SRINAGAR, Apr 27: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said the interests of the farmers and the country have been kept paramount in all the free trade agreements (FTAs) between India and other nations.
He was reacting to the allegations of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “sold” India’s agriculture to the US.
“They (Congress) did not do anything ever. They destroyed farmers and our farms.
“Now if we are working, he has to make accusations here or there. I can say this firmly that all the FTAs that have taken place have been done while keeping the interests of the people of India above all,” Chouhan told reporters here.
The Union minister said the FTAs have been done keeping the interests of the farmers paramount.
“There have been several FTAs, (but) there has been none with the US yet. Whichever FTA has been done, those are in the interests of the farmers and the country,” he added.
To a question about concern among Apple growers over the FTA with New Zealand, Chouhan said the import is being done on “our own conditions”.
“I am meeting the growers here. We will listen to them,” he said. The minister said India has a consumption of 26 lakh metric tons of apples and around 20 lakh metric tons are produced in the country.
“We still import six lakh metric tons of apples from outside. Our endeavour is to increase the production in the country to stop importing apples.
“But, till it is imported, it is on our own conditions, and not theirs, by protecting our farmers. That means, we decide the price,” he said.
Chouhan said India imposes import duty on apples. “It has been imported for several years now as we are in deficit, but we keep the interests of the farmers paramount,” he said.
The Union minister will launch Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-IV, Batch-II at a special programme at SKICC here on Tuesday.
Chouhan will also release Rs 4,568.23 crore as the central share to 24 states and Union Territories under DAY-NRLM, reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to creating ‘Lakhpati Didis’ in Jammu and Kashmir. (Agencies)
Interests Of Farmers, Country Paramount In Free Trade Agreements: Minister Chouhan
DC Budgam Transfers Five Naib-Tehsildars
BUDGAM, Apr 27: The Deputy Commissioner of Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan, has ordered the transfer and posting of 5 Naib-Tehsildars (NTs) in the interest of the administration.
Deputy Chief Minister Chairs Sub-Committee Meet On Gair Mumkin Khads In Jammu
JAMMU, Apr 27: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, today chaired a meeting of the Sub-Committee constituted to examine the issues related to Gair Mumkin Khads in Jammu and Kashmir at the Civil Secretariat, Jammu.
The Committee stressed on protection of all flood zone areas, however, asserted on identification of chronic areas of Gair Mumkin Khads to effectively address the long-standing public concerns across all districts.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmad Rana and Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Departments, Javid Ahmad Dar, as members of the Sub-Committee.
Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, briefed the Sub-Committee on the current status of Gair Mumkin Khads.
The Deputy Chief Minister directed that chronic areas of Gair Mumkin Khads be identified on priority. Stressing on protection of all flood prone areas, he instructed the concerned departments to submit detailed reports in a time-bound manner. He further sought inputs and suggestions to address the issues faced by the public concerning Gair Mumkin Khads.
Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister underscored the importance of pro-public and practical decision-making to ensure the amicable redressal of genuine grievances. He directed the concerned authorities to expedite and ensure timely completion of zone-wise mapping, particularly in chronic areas.
The Sub-Committee held detailed deliberations on the existing status of Gair Mumkin Khads, daryas and nallahs, along with related concerns, with the objective of providing relief to the public wherever warranted.
The Deputy Chief Minister also called for sensitization of all stakeholders and emphasized the need for scientific mapping of Gair Mumkin Khads, nallahs and adjacent non-cultivable waste lands.
The members of the Sub-Committee put forth valuable suggestions and highlighted various public concerns requiring urgent attention.
Putting forward his suggestions, Minister of Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Javed Ahmad Rana said that coordinated efforts are required by the concerned departments to ensure timely resolution of public concerns.
Speaking at the outset, Minister Agriculture Production, Javid Ahmad Dar asserted on addressing the genuine concerns of the public.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Secretary Revenue Rajeev Ranjan, Chief Engineer I&FC, Special Secretary Revenue, and other concerned officers.
