (MW) capacity standing at Rs. 22,315 crore have been revived and accelerated. MOUs for projects worth Rs 29,600 crore with a capacity of 3284 MW have been signed. Moreover, Rs 5,000 crore is being invested in power distribution system strengthening. Unsurprisingly, the power generation capacity is expected to double in 3 years!

In the sphere of industry development, the government is implementing a New Central Sector Scheme in the J&K. The scheme offers four incentives: Capital Investment Incentive, Capital Interest subvention, Goods & Service Tax Linked Incentive (GSTLI), and Working Capital Interest Subvention. A total outlay of Rs. 28,400 crore has been earmarked for the revival of old industries. Under the scheme, the silk factory at Rajbagh (Srinagar) has been upgraded at Rs 23 crore and the renowned Bemina Woollen Mills has been modernized at the cost of Rs 4.5 crore.

Under the SEHAT-PMJAY (Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) scheme aimed to provide free insurance cover of upto 5 Lakh per family to all the residents of the JKUT, a world-class health infrastructure is underway in the region. So far 55.56 Lakh beneficiaries have registered. The government has committedly spent Rs 7,177 crore, the highest budget allocation for health in the country, to strengthen the health sector and make healthcare affordable and accessible to all.

Under the Saksham Scheme, financial relief is being granted to families who have lost their breadwinner due to coronavirus. Additionally, the scheme also provides special annual scholarships, at the rate of Rs 20,000 and Rs 40,000 to school and college-going children who lost their guardians. With the coming of 2 new AIIMS, 7 new Medical Colleges, 10 new Nursing Colleges, and 2 new State Cancer Institutes, a paradigm shift is being witnessed in the health sector of the UT.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has called for a massive infrastructure boost for the sports ecosystem. The work for the indoor sports complex in every district, playfield in every panchayat, floodlighting, synthetic turfing in stadiums, and international level facilities has begun. Projects for the synthetic hockey turf in KK Hakku Stadium (Jammu) worth Rs 5.5 crore, Synthetic Hockey Turf Playground (Srinagar), and Artificial Rugby Turf (Rs 5 crore) have been approved. 1.26 lakh youth are to receive professional sports coaching in the coming year. Acknowledging the sports potential of the UT, the Prime Minister has sanctioned Rs. 200 crore under the Prime Minister’s Development Package for modernization of sports infrastructure and recognizing potential talent in children.

Under the “Back to Village” outreach programme, the government is on a mission towards “equitable development”, ensuring that developmental initiatives are built on feedback and cooperation, with a result-oriented approach in rural areas through community participation. Three banks have sanctioned Rs. 270 crore loans to 16,299 cases for self-employment. Tejaswini scheme has been launched to empower women through the financial assistance of Rs 5 lakhs for setting up gainful self-employment ventures.

To ensure transparency and accountability in budgets and expenditures, and planning and execution, information is uploaded to online portals open to public scrutiny. In the two years since the bottlenecks of Article 370 were removed J&K is witnessing a new dawn. JKUT is defining itself as a hungry untapped economy, finally entering the playing field with the rest of the nation.

ALSO READ: Class V Kashmir girls shine at national Pencak Silat championship

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Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in J&K

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said it was highly reassuring to see that the women entrepreneurs in J&K had broken into the traditional male-dominated domains, a report by Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

In her first visit to Kashmir as the Union Finance Minister after taking over in May 2019, Nirmala Sitharaman earlier this week conducted a series of meetings with women entrepreneurs in Srinagar. Amid inaugurating developmental works to the tune of Rs 165 crore, she had a detailed interaction with a group of women entrepreneurs, including four Kashmiri journalists, who have been running their own publications and printing presses.

Immediately after arriving in Srinagar by a special aircraft with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha from New Delhi, Sitharaman, according to sources present in the meeting, was thrilled to learn that the valley’s female journalists were operating their own businesses in the moribund media industry, facing unprecedented stress since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.

