Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 19: BJP District vice president Pulwama Shabir Ahmad Wani and National Conference publicity secretary Ganderbal, Mohammad Sultan Shaheen today joined Jammu Kashmir Apni Party.
Besides the close associates of Wani and Shaheen, a number of prominent political activists from Budgam and Kupwara also joined the Party at its office in Lal Chowk, Srinagar.
The new entrants included Arshad Ali Bhat, Shah Younis, Shabir Malik, Bayan- ul- Furkan, Zubair  Majid Bhat, Naseer Ahmad Shah, Adil Ahmad Sofi, Sahil Bashir Dar, Ghulam Hassan Bhat, Mohammad Altaf Sheikh, Mohammad Yousuf Laway. Mohammad Shafi Ganie, Umar Farooq Bhat, Ashiq Hussain Tantray, Arshad Ahmad Bhat,  Burhan Mehraj Magray, Syed Abdul Latief, Mohammad Shafi Khan, Ghulam Nabi Mir, Mudasir Bashir Magray, Syed Mohammad Mubeen  Shah and Irshad Ahmad  Malik.
The joining took place in presence of Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, senior vice president Ghulam Hassan Mir, Muntazir Mohi-u-Din, state secretary and district president Budgam, Noor Mohammad Sheikh district president Srinagar, media advisor Farooq Andrabi, district president Ghulam Mohammad Mir, party coordinator south Kashmir Showkat Gayoor, Dr Samiullah, Peer Mohammad Yousuf,  Javid Mir and Bilal Arif.
All the new entrants pledged to carry forward policies and programmes of the Party at the grassroots level.
Speaking on this occasion, Altaf Bukhari, president of the party observed that people across Jammu and Kashmir are emancipated enough to distinguish the political parties on the basis of their agenda and performance on the ground.
”With today’s joining of new members, I am sure that our party cadre will get a boost on the ground. I am also sure that the new entrants would work with extra zeal to disseminate the party’s agenda and work for the alleviation of peoples’ sufferings in their respective areas,” Bukhari remarked.
He stressed on the Apni party workers to remain in touch with the people on the grassroots level and try to understand and mitigate their sufferings. “Apni Party is a Party with a difference because we have formed this political platform to serve the people and not to sell them moon and stars. We are here to work for the welfare of people and that should be our utmost priority,” Bukhari maintained.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 19: A lecture-series on Dr Uttam Chand Shastri Pathak and his contribution to Sanskrit was organized by Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha Akhnoor and Shri Kailakh Jyotish and Vadik Sansthan Trust at Shri Parashuram ji Temple, Akhnoor.
SSP Shakti Pathak was the chief guest on the occasion, while Prof Sharat Chander Sharma, Dean and Head of the Modern Subjects, Central Sanskrit University, Delhi was the main speaker. President, Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha, Akhnoor, Askok Shastri and President, Shri Kailakh Jyotish and Vadik Sansthan Trust, Mahant Rohit Shastri jointly presided over the function.
Delivering his keynote address, Prof Sharat Chander Sharma said that Sanskrit is the bedrock of Indian civilization. “It is the main stay of our national unity and integration. Its erosion seriously threatens India as a nation,” he said and pointed out that during the golden period of Jammu and Kashmir, Sanskrit flourished under the patronage of the kings as the official language.
He stressed that we must make every effort to restore Sanskrit to its former glory. “Sanskrit scholarship must be encouraged and honoured by the public as well as by the Government, and one of the ways of doing that would be to institute a State Award in Sanskrit in the name of the great son of the soil and propounder of Sanskrit learning, Dr Uttam Chand Shastri Pathak, who established Churamani Sanskrit Vidyalaya at Basohli.
“Instituting a State Award in the name of such a great Sanskrit luminary would not only give a fillip to the Sanskrit Scholarship in Jammu and Kashmir but also ensure national integration,” he said
Speaking on the occasion, President, Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha, Akhnoor, Ashok Shastri said that Dr Pathak believed social service to be an integral part of Dharma and worked with untiring zeal for the upliftment of society. His admirable contribution to the social cause can never be forgotten.
Addressing the gathering, President, Shri Kailakh Jyotish and Vadik Sansthan Trust, Mahant Rohit Shastri said that the Government must institute “Dr Uttam Chand Shastri Pathak State award in Sanskrit” to honour the Sanskrit Scholars who make significant contribution to the promotion, propagation and enrichment of Sanskrit language and literature, as this would re-establish Sanskrit to its former glory.
The function was also attended by industrialist Sunil Sharma, Rakesh Gandotra, Deepak Khajuria, Suresh Magotra, Pandit Taramani, Pandit Shammi Mishra and others.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 19: BJP will decimate NC, PDP and Congress besides other opponents by winning hearts of people as the party has exhibited exceptional degree of commitment and conviction towards changing course of their life in J&K and tremendously improved development profile of the UT.
This was stated by senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, Kavinder Gupta during trail of meetings in support of party candidate Bharat Bhushan for DDC polls at Raipur Satwari areas.
