Tag: Kashmir News

Twin blasts leave nine injured in Jammu two days ahead of Rahul-led Yatra’s arrival

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Jammu: Just two days before Congress leader Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra is scheduled to reach Jammu, two back-to-back explosions rocked a busy locality on the outskirts of the city on Saturday, leaving nine people injured, officials said.
Police suspect that IEDs were used to carry out the twin explosions in an SUV parked in a repair shop and in a vehicle at a nearby junkyard at Transport Nagar area of Narwal.
The terror attack comes at a time when security agencies in the region are on high alert in the wake of the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra of the Congress and the upcoming Republic Day celebrations.
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha strongly condemned the incident and directed agencies to take urgent steps to nab the culprits .
“A blast occurred in an old, parked Bolero (Sports Utility Vehicle) around 11 am resulting in injuries to five people who were standing nearby. They were evacuated to hospital and their condition is stable,” Additional Director General of Police, Mukesh Singh told reporters near the scene of the explosion.
He said the whole area was immediately cleared of the people but in the meantime another blast occurred 50 metres away, causing minor injuries to one more person who was also shifted to hospital.
“Further investigation is on,” the officer said.
However, a total of nine persons were brought with splinter injuries to Government Medical College (GMC) hospital following the blasts.

“We have received nine patients with one having abdominal injuries and two others fractured legs. The condition of all of them is stable,” a doctor at the hospital said.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra entered J-K’s Kathua district on Thursday evening via Punjab and is camping in Chadwal, about 70 km from here. After a day’s break on Saturday, the yatra, which commenced from Kanyakumari on September 7, is scheduled to resume from Hiranagar on Sunday and reach Jammu on January 23.
An official identified the injured as Suhail Iqbal, Vishav Partap, Vinod Kumar, Arjun Kumar, Amit Kumar, Rajesh Kumar and Aneesh all residents of Jammu – and Sushil Kumar of Doda.
Early this month, two cousins – aged four and 16 – were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off in Dangri village in Jammu’s Rajouri area, 14 hours after terrorists had shot dead four people there.
The terrorists, locals had claimed, had planted the IED on the day of the shooting and it was missed during the scanning by police and security officials who had cordoned off the area.
The officials on Saturday said the whole area was cordoned off by joint teams of police and CRPF immediately after the first explosion which was followed by another blast 15 minutes later.
A thorough sanitisation operation was carried out and forensic experts, bomb disposal squad and sniffer dogs were also pressed into service to look for clues, they said.
Jaswinder Singh, an eyewitness, said the first blast occurred in a vehicle that was at a workshop for repair.
About 15 minutes later, another explosion took place in the area littered with damaged parts and garbage, said Singh, president of the Motor Spare Parts Association.
Raj Kumar said he was working on another vehicle when the blast ripped apart another parked vehicle.
“We initially thought that the petrol tank of some vehicle exploded but the blast was so powerful that it blew up the vehicle,” he said.
An official spokesman said senior police officials have briefed the Lt Governor.
“Such dastardly acts highlight the desperation and cowardice of those responsible. Take immediate and firm action. No efforts should be spared to bring the perpetrators to justice,” the Lt Governor said.
Sinha also announced assistance of Rs 50,000 to the injured. The Lt Governor said that the administration would ensure the best possible treatment and extend every help required by the families.
Congress MP and AICC incharge of Jammu and Kashmir Rajani Patil strongly condemned the twin blasts. The CPI and AAP alleged that the incident reflected the “failure” of the BJP’s policy in the Union Territory.
“Jammu blasts reveal once again the failure of BJP’s J-K Policy. Abrogation of Art.370 and demonetisation adventures misfired.Terrorism is on the increase,” CPI MP Binoy Viswam said on Twitter.
The BJP’s policy of “communal hatred has badly affected the country’s unity,” he alleged.
“The day the BJP government took over, the situation in J-K is getting from bad to worse. Terrorism is increasing with each passing day and is returning to 1990s,” chairman of Jammu and Kashmir AAP state coordination committee Harsh Dev Singh alleged.
“They were stating that not a bird was killed after the abrogation of Article 370 but the reality is that innocent men, women and children are getting killed. The BJP has to give answers not only to J-K but to the entire nation,” he told reporters.
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#Twin #blasts #leave #injured #Jammu #days #ahead #Rahulled #Yatras #arrival
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 21, 2023
Amit Shah to attend BJP farmers’ convention in Patna next month