J&K

The Minister appreciated that the valley’s women journalists were operating as independent editors of sports and off-beat magazines. She asked Sinha to provide them with maximum possible support from his government including allotment of land for their printing units in a special category in different industrial estates.

The interaction included 60 women entrepreneurs working in a variety of sectors, including beekeeping, dairy, handicraft, journalism, copper works, and furniture manufacturing. It featured success stories of the women entrepreneurs who have been benefited under different schemes initiated by the J&K government.

Sitharaman praised the UT government’s efforts for creating a successful women entrepreneurship culture. She said it was highly reassuring to see that the women entrepreneurs in J&K had broken into the traditional male-dominated domains. She listened to inspiring stories of women entrepreneurs and how they rose above the challenges to benefit their society at the grassroots level.

“The land of Kashmir is the land of Maa Sharada and that absolute power-packed knowledge-driven energy is what has come out here. I appeal to you to move around the country and share your stories”, she proposed to her audience.

Later Sitharaman interacted with the operators and beneficiaries of the flagship UMEED programme in the rural development and cooperative sector. Sinha elaborated on the objectives of UMEED and asserted that a financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore had been extended to 54,325 Self Help Groups (SHGs) which had enrolled over 4.5 lakh women in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sinha emphasised that his government was empowering women entrepreneurs through a slew of focused programmes such as ‘UMEED’, ‘SAATH’ and ‘HAUSLA’. “Through these programs a new confidence, a new spirit is being created by making them more capable so that half of the population could play a participatory and constructive role in the journey of J&K’s progress”, he said.

Sinha said that encouraged by the success of UMEED, the UT government had set a target of connecting one lakh additional rural women to the programme in the current year. Along with this, J&K Livelihood Mission has launched the ‘SAATH’ initiative, under which a training programme has also been started to select 500 women entrepreneurs from rural areas to expand their business.

“Since 70 percent of the population of Jammu and Kashmir is dependent on agriculture, we have started another innovative program on women empowerment in rural areas. A cadre of ‘Krishi Sakhi’ and ‘Pashu Sakhi’ with 938 women has been created in different districts of the UT, which will train 75,000 women farmers associated with agriculture and horticulture for sustainable and integrated farming. The initiative will also give impetus to the reforms in the agriculture sector, the backbone of the economy”, Sinha said.

‘UMEED Women Haat’ has been started with the aim of providing a market to the self-help group of women, through which they can not only sell their manufactured goods at one place, besides facilitating market linkages for the future. The 40 Model Clusters for women, e-Marketing platforms and ‘Digipay Sakhi’ are going to channelize the inner strength and potential of women and allow them to scale new heights.

Sitharaman, with LG Sinha, inaugurated works worth Rs 130.49 crore pertaining to Health, Education, Urban Infrastructure and Disaster Management. She also laid the foundation stone for the Union Territory Level Emergency Operation Centre and SCADA control building at Budgam, involving estimated expenditure of Rs 34.88 crore under the Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP).

The sub-projects are part of the JTFRP which is assisted by a credit of $250 million from the World Bank. The project was started in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the devastating floods of September 2014, which severely affected low-lying areas of Anantnag, Srinagar, and adjoining districts causing immense damage to housing, livelihoods and roads and bridges.

JTFRP has been under implementation by the Government of J&K as part of the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for J&K since April 2016. The project aims at both restoring essential services disrupted by the floods and improving the design standard and practices to increase resilience.

The high social impact of JTFRP was felt in the coronavirus pandemic response by the UT Government wherein an amount of $50 million was allocated and utilized for the COVID-19 response, by activating the Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC) under the project. Medical equipment worth Rs. 290 crore and 30 oxygen generating plants at a total cost of Rs 75 crore were procured thereby giving a boost to the health infrastructure to cope with the challenges posed by the pandemic.

