SRINAGAR: At least three persons were injured after a floriculture shed collapsed inside a park in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Tuesday.
Quoting an official, news agency KNO reported that a shed collapsed at Green Park Chawalagam, resulting in injuries to three persons who were sitting there.
The injured were identified as Umair Ashraf, Aahil Ahmad and Fasial Yousuf—all residents of Chawalgam Kulgam.
He said they were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital where from one of the critically injured person was shifted to SKIMS Soura for further treatment.
SRINAGAR: The University of Kashmir on Tuesday postponed the examinations of MBBS, LLB and BA LLB which were scheduled to be held on February 1, 2023 (Wednesday).
Controller of Examinations Dr Majid Zaman said students from snow-bound areas of Kashmir requested for postponement citing inaccessibility due to heavy snowfall.
“Fresh dates for the deferred examinations will be notified separately later,” he said.
It was interesting to see Rahul Gandhi publicly snubbing his senior party colleague and former Chief Minister, Digvijaya Singh, over the latter’s remarks about the surgical strike. Rahul called Digvijaya’s remarks ridiculous. He, thus, conveyed he was very much the leader of his party.
Rahul Gandhi never impressed me before. Nor did he impress several of his own party colleagues who clamoured for a leadership change in Congress. And hardly ever did he add to the electoral fortunes of his party. But now I guess Rahul has reinvented himself.
While in Jammu and Kashmir on the last leg of his Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY), he came across as a confident and mature politician. However, I have my doubts as to whether his BJY was a success in the Valley.
No doubt quite a few thousand people came out, but I have seen and reported far too bigger crowds turning up for any local leader. Observers say that many of those who joined the yatra did so out of hatred for the BJP.
Tall claims of the Congress and its allies apart, ordinary Kashmiris were least excited about the yatra. They have bad memories of the Congress and have not forgotten that it was this party that diluted the erstwhile state’s special status before it was altogether removed by the BJP government. People also recall that it was the Congress government that hanged Afzal Guru out of turn for electoral gains. Rahul carried this baggage and failed to strike a chord with ordinary Kashmiris until his last day in Srinagar.
During his yatra, he made a commitment to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s “statehood and democracy”. But he never said he would undo the bifurcation of the state into two union territories. Likewise, though he quite often reiterated that Art 370 of the Indian constitution was abrogated in a wrongful manner, yet he did not make any promise that his party would undo this wrong and restore Jammu and Kashmir’s internal autonomy.
At every press conference in Jammu and Kashmir, Rahul avoided a direct answer to the oft-repeated question about Article 370. Every time, he said his position was the same as taken by the Congress working committee in its resolution in August 2019. That resolution, indeed, says the manner in which Article 370 was revoked was unconstitutional. But it does not go beyond that. The BJP always had abrogation of Article 370 in its election manifesto. There is no hint that Congress would make the restoration of this Article part of its own manifesto.
Displaying characteristics of a shrewd politician, Rahul was very tactful in avoiding straight answers to quite a few other questions. For instance, he was reminded that his great grandfather and first prime minister of India, Jawahar Lal Nehru, had while unfurling the tricolour at the same Lal Chowk in Srinagar more than 70 years ago, made some promises to the people of Kashmir. He was asked whether it pained him to realise that the promises had not been kept. He did not touch upon what Nehru had said or done; he said he would not look to the past and would, instead, look to the future.
At the conclusion of the 134-day-long Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed a news conference in Srinagar on January 29, 2023. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
But while Rahul may have offered nothing substantial to the people of Kashmir, he showed empathy with them, which was widely noticed. Addressing a public rally at Sheri Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar, he said that the people of Kashmir have suffered deep pain – the pain of losing their loved ones. He said he understood this pain because he himself had lost his father and before that his grandmother.
For the first time, an Indian leader acknowledged that the ordinary people of Kashmir had long been in pain. This a far cry from the Kashmir Files which even Pandit leaders like Sanjay Tikoo of the Kashmir Sangharsh Samiti say has demonised Muslims of Kashmir by misrepresentation of facts. The BJP govt promoted the film and celebrated it.
Rahul did not pour out his heart for any particular section of the people in Kashmir. He empathised with all. He also empathised with the families of Indian military and paramilitary soldiers who have lost their lives or faced risk to their lives.
His speech was received well by many in Kashmir. Its video is being forwarded on WhatsApp. A lady who watched it on TV, said “tears welled up in my eyes when Rahul spoke about his father.” Rahul recalled how he had been informed about his father’s and before that his grandmother’s assassination by phone. He said many Kashmiri families have received similar phone calls (about the killing of their loved ones). “These phone calls should stop. That is the goal of my yatra“, he said.
But despite appreciating his speech, Kashmiris have not pinned their hopes on Rahul or his party. As I said, he did not promise anything except the restoration of statehood and that too without clarifying whether Ladakh would be made part of the state again. Pertinent to mention, it was the Congress party that encouraged the agitation in Leh for union territory status way back in the late 1980s. That agitation was characterized by a social boycott of the Muslim minorities there.