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Patna: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Patna to attend a farmers’ conclave organised by the Bihar BJP on February 22, the birth anniversary of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati who was an ascetic and a peasant leader, party leaders said here.
They also described Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as “anti-farmer”, referring to the violence on January 11 in Buxar where a peasants’ protest over compensation demand for acquired land for a thermal power project turned violent.
At a joint press conference, state BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal and Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Thakur said that Shah will attend the party’s farmers’ convention on February 22.
To a query, Jaiswal denied that Swami Sahajanand Saraswati’s birth anniversary was being celebrated as a strategy to consolidate the party’s upper caste support base.
“Swami Sahajanand Saraswati’s contributions have been acknowledged by historians around the world. Please do not view him through a narrow prism,” said Jaiswal.
The Swami, who was born in Uttar Pradesh in 1889, had set up an ashram at Bihta in Bihar where he got involved in peasant activism.
His social and political activities focused initially on Bihar, and gradually spread to the rest of India with the formation of the All India Kisan Sabha. He was an iconic figure for the influential Bhumihar community, largely seen as BJP supporters whom the RJD has of late been trying to win over.
“It is because of the lacklustre attitude of the state government, Saraswati is a less-known personality in Bihar. The state government must hand over the defunct Bihta Bazar Samiti and its land to the central government so that it can be developed into an advanced farmers’ facilitation centre to be named after Sahajanand Saraswati,” said Thakur.

On the Buxar incident, he claimed that beating up protesting farmers by security forces exposed the “inhuman, anti-farmer and anti-poor” face of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
“Farmers were protesting for compensation for their land acquired for establishing a thermal power plant at Chausa. Several farmers suffered severe injuries following police lathi charge,” Thakur said.
When the CM recently visited Buxar during his Samadhan Yatra, he did not bother to meet the affected farmers, the BJP leader said.
Amid speculations that senior JD (U) leader and former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha may join the BJP, Jaiswal said, “All those leaders inclined towards the politics of development and nationalism are welcome to join our party. Besides, all those who fought against the jungle-raj in Bihar are welcome”.
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#Amit #Shah #attend #BJP #farmers #convention #Patna #month
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 21, 2023
Telangana legislative assembly to begin on Feb 3

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Hyderabad: The secretary of state legislature V Narasimha Charyulu said on Saturday that the second state legislative assembly would start at 12 pm on February 3.
In a statement released this will be the fourth meeting of the eighth sessions conducted in the Telangana Legislative Assembly.
The Legislative council session is scheduled to begin at the same time on the same day.
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#Telangana #legislative #assembly #Feb
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 21, 2023
Rajasthan govt fulfilling dream of 26/11 victim to have home of her own: Rahul

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New Delhi: The Congress government in Rajasthan is fulfilling the dream of a woman, who was injured in the 26/11 terror attack and then became a witness, to have a house of her own, Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday.
In a tweet, the former Congress chief said that at the age of nine, Devika Rotavan was injured in the 26/11 terror attack and then became a witness for ensuring justice for the country.
Recently, she also participated in the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
“Honouring her patriotism, the government of Rajasthan is fulfilling his dream of having her own home. Proud of you, Devika!” he said.
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#Rajasthan #govt #fulfilling #dream #victim #home #Rahul
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 21, 2023
Avalanche Warning Issued For Nine Districts In JK

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SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority has issued an avalanche warning for at least nine districts for next 24 hours.
Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) in a statement said that an avalanche with low danger level is likely to occur above 2500 metres over Anantnag, Bandipore, Baramula, Doda, Kishtwar, Kulgam, Kupwara, Poonch, Ramban in next 24 hours.
General public is advised to have valley movement with care. Avoid movement on slopes, JKDMA said in a statement.

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#Avalanche #Warning #Issued #Districts
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

January 21, 2023
Azam Khan sworn in as caretaker CM of Pak’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

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Peshawar: Former bureaucrat Muhammad Azam Khan was sworn in as the caretaker chief minister of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province at a ceremony held here on Saturday.
Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Haji Ghulam Ali administered oath to Khan, whose name for the role was finalised after talks between outgoing chief minister Mahmood Khan and leader of the Opposition Akram Khan Durrani.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Governor House in Peshawar and was attended by civil and military officials. Earlier on Saturday, Ali formally appointed Khan as the caretaker chief minister of the province in the interim set-up.
Khan has previously served as the finance minister of the province. He was also the chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from September 1990 to July 1993.
Khan’s name was announced at a joint press conference by outgoing chief minister Khan and Durrani.
“We decided on Azam Khan’s name after consultation with our leader,” Khan said.
“We agreed on Azam Khan as our consensus candidate. We have chosen a person who is acceptable to all,” Durrani was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune newspaper.
He said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former defence minister Pervez Khattak played an important role in reaching the consensus.