On the occasion, Sitharaman launched two youth-oriented employment generation schemes of Mission Youth viz. Rise Together (Community Entrepreneurship Development program) and Nav Parivartan (Youth Innovation Promotion Program). She also handed over cheques of Rs 1 lakh each to students of LG Super 75 scholarship. The dream of the Prime Minister to develop each part of the country equally is fulfilled vigorously and J&K is participating in this journey in letter and spirit, she said.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

ALSO READ: J&K Youth Back India’s ‘Mission Kashmir’

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Kashmir Ready to Join Indian Railways Canvas

Modern Indian engineering made news a few days back when the arch of the world’s highest railway bridge running 1,315 meters and standing at a height of 359m above the Chenab River bed was completed, reports Asian Lite News

The first proposal of bringing railways to Kashmir was made in 1898 by the Britishers, but their idea remained on paper.

Fast forward some 120 years, and India’s dream of fully integrating with the Valley is finally tangible with the Kashmir Railway Project ready to join the Indian Railways canvas by 2023.

The project is the highest altitude railway network in India — defying gravity on the impossible terrain of the Pir Panjal mountain range.

Making the fantasy a reality, it is the only railway line constructed in broad gauge on Indian mountains, daring to run the distance of 345 km over major earthquake-prone zones, while being exposed to extreme temperatures.

Chenab Bridge

The arrangement of Kashmir railways is one of the greatest engineering challenges ever faced, only next to the China-Tibet railroad which crosses perpetually frozen ground and rises to more than 5,000m above sea level. In the case of Kashmir, the rail route owes its complexity to the dangerous rugged geography of the Himalayas.

While the Valley has an average height of 1,850m, the surrounding Pir Panjal range has an average elevation of 3,000m. The trains are fixed with a snow cutter system for clearing the snow on the track while the temperature in coaches is maintained at 20-degree Celsius during winter months.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the ‘Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana’ on September 17 and said that the engineers and technicians are working in difficult conditions to achieve the nation’s dream.

The connectivity to this region is important for national security, prosperity, and socio-economic development. Many other major roadways projects are also underway in the Valley along with the railways — all operating in mission mode to link the mountainous terrains, ravines, gorges, and river basins.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw briefs the press on Cabinet decisions at National Media Centre in New Delhi. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS)

Modern Indian engineering made news a few days back when the arch of the world’s highest railway bridge running 1,315 meters and standing at a height of 359m above the Chenab River bed was completed.

It will allow the railways to cover maximum ground in the area. One more monumental project is the 272 km long Udhampur-Baramulla railway line project that would connect the two places through Jammu, passing through panoramic views of quaint mountainous towns, pristine river basins, and silent deodars.

Yet another spectacular engineering marvel is the Bridge No. 39 situated between Katra and Reasi, which was completed on October 20.

The Reasi yard station is built on high, rectangular, tapered hollow piers 105m in height, with the bridge spanning about 490m — a structure made with 7,000 reinforcement steel and 6,700 million tonnes of structural steel. This is a milestone achievement on the USBRL project in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Union Minister has kept a foresighted approach in this mega-project, ensuring no obstacles concerning funding, land acquisition etc.

Chenab Bridge

The Indian Railways has prepared a National Rail Plan to create a ‘Future Ready’ railway system by 2030. From the perspective of tourism, trade and commerce, and the economy in general, the people of J&K will be able to explore novel opportunities for business and employment.

The Udhampur-Baramulla-Srinagar rail line stands erected at a cost of Rs 28,000 crore. For now, the focus is on the strategic, intervening line of about 111 km between Katra and Banihal, which consists of many tunnels and escape tunnels.

Meanwhile, the target date for completion of electrification works in the Banihal-Baramulla railway section is March 2022, according to the Railways.

The world’s most advanced technologies are being used for the planning and construction of the Kashmir Railway Project. What makes it more exciting are the peculiar challenges specific to this region, for which many times new technologies had to be developed by experts in India and abroad to tackle the concerns.

The story of Kashmir Railways is sure to go down as the new chapter of the region’s glory, development and prosperity.