Three Kulgam Girl Students Injured After Being Hit By Car; Accused Arrested
SRINAGAR, Apr 27: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday arrested a man who allegedly ran over three girl students in Kulgam district, officials said.
A car driven by Rayees Ahmad Rather hit and injured three girl students at Kulbagh-Qazi Mohalla Link road at around 3.45 pm, they said, adding that instead of helping the injured girls, the accused driver sped away from the spot.
Taking cognisance of the incident, police tracked down the accused and arrested him within an hour, they said.
The three injured girls have been identified as Fatima Jan, Tahmeena Jan, daughters of Altaf Parray and Aliya Jan.
Chouhan To Launch 330 New Road Projects Costing Rs 3,550 Cr In J&K
SRINAGAR, Apr 27: Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch on Tuesday 330 new road projects covering 1,600 kilometres at a cost of Rs 3,550 crore under the Batch-II of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
The Batch-II under the PMGSY-IV will accelerate development in Jammu and Kashmir through the construction of 330 new roads covering 1,600 kilometres at a project cost of Rs 3,550 crore, benefiting 363 habitations across the region, an official spokesman here said.
“Jammu and Kashmir is set to witness a significant milestone in its development journey tomorrow, as Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development will launch Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-IV, Batch-II at a special programme at SKICC, Srinagar,” the spokesman said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary are also scheduled to attend the event.
He said that since 2000, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed the construction of 3,328 roads under PMGSY, creating a road network of 19,851 kilometres along with 257 bridges.
Chouhan said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to moving beyond announcements and delivering tangible development on the ground.
He emphasised that the focus is on ensuring that roads, services and other facilities reach even the remotest villages.
The minister also underlined that infrastructure development is being viewed as a key driver to further integrate Jammu and Kashmir into the national development mainstream. (Agencies)
‘Sarke Chunar’ row: Sanjay Dutt apologises; to sponsor education of 50 tribal girls
NEW DELHI, Apr 27: Actor Sanjay Dutt on Monday appeared before the National Commission for Women (NCW) in connection with the controversy over the song ‘Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke’ and submitted a written apology, expressing regret for any “unintended” harm caused to society.
During the hearing, held under NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, the commission raised concerns over alleged vulgarity and indecent representation of women in the song from the movie “KD The Devil” and questioned issues of intent, awareness and accountability.
The chairperson emphasised whether adequate due diligence was undertaken before participating in content that could be perceived as promoting objectification of women, while also underlining the responsibility of senior and influential public figures in ensuring that their work remains within the bounds of legal and societal standards.
As a corrective measure, Dutt committed to sponsoring the education of 50 tribal girl children as part of efforts towards social welfare and women’s empowerment, the NCW said in a statement. He also assured the commission that his future artist agreements would include mandatory legal due diligence provisions to ensure dignified and appropriate representation of women and children in films and related creative projects. Actor Nora Fatehi, who was also summoned, could not appear as she is currently abroad and has sought a fresh date for the hearing.
On April 6, other individuals associated with the song, including director Kiran Kumar alias Prem, lyricist Raqueeb Alam and representatives of KVN Production Company Gautam K M and Suprith, appeared before the commission and submitted their apologies. The NCW underscored that while artistic freedom is important, it must be exercised with responsibility and sensitivity, reiterating the need for accountability in content reaching wide public audiences and reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the dignity and representation of women. The song, which sparked outrage on social media, appears to have been removed from YouTube, although it was widely played and shared across various platforms. (Agencies)
LG Manoj Sinha Dedicates Indoor Stadiums To The Youth Of Marh And Jourian
Jammu, Apr 27: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday inaugurated the state-of-the-art Baba Jitto Indoor Stadium at Marh and Indoor Sports Stadium at Jourian, Akhnoor.
Dedicating the sports facilities to the youth, the Lieutenant Governor said that new indoor Sports Stadiums, equipped with modern shooting ranges and versatile indoor courts, are designed to inspire excellence and cultivate the champions of tomorrow.
The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jammu & Kashmir is emerging as a sports powerhouse where world-class facilities are no longer restricted to major cities but are reaching the grassroots.