Talking to reporters after the appointment, Khan vowed to extend “complete cooperation” to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for holding “free and fair elections” in the province.
He said that efforts would be made to further strengthen the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and control inflation in the province, the Dawn newspaper reported.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly stood dissolved on Wednesday after the governor signed and approved the chief minister’s summary on the orders of PTI chief and ex-premier of Pakistan Imran Khan for the dissolution of the provincial legislature.
The government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday sent a summary to the governor for the approval of the dissolution of the provincial assembly before midnight, a move aimed at forcing the federal government to announce snap polls.
“In pursuance of provisions of Article 112(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan, I do hereby forward my advice for dissolution of the provincial assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 17th January 2023,” outgoing chief minister Khan said in a statement.
The KP Assembly was dissolved almost months before the expiry of its mandated period. The current assembly was to expire on August 13 this year.
On January 14, the Punjab Assembly was dissolved despite the Punjab governor’s refusal to sign the summary for the provincial assembly’s dissolution.
Former premier Khan in a bid to force the government to hold early general elections ordered the dissolution of provincial assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Political pundits believe that the federal government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is in no mood to succumb to pressure from Khan whatsoever for holding general elections in the country before the expiry of the scheduled time in August this year.
The federal government will straight away go for holding elections in two provinces – Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – after the dissolution of the assemblies.
Federal Information Minister Maryum Aurangzeb has clearly stated that general elections as per the constitution of the country will be held in October this year.
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#Azam #Khan #sworn #caretaker #Paks #Khyber #Pakhtunkhwa
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 21, 2023
Telangana: TSRTC drivers stage protest in Karimnagar district

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Hyderabad: Several drivers of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation ( TSRTC) held a flash strike at Karimnagar bus stand on Saturday alleging indifference on part of officials towards their issues.
Drivers working in Karimnagar depot-I and II staged a flash strike in front of Depot-I and continued through the day. The sudden protest triggered problems for regular commuters. About 70 hired buses are off the roads on account of the strike.
The drivers alleged they were being discriminated and harassed by RTC officials. All of them refused to withdraw the protest till they got a clear assurance from RTC authorities on increase of salaries and other demands, they said they would stage protests in all 11 depots of Karimnagar region, if they failed to get an assurance from officials.
CITU has extended its support to the agitating drivers.
TSRTC officials held a dialogue with the drivers and asked them to call of their strike assuring to look into their issues.
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#Telangana #TSRTC #drivers #stage #protest #Karimnagar #district

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 21, 2023
Telangana unit Cong in-charge stresses need for unity in view of polls

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Hyderabad: Aiming to end the infighting and forge unity in the Congress party in Telangana ahead of this year’s Assembly elections, the new in-charge for the party in the state Manikrao Thakare made it clear on Saturday that he neither is in anyone’s favour nor against someone.
He asked the party’s state unit leaders to work with unity and if they are any issues bring them to his notice. He advised them not to speak on the internal issues before the media as this would damage the party’s interests.
Addressing the extended executive meeting of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) in Hyderabad, the in-charge told the leaders that his duty is to act as per the orders of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
He asked the party leaders to make the ‘Hath Se Hath Jodo’ programme in the state a huge success like Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.
Thakare directed the party leaders and cadres to work with unity to take the programme to every village and every street. He told the participants in the meeting that Rahul Gandhi undertook the nation-wide yatra in a bone-chilling cold and it is ‘our responsibility to take the message of the yatra’ to every house.
The AICC in-charge said TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy will undertake yatra in at least 50 Assembly constituencies in the state and asked senior leaders to cover another 20-30 constituencies.
Thakare said everyone in the party should work hard to make the yatra successful in view of the coming Assembly elections. “If all of us work together, the Congress party will definitely win the election and come to power,” he said.
Revanth Reddy said Hath Se Hath Jodo Yatra in Telangana will begin on February 6 and will continue for two months. He said a resolution was passed during the meeting, appealing to the central leadership to arrange a day’s visit to Telangana by Priyanka Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi.