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India Condemns Language Used in UK MPs Debate on Kashmir

India said any assertion made in any forum on a subject related to an integral part of the country needs to be duly substantiated with authentic verifiable facts.

India has expressed its strong dismay after Members of Parliament from the UK’s All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Kashmir tabled a motion on ‘Human rights in Kashmir’ for a debate in the House of Commons.

The Indian High Commission in London said any assertion made in any forum on a subject related to an integral part of the country needs to be duly substantiated with authentic verifiable facts, The Tribune reported.

The Minister for Asia in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Amanda Milling, responded to the debate on Thursday by reiterating the UK government’s unchanged stance on Kashmir as a bilateral issue.

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Credit@Jessica Taylor_UK Parliament

She said the government takes the situation in Kashmir very seriously but it’s for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political solution, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

“It’s not for the UK to prescribe a solution or to act as a mediator,” Milling was quoted as saying.

The India government has expressed its strong displeasure over some of the language used by participating MPs in the Backbench Debate, specifically Pakistani-origin Labour MP Naz Shah.

The Indian High Commission in London condemned the attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighted Kashmir’s status as an integral part of India, it was reported.

A top official at the High Commission said that “any assertion made in any forum on a subject related to an integral part of India needs to be duly substantiated with authentic verifiable facts.”

Bob Blackman MP

The debate in the UK Parliament was opened by Opposition Labour Party MP Debbie Abrahams who said the discussion was not to be read as “pro or anti” any country as the lawmakers were only speaking in defence of human rights, the Hindustan Times reported.

“Kashmiris must be at the heart of a trilateral peacebuilding process,” she added.

Over 20 cross-party members participated in the debate, with the ruling Conservative Party MPs Bob Blackman and Theresa Villiers speaking out in favour of Indian courts and institutions ability to “properly investigate alleged human rights abuses”, it was reported.

They said the elections held in Kashmir last year were a positive sign.

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J&K toughens stance on militant sympathisers

Nearly three months after LG Sinha hinted that his administration would act tough against the militant sympathizers, the J&K Government terminated the services of eleven of its employees…reports Asian Lite News

In April this year Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir  Manoj Sinha had made his intentions clear by stating that there was no place for militancy and its supporters in the newly carved out Union Territory, and the militant sympathisers would be punished.

“Jammu and Kashmir is moving ahead with a new vision and there is no place for terrorism…. There is a need to take inspiration from the brave hearts and martyrs and their families. Also, there is a need to take a vow that terrorists and their supporters will not be forgiven in J&K,” LG Sinha had said.

Nearly three months after LG Sinha hinted that his administration would act tough against the militant sympathizers, the J&K Government terminated the services of eleven of its employees, including Syed Ahmad Shakeel and Shahid Yousuf—two sons of the Pakistan based self- styled chief of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Syed Salahuddin, designated international terrorist—they were dismissed in the interest of the  nation.

The designated committee in J&K UT for scrutinising and recommending cases under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution of India, in its 2nd and 4th meeting, recommended 3 and 8 cases respectively, for their dismissal from the government service.

Flag of Lashkar-e-Taiba(wikipedia)

Three officials recommended for dismissal in the second meeting of the Committee pertain to an orderly of ITI, Kupwara who was an Over Ground Worker of militant outfit Lashkar- e -Taiyaba (LeT). He was providing information to the militants about the movement of security forces, abetting and harbouring militants to carry out activities in a clandestine manner.

Similarly, two teachers both from Anantnag District were found involved in anti-national activities including participating, supporting and propagating secessionist ideology of Jamaat-Islami (JeI) and Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM).”

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The eight government employees recommended for dismissal in the fourth meeting of the Committee include two constables of Jammu Kashmir Police who have supported militancy from within the Police department and provided inside information to the militants as also logistic support. One constable, Abdul Rashid Shigan, has himself executed attacks on the security forces.

Syed Ahmad Shakeel and Shahid Yousuf—sons of HM founder Syed Salahuddin were terminated after they were found involved in funding militants.