The former Deputy Chief Minister said that development schemes initiated by the visionary Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi have been successfully percolated to each and every nook and corner of the country and it is for the first time in the history of independent India that J&K did not remain untouched with this endeavour of Government and people in the UT also availed full benefit of these public welfare schemes.
Kavinder said that despite bringing significant changes in J&K in the last few years as far as infrastructure and governance is concerned the BJP Government at the Centre is continuously working in the direction to give fillip to the much required support system for serving the people at their doorsteps.
Reiterating BJP’s resolve to work according to people’s aspirations, Kavinder sought public support in the DDC polls so that unfinished agenda of BJP in developing J&K into one of the top regions of the country is accomplished sooner than later.
Accusing the Congress, NC and PDP of dividing the society for the benefits of one or two families only, the BJP stalwart asserted that under changed circumstances especially after abrogation of Article 370 people should not fall prey to these parties’ double standards and wholeheartedly come forward in ensuring BJP’s remarkable victory in DDC polls so that development trail which PM Narendra Modi-led Government has initiated doesn’t lose momentum in the Union Territory.
Among those who accompanied the former Deputy Chief Minister included Omi Khajuria, State president BJP Kissan Morcha; Raman Singh and Rohit Verma, State general secretaries; Ram Lal spokesperson, Ajay Sharma Ex Member, Kisan Morcha, Vijay Sharma, secretary, district president, etc.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 19: Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Councillor of Ward-48, Sham Lal Basson along with representatives of different Mohallas expressed concern over the insanitary condition of Jammu city in general and Ward numbers 47 and 48 in particular.
Addressing a press conference here today Sham Lal Basson claimed that JMC is not paying any attention in maintaining sanitary conditions in the city.
“There is shortage of Safai Karamcharis (SKCs) in JMC and this was pointed out by all the Councillors right from the 1st General House Meeting. There is a shortage of equipments, wheel barrow, handcarts, tools and tackles, brooms etc,” Basson said
He informed that he requested the Mayor and Commissioner JMC during their visit to Mahakali Temple Bahu Fort before Navratras to provide some SKCs for Ward-48 because there is acute shortage of these personnel there but nothing positive resulted.
“Five SKCs have been deployed at Bhawan for cleanliness and the other five are habitual absentees and I have requested Mayor and Commissioner JMC to get these personnel replaced but nothing has been done in this regard,” Basson maintained.
He said that the lanes and road in Ward-47 and 48 were damaged by while laying sewerage pipes and the contractors are not working sincerely.
“The people of Bahu Fort have lost patience and are ready to come out on roads if the repairing work is not resumed within days,” he said.
Basson informed that the flood in Rajeev Nagar Nallah on August 26, 2020 damaged the slab within a temple at Sheikh Nagar and also damaged houses and shops at Kalika Colony.
“District Development Commissioner Jammu assured re-construction of Nallah and for relief and rehabilitation to affected families but nothing has been done,” he further said.
Basson along with representatives of different Mohallahs have urged upon the Lieutenant Governor to personally intervene in this matter so that sanitary condition of Jammu city may be improved.
Rakesh Kumar Verma, Om Parkash, Vaishno Kapoor, Joginder Kumar, Darshan Lal, Vijay Kumar and Ramesh Chand were also present in the press conference.

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Nov 19: Senior Congress leader and former MLC Thakur Balbir Singh today said that BJP befooled the people with hollow slogans.
Addressing a large rally of party workers at Dinga Amb tehsil headquarters, before accompanying party candidate Pinki Devi to file nomination papers for DDC elections today, the former Legislator said that the BJP has befooled the people with its hollow slogans and assurances which were never fulfilled.
“The people of Kandi area voted to BJP and the people from entire Jammu region gave them 25 seats in 2014 Assembly elections on the slogan of development. However, there is no development which has exposed the BJP which is playing the emotional card,” he alleged.
“BJP is a political party of rich people and industrialists. The neglected section of society should remember the contribution of Congress Party in various welfare schemes for the upliftment of the neglected classes, Scheduled Castes, Schedule Tribes, middle class, lower middle class and other sections of the society,” Singh said.
Singh further said that people should understand that the Congress Party has always stood for the downtrodden section of society and represents the weaker section without biasness.
“People are facing water and electricity crisis in the Kandi area. There is underdevelopment in most of the areas and there is resentment among the people in view of growing disconnection with the Govt,” he added.
Former MLA from Hiranagar, Girdhari Lal Chalotra and senior Congress leader Pankaj Dogra besides Party candidate for DDC, Dinga Amb constituency Pinki Devi also addressed the gathering. She is presently Sarpanch from the area who recently received appreciations and acknowledgement for her work in the shape of award from the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha through Deputy Commissioner, Kathua.
A large number of Panchs and Sarpanchs of Kandi belt attended the election rally and sought public support for the party candidate.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 19: Financial Commissioner (FC) to Government, Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department, Atal Dulloo today chaired a high level meeting of officers of Health & Medical Education Department to take stock of the preparations for COVID-19 containment measures in the Union Territory during winter season, through the video conference.