Rahul said quite often that his BJY was the first and small step towards setting things right in India. He, however, did not say how he proposed to fight the politics of hate which has taken deep roots across India. And I wonder whether he has realised that the Congress party is much to blame for affording space to the BJP and its right-wing politics. After all, Congress compromised its own ideology on so many occasions and demolished democratic institutions besides failing to govern well.
Tailpiece
It was interesting to see Rahul Gandhi publicly snubbing his senior party colleague and former Chief Minister, Digvijaya Singh, over the latter’s remarks about the surgical strike. Rahul called Digvijaya’s remarks ridiculous. He, thus, conveyed he was very much the leader of his party.
(The author is a freelance journalist; formerly North India Correspondent of the BBC, he also worked with the Times of India. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Kashmir Life.)
SRINAGAR: The traffic movement on Srinagar-Jammu national highway resumed partially, which was suspended on Monday due to landslides, shooting stones and snowfall, officials said here on Tuesday.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that however, no new traffic was allowed on the highway.
He said stranded vehicles were being allowed to move after road was cleared. “Our men and machinery were on the job day and night to restore the traffic,” e said.
“NH through for traffic. Intermittent shooting stones and slides still coming at some places. Travel very cautiously. Road slippery”, SSP Ramban, Mohita Sharma tweeted.
Indian Premier League (IPL) has given cricketers the platform they deserve and the players getting valuable game time, pressure matches, top class money with world class amenities. The franchises buy the best players for high amounts as well.
There have been numerous times when the IPL record for the costliest buy has been broken. While the fans are always excited to follow Live Cricket Score and follow every record related to the tournament, let’s take a look at the top 3 costliest buys in IPL history.
3) Ben Stokes (2023)
Ben Stokes had already held the record of being the costliest player in an auction when he was sold to Pune in 2017 and Rajasthan in 2018. He is the third on the list of costliest buys when he was sold to four-time winners Chennai Super Kings for a sum of INR 16.25 crore. Chris Morris, was also sold for the same figure in one of the previous auctions.
2) Cameron Green (2023)
Mumbai Indians is not known for making costly buys at the IPL auction but one has to replace someone like Keiron Pollard, they have to spend the big bucks. Cameron Green impressed everyone with his skills when he came for the T20I series last year and thus earned himself a massive IPL contract worth INR 17.5 crore.
1) Sam Curran (2023)
Sam Curran became the most expensive player in IPL history when he was bought by the Punjab Kings for INR 18.5 crore after a grueling bidding war between many teams. He was a key player for England at the T20 World Cup this year and can offer serious batting depth as well to the team. Curran hasn’t been able to repeat his performances after the World Cup which is a worrying sign for the Punjab Kings.
Wankhede Stadium is an international cricket stadium based in Mumbai, India. It is also the home ground for Mumbai Indians. Throughout all these years, this stadium has produced some memorable matches in IPL history.
Generally, a lot of runs get scored on the Wankhede track. But sometimes it has been observed that some low-scoring exciting games have entertained fans also. So, every year fans and the Cricket News media always wait for IPL matches to happen at the Wankhede stadium.
Here are the top three records of IPL at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai:
Greatest win margin by balls remaining (87 balls), 2008
It was the 38th match of the 2008 edition of IPL that took place at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. Kolkata Knight Riders got bundled out for just 67 runs in 15.2 overs. In reply, Mumbai Indians chased down the target in just 5.3 overs with 87 balls to spare. Thus, the home side record the greatest win margin by balls remaining in the history of IPL.
Highest seventh-wicket partnership in IPL history (100 runs), 2015
Wankhede has observed the highest seventh-wicket partnership in IPL history. It was the seventh match of the 2015 IPL edition between Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians. While batting first, Punjab scored 177 runs for five wickets in 20 overs. While chasing, Mumbai Indians were in trouble when they lost six wickets for just 59 runs in 13.4 overs. Then, Harbhajan Singh and Jagadeesha Suchith put up a 100-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Harbhajan scored 64 runs off 24 balls while Suchith remained not out on 34* runs off 21 balls. But their efforts went in vain as the home team lost the match by 18 runs.
Second Lowest total defended in IPL history (119 runs), 2018
It was the 23rd match of the 2018 edition of IPL that took place on 24 April. Sunrisers Hyderabad got bundled out for 118 runs in 18.4 overs. But in reply, Mumbai Indians also got bundled out for just 87 runs in 18.5 overs. Thus, Hyderabad managed to defend the second-lowest total in the history of IPL.
SRINAGAR: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea against a Jammu and Kashmir government circular directing all Deputy Commissioners to remove encroachments on Union Territory land, including Roshni land and Kachharie land, by January 31, reported BarAndBench.