While tracking the terror funding case, National Investigation Agency (NIA) concluded  that Shakeel and Yousuf were involved in raising, receiving, collecting, and transferring funds through the Hawala transaction for militancy activities of HM.

Another Govt employee with militancy link, Naaz Mhammad Allaie, an orderly of the Health Department is an Over Ground Worker of HM and has a history of direct involvement in militant activities. Two militants were harboured by him at his residence.

The two employees of the Education Department who were terminated from the services are Jabbar Ahmad Paray and Nisar Ahmad Tantray. They were actively involved in furthering the secessionist agenda unleashed by the sponsors from Pakistan and are Jamaat-e-Islami ideologists.

Shaheen Ahmad Lone, an Inspector of the Power Department was found involved in smuggling and transporting arms for HM. He was found traveling with two militants on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway carrying arms, ammunition and explosives in January last year.

Out of the 11 employees dismissed, four are from Anantnag, three from Budgam, one each from Baramulla, Srinagar, Pulwama and Kupwara. Out of these, four were working in the Education Department, two in Jammu Kashmir Police and one each in Agriculture, Skill Development, Power, SKIMS and Health Departments.

Indian Army soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir (IANS)

Process commenced in July 2020

The process to act against the terror-friendly employees of J&K Government had commenced on July 30, 2020 when the UT Government amended the service rules and dispensed with the requirement of an enquiry for dismissal of the employees emerging as a threat to the security of the State. For the first time, the government devised a mechanism to terminate the ‘anti-national employees’ without facing judicial scrutiny.

Principal Secretary Home and Additional Director General of Police Criminal Investigation Department were given sweeping powers to decide the fate of the employees reported to the government as a threat to the security of the State

In October 2020 the UT Government amended Article 226 (2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations for a provision to retire at any time any government servant in the public interest after he has completed 22 years of service or attained 48 years of age.

At that point of time the government had stated that the rules have been amended to identify the deadwood and show an exit door to them. But more than non-performing employees the LG led dispensation wanted to tighten the noose around  employees with militant sympahies. The earlier provisions empowering the government to prematurely retire an employee on the basis of non-performance, misbehaviour and bad conduct were “very vague”.  As a result, all those who were retired prematurely managed to rejoin service following court orders. Following the amendment, the UT service regulations were brought at par with those followed at the Centre.

ALSO READ: Kashmiri leader urges UN to recognise B’desh genocide

In April this year the J&K Government had invoked a clause in Article 311 to bypass the requirement for formal inquiry. It was done to set the ball rolling to purge the Union Territory’s administration of dissenting employees “in the interest of security of the state.

A Special Task Force (STF) was constituted by the LG Sinha’s administration, to “scrutinise cases of employees suspected of activities requiring action under Article 311 (2) (c)”.

According to order number 355 issued by J&K’s General Administration Department, the task force headed by J&K’s intelligence chief R.R. Swain, who served for a decade in the Research and Analysis Wing before returning to J&K, had to “compile records of such employees, wherever necessary and to refer it” for action to a committee headed by the J&K Chief Secretary. The grounds for an employee’s dismissal were to be supported by an interrogation report and other collateral evidence to justify dispensing with the holding of an inquiry in the interest of security of the State.

First dismissal of govt employee

In April this year the J&K administration vide order No: 400-JK (GAD) of 2021 Dated 30-04-2021, terminated the service of Idrees Jan, a teacher at Government Middle School Kralpora in Kupwara district. “Whereas the Lieutenant Governor is satisfied after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and on the basis of the information available that the activities of Mr. Idrees Jan, Teacher Government Middle School, Kralpora, Kupwara are such as to warrant his dismissal from service. And whereas, the Lieutenant Governor is satisfied under sub-clause (c) of the proviso to clause (2) of Article 311 of the Constitution of India that in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to hold an enquiry in the case of Mr. Idrees Jan. Accordingly, the LG hereby dismisses Idrees Jan, from service, the order had stated.