He also interacted with the youth of Marh and Akhnoor through virtual medium and reiterated his commitment to ensure inclusivity in sports development and encourage greater participation among young aspirants.
The Lieutenant Governor also called upon all sections of society, particularly women and the youth to lead the movement for a ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir’.
The Lieutenant Governor urged citizens to report substance abuse and actively support the rehabilitation of victims. He said the police and civil administration are working tirelessly to dismantle the drug smuggling network.
The indoor sports stadiums, developed by District Administration Jammu in collaboration with HDFC Bank under its CSR initiative, are equipped with world-class amenities. These includes a modern rifle shooting range, top-quality badminton and table tennis courts, dedicated rooms for indoor games such as carrom and chess, and a well-furnished reading room for the youth and locals.
Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; Dr Rakesh Minhas, Deputy Commissioner Jammu; Vidhu Shekar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu and representatives of HDFC Bank attended the inaugural ceremony at Lok Bhavan.
Surinder Bhagat, Member of Legislative Assembly Marh; Mohan Lal Bhagat, Member of Legislative Assembly Akhnoor, senior officials, prominent citizens and locals from Marh and Jourian also joined through virtual mode.
Want Increase In Frequency, Capacity Of Trains: CM Abdullah On Vande Bharat Extension
Jammu, Apr 27: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the upcoming train service from Jammu Terminal to Srinagar, scheduled to begin on Thursday, will significantly boost the tourism sector in the Union Territory.
In a major boost to rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, a specially designed Vande Bharat Express will operate between the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar from April 30, officials said.
The premium train service, which has been running between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar for over nine months, will now be extended up to Jammu Tawi.
Reacting to the development, Abdullah said that the enhanced capacity of the train service would allow more passengers to travel, thereby improving connectivity and supporting tourism.
“It will definitely give a boost (to the tourism sector). You may recall that I have repeatedly pointed out that the train’s capacity has been limited so far. Only an eight-coach train was running between Katra and Srinagar. Now, it will be a twenty-coach train, which means more passengers will be able to travel,” he told reporters here.
Abdullah further said that such services should continue, and we want both the frequency and capacity of trains to increase.
The chief minister added that any additional issues or suggestions regarding the service would be raised during the official function on April 30 in the presence of the minister concerned.
On the startup ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah, while acknowledging that his state lags behind many states that started their startup initiatives earlier, said, “We can learn from their experiences, and the mistakes they made do not need to be repeated by us.”
He noted that the startup policy announced in 2024 has laid the foundation for growth, with budgetary provisions now in place to support funding and development.
“We are trying to build an ecosystem for startups here,” he said, adding that during his recent visit to the Government College of Engineering and Technology, a demand was raised for setting up an incubation centre.
“We will work on establishing an incubation centre there this year,” Abdullah said.
He also inaugurated the School of Architecture (SoA) building on Monday at the college in Jammu, marking a significant step towards strengthening technical education infrastructure in the state.
Minister Sakina Itoo and MLA Nagrota Devyani Rana were present on the occasion. The new facility is expected to enhance academic capacity and provide improved learning opportunities for students in the region.
J&K Govt Forms Panel To Finalise Water Meters For Commercial Units
JAMMU, Apr 27: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a 6-member committee in the Jal Shakti Department for finalisation of water meters for commercial establishments and institutions across the Union Territory.
High Court Transfers 2 Judicial Officers In J&K
JAMMU, Apr 27: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has ordered the transfer and posting of two judicial staff members following recent promotions in the District Judiciary of the Union Territory.
According to an order issued by the Chief Justice’s Secretariat, Muzaffar Beig, Section Officer in the Court of Special Judge (Anti-Corruption-CBI Cases), Jammu, has been promoted as Chief Administrative Officer and posted in the Court of Principal District and Sessions Judge, Udhampur.
The order further said that Rajinder Kumar, Head Assistant in the Court of Special Judge (Anti-Corruption Cases), Jammu, has been promoted as Section Officer and posted in the Court of Principal District and Sessions Judge, Jammu.