He said the yatra would be formally launched from Bhadrachalam on January 26.
The meeting was attended by Revanth Reddy, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, former PCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy, three AICC incharge secretaries and other leaders.
Manikrao Thakare also had meetings with the Campaign Committee, Election Management Committee and AICC Program Implementation Committee Chairman regarding expansion of these committees and their work.
The AICC on January 4 appointed Thakare as the new in-charge amid infighting in the party’s state unit.
Thakare, a senior leader from Maharashtra replaced Manickam Tagore, who was shifted to Goa following complaints by a section of senior leaders he had been supporting Revanth Reddy and taking unilateral decisions.
A section of senior leaders had last month slammed Revanth Reddy for packing the party panels with his loyalists.
They had also announced to save Congress in Telangana movement, terming it a fight between what they called real Congress and the leaders who came from other parties. This was an open attack on Revanth Reddy and others who quit Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to join Congress a few years ago.
A day after senior leaders raised the banner of revolt, 13 loyalists of Revanth Reddy had announced resignations from party posts.
The crisis had forced the high command to send senior leader Digvijay Singh to Hyderabad. He individually met the leaders from both the groups and based on the feedback received submitted a report to the high command.
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#Telangana #unit #Cong #incharge #stresses #unity #view #polls
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 21, 2023
Kashmir’s FastBeetle Bags Big at Shark Tank India

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by Fahd Khan
SRINAGAR: In a first of its kind, the promoters of the Srinagar-based logistic start-up FastBeetle participated and pitched their business proposal before the Shark Tank India Judges, which was aired on the Sony Television channel. Shark Tank India is a business reality TV series that is in its second season in 2023.
The combined deal from Lenskart CEO Piyush Bansal and Boat CEO Aman Gupta to invest 90 lakhs for 7.5 per cent equity was fixed with the Srinagar-based start-up at Rs 12 crore valuation.
FastBeetle, a start-up promoted by Sheikh Samiullah and Abid Rashid started their courier and logistic services in October 2019 from Srinagar and later to the international shipments within months and went on to become the fastest-growing logistics company from Jammu and Kashmir.
“After watching the show last year, we never thought we would be standing on that carpet pitching our business idea to renowned sharks,” Sheikh Samiullah said in a Tweet.
It is pertinent to mention here that FastBeetle had become the first Kashmiri start-up to raise US $100,000 in a pre-series. A funding round led by investors including Sandeep Patel from Nepra, Saurabh Mittal, Vikram Sanghvi, Rohit Qamra, and a few non-resident Kashmiris.
“Our pitch clearly states that we need to create a start-up ecosystem in the Jammu and Kashmir. We had gone to Shark Tank not to present FastBeetle but to represent the aspiration of the 1.5 crore population of Jammu and Kashmir” added Samiullah in his tweet.

FastBeetle has a empowered more than 1200 start-ups and delivered more than 10 lakh orders to 55+ countries. Giant e-commerce sites like Flipkart, Jiomart has tied up with the FastBeetle to deliver parcels to the remotest areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
They said that their company wants to deliver parcels to the far-flung areas of the India where no one has reached till now.

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#Kashmirs #FastBeetle #Bags #Big #Shark #Tank #India
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

January 21, 2023
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann launches ‘Schools of Eminence’ project

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Mohali: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Saturday launched his government’s ambitious project Schools of Eminence, saying it is a “revolutionary” step in ensuring a golden future for the students and also a giant leap towards becoming a real frontrunner in education.
A budget of Rs 200 crore has been earmarked for the Schools of Eminence project.
The project aims at reimagining education in government schools envisioning holistic development of students and preparing them to be responsible citizens. Its five pillars are state-of-the-art infrastructure, academics, human resource management, sports and co-curricular activities and community engagement, a senior official said.
Under the Schools of Eminence project, 117 government schools in 23 districts will be upgraded with a special emphasis on classes 9 to 12.
The official said besides career-related counselling, Innovative teaching practices will be followed and guidance for professional exams will also be provided to students.
Mann said these schools are being set up to cherish the aspirations of the freedom fighters which will groom students for futuristic needs and help Punjab emerge as a role model in the education sector.
The day is not far when these government schools will provide a better education than the private schools, he said.
“Such schools have already revolutionised the education sector in Delhi. Now it is the turn of Punjab where this model will be implemented successfully,” Mann said.

Describing teachers as nation builders, the chief minister said they have to play a pivotal role in bringing qualitative change in the education sector.
About his government’s decision to send 36 teachers to Singapore for training, he said it will help them learn the advanced practices prevailing around the globe.
He alleged the previous governments ignored the education sector and that several students were forced to leave their education in between.
“Those leaders wanted to give a push to their political career while compromising with the future of the students from weaker and underprivileged sections of society. Due to regressive policies of these leaders, the state lagged in fields of health and education thereby jeopardising the progress of youth,” Mann alleged.
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#Punjab #Bhagwant #Mann #launches #Schools #Eminence #project
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 21, 2023