Jan’s dismissal was the first dismissal of a government employee indulging in anti-national activities by Sinha led dispensation.

On April 16, 2021, a woman Special Police Officer (SPO) in south Kashmir’s  Kulgam district was arrested and terminated from the service for “glorifying terrorism” and “obstructing” government officials in the discharge of their duty. SPO Saima Akhter, was arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

More dismissals to follow

The security agencies have prepared a list of nearly 1000 J&K Government employees who pose threat to law and order and security and integrity of the State.

Multiple probes have revealed that a section of the government employees are proactively promoting hatred against India, assailing New Delhi’s August 5, 2019 decision, trolling and threatening politicians, government officers and business tycoons on social networking sites including WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and other platforms.

The government has collected concrete evidences against these employees, who were promoting anti-India narrative.

The present dispensation in Jammu and Kashmir is determined to take tough action against such employees who are fanning violence and creating law & order troubles on ground by their physical participation.

Presently, the strength of Government employees in J&K UT is around 4.5 lakhs. It’s an open secret that a section of the government employees in Kashmir have been a part of separatist narrative.

Prior to August 5, 2019—when the Centre announced its decision to revoke J&K’s special status and bifurcated it into two union territories—a huge number of employees took part in anti-state protests. These employees resorted to anti-India slogans, stone pelting and other unlawful activities frequently.

Erstwhile regimes often failed to dismiss the employees who publically supported militant activities and acted as their sympathizers.

Govt employees association was part of Hurriyat

Even an association of the government employees had joined and operated for over 20 years as a constituent of the secessionist Hurriyat Conference.

From the outbreak of militancy in 1989-90 to the street turmoil of 2016, the J&K government employees and their associations participated openly in the demonstrations and conferences organised by separatist and militant organisations. However, the senior ranks stood away from such activities after 1998.

In the very beginning of the militancy in 1990, the government employees sympathetic to the separatist cause managed signatures of almost all the top-ranking bureaucrats on a resolution demanding plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir under the UN Security Council resolutions of 1948 and 1949.

Later in 1990, they proceeded on a 72-day shutdown of government offices and services when then J&K Governor Jagmohan terminated five senior officers for supporting the separatists and militants. However, they were all reinstated by Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar’s government on the persuasion of the two J&K politicians Dr Farooq Abdullah and Saifuddin Soz.

Bureaucrat-turned-politician Naeem Akhtar, who later resigned and joined Mufti Sayeed’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and went on to become a cabinet minister  was among the five dismissed officers.

Family members and relatives of the separatist leaders in the State government service were particularly promoted and placed on prize positions in some regimes from 2002 to 2019. Some of their close relatives were taken into the government services through the backdoor.(IndiaNarrative)

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Employment projects worth Rs 20,000 cr in J&K on verge of approval

Projects worth Rs 20,000 crore employing 84,000 persons in J&K are in the process of being approved…reports Asian Lite News

J&K’s High-Level Land Allotment Committee on Thursday cleared land allotment to 15 projects worth Rs 1,548 crore and employment potential for 5,000 persons in the Jammu division.

Projects worth Rs 20,000 crore employing 84,000 persons in J&K are in the process of being approved, an official statement said.

The first meeting of the committee to approve allotment of land for establishing projects having proposed investment from Rs 50 crore to Rs 200 crore under the provisions of J&K Industrial Land Allotment Policy was held Thursday in Srinagar under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Ranjan P. Thakur.

Thakur termed it a historical moment in the industrial development of Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted that the process of land allotment has been streamlined and transparent. The applications are received round the clock on the Single Window Portal making it an ongoing process.

Director, Industries and Commerce, Jammu and the committee’s Member Secretary Anoo Malhotra presented the cases before the committee and expressed optimism that the decisions in the meeting usher in new era of growth, industrialisation and employment generation in J&K besides promoting a culture of entrepreneurship.