Dulloo emphasized the Chief Medical Officers on improvement in focused sampling and effective contact tracing in all the districts so that the chain of transmission is contained. He asked Director SKIMS and the Principals of Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) to run RT-PCR testing facilities on full capacity.
The FC also issued instructions to Principals of New GMCs where the Government has started facilities for RT-PCR tests to gear up their testing capacity and test the samples from their catchment areas. He also laid stress on updation of results on ICMR portal on real time basis.
Dulloo informed the officers that Government is committed to ensure best possible COVID management in the designated health institutions and asked them to take necessary containment measures wherever necessary with stress on facilitating proper heating arrangements and other logistical support during the winter season so as to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Bhupinder Kumar, Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K presented the updated status of COVID containment measures in the UT and briefed about the latest trends of COVID testing, contact tracing and status of updations on ICMR portal in the meeting.
The meeting was attended by Dr A G Ahangar, Director SKIMS Soura, Principals of GMCs, Director Health Services Jammu/Kashmir, Chief Medical Officers of all the districts, State Surveillance Officers of IDSP & WHO.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 19: Congress Party leaders and activists today paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary, with senior leaders saying the whole country still gives the example of her impressive leadership.
Led by senior Congress leader and JKPCC vice president Raman Bhalla, general secretary JKPCC Manmohan Singh, Distt  president Jammu Urban Yogesh Sawhney, Mahila Wing J&K president,  Indu Pawar, the JKPCC members paid rich tributes to late Prime Minister at party headquarters in Jammu today.
Paying tributes to late Prime Minister, Bhalla said “A trail-blazer, visionary, true leader and a great daughter of our motherland, Indira Gandhi was much more than a Prime Minister to our citizens. She was the revitalising strength in their quest for greatness and prosperity. Today, we pay a proud tribute to India’s Indira,” Bhalla said.
“The whole country still gives the example of her impressive leadership. Her teachings inspire us constantly.. “Her unflinching dedication and determination towards the Nation’s progress and her indomitable courage to overcome the most difficult circumstances serves as an inspiration to us,” he said.
Bhalla while paying floral tributes to Indira Gandhi remembered her supreme sacrifice for the unity and integrity of the nation. He said that Gandhi created history by providing an able and dynamic leadership to the Country and was acknowledged a strong and visionary leader in the world. She will always be remembered as a leader of masses with strong commitment to the upliftment of poor and down trodden and devotion  to the cause of nation and did not succumb against any pressures at the cost of the unity and integrity of the nation.
He recalled her historical contributions in the form of Shimla agreement, which binds Pakistan to settle all outstanding issues with India including Kashmir through bilateral means, strengthening of Non Aliened Movement (NAM) in the World,  besides librating Bangladesh for which her leadership was commended. He said that Congressmen should remain committed and strengthen the principles for which Indira Ji lived and sacrificed her life.
Yogesh Sawhney, Manmohan Singh, Indu Pawar and Uday Bhanu Chib also spoke on the occasion. Prominent among those present on the occasion included PYC president Uday Banu Singh Chib , Shiv Dev Singh,  Col Swaran Singh, Gurdarshan Singh, Pawan Raina, Suresh Dogra, Gajan Singh, Rajveer Singh,  Vijay Singh Chib, M L Malagar, Dr Ramankant Khajuria, Satish Sharma, Jatin Vashisht, Satpal Sapolia and others. n

Excelsior Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Nov 19 : Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma met Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh here and discussed issues related to the State as well as Centrally funded development projects.
Dr Jitendra Singh noted with appreciation the decision to start from next month, direct air flight for Shillong from Delhi. He said, this was a long pending requirement and Shillong, being the original capital of the erstwhile Assam, richly deserved to have this facility.
A direct flight to Shillong from Delhi, said the DoNER Minister, will not only bring ease of travel but also promote tourism in the State. He said, with some of the tourist resorts in Northeast, including in Meghalaya, of late becoming much sought after because of the relatively lesser effect of COVID pandemic, this decision will certainly serve as a boost in more ways than one for different sectors.
Dr Jitendra Singh told Conrad Sangma that Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes personal interest in following up all the issues related to the North Eastern States. Under Prime Minister’s instructions, said Dr Jitendra Singh, special impetus is being given to improve connectivity and transport through new airports, air flights in different sectors, double-gauge rail track across the region, network of roads and new Inland Waterways.
Sangma also placed before Dr Jitendra Singh some of the proposals  for different schemes under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and North Eastern Council (NEC). The Union Minister assured the Chief Minister that he would have the proposals examined but also expressed certain constraints in the aftermath of COVID pandemic.
The Chief Minister appreciated the manner in which the  DoNER Ministry has been forthcoming to accommodate the priorities of the State government. The issue of allocation of funds and possibilities of enhancing the budget also came up for discussion.