A bench of Justices MR Shah and BV Nagarathna was unconvinced with the argument of the petitioners that despite the Jammu & Kashmir State Land (Vesting of Ownership to Occupants) Act, 2001 (popularly known as the Roshni Act) being repealed, their ownership rights persisted.
“You tell us what right you have.. not under Roshni Act – it has been struck down! …. The Act has been repealed. Once the Act has been repealed, where is the question of savings clause?,” the Court remarked.
The bench also orally observed that if the Court were to grant relief to those continuing to occupy the land, it could have larger repercussions.
“If we protect your possession, it will affect the entire J&K encroachment! At the most we can grant you reasonable time to relocate,” the Court said.
The petitioner eventually sought to withdraw the petition and was allowed to do so by the Court.
During the previous hearing, the bench had advised the petitioners to restrict their prayers to status quo rather than a blanket stay on the circular.
“If stay (of order) granted then it will benefit land grabbers also,” Justice Shah had remarked.
In 2001, the Jammu & Kashmir government had enacted a law called the the Roshni Act for granting ownership of state land to unauthorised occupants in order to raise funds for power projects in the erstwhile State.
In October 2020, a Division Bench of Justices Gita Mittal and Rajesh Bindal of the High Court had declared the Act unconstitutional. All acts done under it as well as amendments under the Act were subsequently declared void ab initio.
The Court had also ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Roshni land scam case, stated to be the biggest ever in the history of the ertswhile State.
The Jammu & Kashmir government had then moved the High Court to review the said ruling. At the same time, appeals were also filed against the High Court judgment before the Supreme Court.
Even as several review petitions challenging the High Court judgment were pending, the Union Territory, on January 9 this year, had directed all deputy commissioners to remove encroachment on such land by January 31, 2023.
Residents were told to either demolish the structures on their own or bear the expenses for the demolition.
The Supreme Court had, earlier this week, agreed to list the urgent application seeking a stay on the circular. Justice Sanjiv Khanna had earlier recused from hearing the matter.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a great stage for the best of Indian cricketers and also the cream of international cricket. The League has been a stage where talent has met opportunity and also a place where people get opportunities like no other place and the stars of the world along with the young Indian uncapped players are part of the IPL.
In the IPL, there have been many encounters that have been decided through the medium of super overs. A Super over is one where both the sides play an over to decide the winner in case scores are tied. Each team gets two wickets in the Super Over and in case all the three have fallen the other team wins the match. Here are the highest scores in three matches made in super-overs in IPL history. The IPL has kept media and cricket news sites engaged.
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 2013
This Super Over took place on April 7 2013 in Hyderabad. Vinay Kumar gave just 6 runs in the 20th over to tie the game for RCB. In the Super over, Cameron White smashed Vinay Kumar for 20 runs, RCB lost the game by six runs.
Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders 2009
Rajasthan Royals got to a score of 150 in their 20 overs on the back of Yusuf Pathan’s explosive innings of 42 off 21 balls. In the chase the Knight Riders made their way to 150. Then in the super over they scored 15. In reply, Yusuf Pathan smashed 18 runs off the first four balls to give Rajasthan the win.
Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings 2015
Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings played out a thrilling Super over encounter in 2015 where Rajsthan made 192 on the back off Ajinkya Rahane’s 74. Punjab got to the same score with David Miller’s 54 and Shaun Marsh’s 65. In the Super over, Punjab posted 15 runs. The Royals failed to defend the score as they lost both their wickets in just six runs off three balls.
SRINAGAR: Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi, his sister and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar and Kheer Bhawani temple in Ganderbal on Tuesday morning.
According to news agency KDC Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra accompanied by senior congress leaders visited Kheer Bhawani temple in Ganderbal and Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar.
Rahul Gandhi on late Monday evening along with others pushed a private car that was stuck in snow on the Boulevard road in Srinagar.
Sharing a video on his official YouTube channel, Rahul Gandhi was seen pushing a car, which was stuck as the city received snowfall on Monday.
In the video Rahul Gandhi was also seen walking on the Boulevard road along the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar and also interacted with locals including boatmen and vendors.
An official said that Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka along with other Congress leaders have left for Delhi.
SRINAGAR: Air traffic to and fro Srinagar international airport resumed on Tuesday, a day after poor visibility and continuous snowfall forced cancellation of all 68 scheduled flights.
Quoting official sources news agency GNS reported that two indigo flights landed at the airport a short while ago.
Earlier Director, Airport Authority of India (AAI), Srinagar Airport, Kuldeep Singh said that the visibility is good and the surface stands clear of snow for smooth arrival and departure of the flights.
Meanwhile the train services from Banihal to Baramulla and vice versa resumed this morning after a day-long suspension on Monday last due to snowfall.
However, Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with the outside world, remained closed. “People are advised not to take any journey on NH-44 (highway) till the restoration work is completed,’ a traffic department official here said.