The committee took up 23 cases for allotment of land in various industrial estates of Jammu division with a projected investment of Rs 2,447 crore. After deliberations on cases to case basis, the committee approved 15 cases of land allotment with a projected investment of Rs 1,548 crore and having employment potential of 5,000.

The process of land allotment, for the first time, adopted a strategy of ranking on the basis of different parameters of the project report and presentations. The committee decided to keep 8 projects pending on the basis of huge requirement of power for operation with less employment potential and also due to restriction on setting up of red category units in Industrial Area Ghatti, Kathua.

It was informed that proposals with a projected investment of Rs 10,000 crore and employment potential of 34,000 persons in Jammu and about Rs 10,000 crore and employment potential of 50,000 persons in Kashmir are under the process of being approved.

J&K PCC Member Secretary B.M. Sharma, Additional Secretary, PDD, Tahir Firdous, Joint Director, I&C Department, Ved Prakash, FOIJ Chairman Rattan Dogra and other officers of Industries & Commerce Department, SIDCO and SICOP attended the meeting.

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UN session: Pakistan ramps up propaganda on J&K

Hashtags like #KashmirRejectsModiAPC already on to ramp up negative sentiments by Pakistan ….reports Asian Lite News

In the run up to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, the Indian listening posts have picked up chatters that the ISI and the Pakistan Foreign Office are asking their station chiefs and diplomatic missions to drum up negative media coverage on Kashmir after the recent initiatives taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The 76th session of the UNGA will open on September 14 and continue till September 30. In the run up to the UNGA, Indian listening posts have come across messaging to ensure negative publicity about Kashmir and also proliferate it in the international media.

Pakistan seems to be uneasy about the progress made in the fields of education, health and the other developmental initiatives take by the Modi government, along with the impending restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir for which an all-party meeting was convened recently in New Delhi.

A process is already on to ramp up negative sentiments by Pakistan as #KashmirRejectsModiAPC is trending on Twitter.

Soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir. (Photo: IANS)

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has described Narendra Modi’s all-party meeting with top political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir as a “drama” and a “PR exercise”.

“In my view, it was a drama. Why was it a drama? Because at best it could be called a public relations exercise, but nothing was achieved,” Qureshi said a day after the high-level meeting on Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi on June 24.

Qureshi said the Kashmiri leaders at the meeting “unanimously demanded full-fledged restoration of statehood”.

But the fact is that the Government of India is already contemplating such a move at the earliest. In fact, the delimitation exercise has already been jumpstarted.

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Under Westphalian sovereignty laws, India is clear as daylight that Jammu and Kashmir is legally, ethically and constitutionally a part of India and no external interference will be brooked. However, Pakistan continues to daydream that it can get this to change diplomatically, militarily and by launching a 30-year long proxy war.

It has failed on all counts and yet it hankers for Kashmir as the unfinished business of Partition and as a reprisal for the brutal defeat in the 1971 war when it was vivisected, and a new nation called Bangladesh was born.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (PIB)

Pakistan daily ‘Dawn’ said in an editorial that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has also said that Pakistan is ready for talks with India should the latter provide a roadmap for restoration of Kashmir’s special status.

“Therefore, India must take solid steps to not only address Kashmiris’ concerns, but also to push the peace process with Pakistan forward. Moreover, India needs to halt its efforts to change Kashmir’s demographics by settling outsiders in the region. India must show that it respects the wishes of the people of Kashmir, or else such meetings will be little more than a political pantomime,” Dawn said.

In recent days, there is a bump up in terrorist activity to break Jammu and Kashmir’s peace with encounters almost every other day. The drone attacks in Jammu are also seen as attempts to scuttle the prevailing peace.

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J&K rolls out scheme for Covid-hit families

All the deputy commissioners and officials of the Social Welfare Department have been directed to identify the families which have lost their loved ones due to Covid…reports Asian Lite News

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday rolled out a Special Assistance Scheme for Covid Mortalities (SASCM) by handing over scholarships and pension certificates to the children and members of families affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The J&K government is committed to support the children who lost their parents to the pandemic. The administration will take all necessary steps for their well-being and education, so that they can have a bright future,” Sinha said.

“We stand in solidarity with the families who lost earning members due to the pandemic. Besides pension, every effort will be made to ensure they live a dignified life and have no financial difficulties,” the Lt Governor said, adding: “It is our duty and responsibility to support families, restore livelihoods and ensure stability in their life.”

For extending handholding to the affected families, a special cell has been constituted under the Social Welfare Department to track and facilitate the benefits under the existing government-sponsored welfare schemes which the families may be eligible for, Sinha said.

J&K rolls out scheme for Covid-hit families(ANI)

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He also said that the administration will reach out to every affected family with financial assistance if they are willing to start their own business or other ventures for self-employment, besides imparting training and providing market linkages to them.

All the deputy commissioners and officials of the Social Welfare Department have been directed to identify the families which have lost their loved ones due to Covid, so that social protection and other necessary support can be extended to them.

In order to provide round-the-clock support, Sinha directed the district social welfare officers to pay regular visits to such families in their respective areas.

Under SASCM, cash assistance of Rs 1,000 per month shall be provided to the spouse and the eldest member of the family.

Apart from this, the scheme provides for scholarship of Rs 20,000 per annum for school-going students and Rs 40,000 per annum for college-going students.

A family in distress shall be eligible for scholarships for two children, if they are not getting any other scholarship. Besides, the benefits of all the other social welfare schemes, including pensions, etc. will be extended to the families.

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Categories
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J&K govt ends 149-year-old ‘Darbar Move’ practice

All officers allotted the ‘Darbar Move’ accommodation at the twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar have been asked to vacate the same within three weeks….reports Asian Lite News

Saying goodbye to the 149-year-old official practice of rotating the seat of governance between the twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu on six-monthly basis called the ‘Darbar Move’, J&K government on Wednesday cancelled the practice and the accommodations given to employees who would shuttle between the twin capitals.

Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha had said on June 20 that since the administration had completed transition to e-office, there was no need to continue the practice of the biennial ‘Darbar Move’ of the government offices.

All officers allotted the ‘Darbar Move’ accommodation at the twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar have been asked to vacate the same within three weeks.

The decision to end the biennial ‘Darbar Move’ will save the exchequer Rs 200 crore each year.

Following this decision, government offices will now function normally at both Jammu and Srinagar.

The Raj Bhawan, Civil Secretariat, offices of all major heads of departments would earlier shuttle between Jammu and Srinagar following the Darbar Move.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has also cancelled residential accommodations of government officials in the twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha

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According to an order issued by Commissioner Secretary, Estates Department, M Raju, the officials have been asked to vacate their government quarters in Jammu and Srinagar within 21 days.

On June 20, the L-G had announced that the Jammu and Kashmir administration has completely transitioned to e-office, thereby ending the practice of the biannual darbar move.

“Now both the Jammu and Srinagar secretariats can function normally for 12 months. This will save the government Rs 200 crore per year, which will be used for the welfare of the deprived sections,” he said.

The practice of darbar move has been a part of the Jammu and Kashmir administration since 1872 when it was introduced by Maharaja Gulab Singh. Srinagar serves as the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, while Jammu is the winter capital. The administration used to function in Jammu during the six months of winter and in Srinagar during the summer.

Due to this, employees from Jammu were allotted residential accommodation in Srinagar and those from Srinagar in Jammu. The Raj Bhavan, the civil secretariat and other major offices used to be shifted to the twin cities in phases, which used to cost the exchequer close to Rs 200 crore.

The order issued by Commissioner Secretary, Estates Department said sanction had been accorded to the cancellation of allotment of residential accommodation of officers and officials in Srinagar and Jammu.

The order said the officers and officials would vacate their government-allotted residential accommodation in the twin capital cities within 21 days.

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