Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 3: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, today chaired a high-level meeting at Lok Bhavan to review the progress of the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan and assessed the district-wise action plans aimed at eliminating drug- abuse and narco-terrorism.
The meeting was attended by Atal Dullo, Chief Secretary; Nalin Prabhat, DGP; Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary Home Department; S.J.M.Gillani, Spl DG Coordination PHQ; Nitish Kumar, ADGP, CID; Dr. Mandeep K Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; Shri Sujit Kumar, IGP Security; Sarmad Hafeez, Commissioner/ Secretary, Social Welfare Department; Ram Niwas Sharma, Commissioner/ Secretary School Education Department; Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; VK Birdi, IGP Kashmir; senior officials of civil and police administration, Deputy Commissioners and SSPs from Kashmir Division.
Reviewing the progress, the Lieutenant Governor underscored the need for a focused, time-bound and result-oriented strategy by all district administrations in the next 78-days. He directed the officers to ensure effective implementation of the action at all levels with measurable outcomes in curbing drug abuse and dismantling narcotics networks.
The Lieutenant Governor called for intensified grassroots-level engagement at the Panchayat and Ward levels. He emphasized active participation of community stakeholders, including religious leaders, educationists, traders, youth groups, and social and political activists to transform the campaign into a sustained mass movement.
The Lieutenant Governor laid special emphasis on youth engagement through sports and recreational activities. He instructed the Deputy Commissioners to ensure the development of playfields in all panchayats and strengthening of sports infrastructure across districts.
He also directed to regularly organize sports competitions and youth engagement activities under the banner of the Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyaan, enabling young people to channel their energy and talent into positive pursuits and stay away from substance abuse.
Reiterating the administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards narcotics, the Lieutenant Governor called for strict and visible enforcement actions against those involved in drug trafficking.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasized swift implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for cancellation or suspension of driving licenses and passport and other documents of drug peddlers. He also called for prompt identification and seizure of properties linked to narcoterrorists and drug smugglers. He further stressed intensified inspection of pharmaceutical shops to prevent misuse of prescription drugs and also enhanced vigilance in and around educational institutions and vulnerable areas.
The Lieutenant Governor also directed Deputy Commissioners to identify and take appropriate action against the fake or unauthorized drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres, ensuring that only certified institutions operate within the established regulatory framework.
The Lieutenant Governor highlighted the importance of strengthening Mahila Samitis and Youth Clubs as vital community institutions in the fight against drug abuse. He called for their effective functioning and active involvement in awareness campaigns, early identification of vulnerable individuals, and community-based monitoring mechanisms.
He also directed for utilizing Block Diwas and Thana Diwas as platforms for addressing public grievances and strengthening trust between citizens and the administration.
The Lieutenant Governor further directed the officers to take advance and comprehensive measures for the smooth conduct of upcoming major religious events, including the annual Shri Amarnathji Yatra and Muharram. He emphasized the need to ensure adequate arrangements to facilitate the convenience and safety of the people.
LG chairs high-level review meeting on Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan
Mahant Rohit Shastri calls on LG
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 3: Mahant Rohit Shastri, President, Shri Kailakh Jyotish and Vedic Sansthan Trust called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today.
He was accompanied by R.K Chhibber, Trustee of the Shri Kailakh Jyotish and Vedic Sansthan Trust.
Could AAP’s loss be Congress’s gain?
Anil Anand
a.anil.anand@gmail.com
It will be a misnomer, in the current political context, to call desertion by seven Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs to join Bharatiya Janata Party, as an internal matter of the party. The quick descent of the party is directly proportional to its quick ascent following capturing power in Delhi by unseating Sheila Dikshit-led strong Congress Government and later unexpectedly in Punjab.
If the quick rise was surprising, the downward trend, subsequently losing Delhi (AAP’s mainstay and foundation) to a leaderless (Delhi local) BJP and glaringly reflected by the Raghav Chadha-engineered defections thereby shaking it’s Punjab government, is astonishing though not unexpected. It has serious political connotations for the I.N.D.I.A combine and more so Congress which has been the sufferer at the hands of AAP which has been eating into its support-base to the benefit of the BJP.
Ever since AAP founder and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his close confidant Manish Sisodia faced corruption allegations in the excise (liquor) scam, Mr Chadha, the Rajya Sabha MP, had become indifferent to the crisis hitting his party. Same was true of his six other fellow Rajya Sabha MPs who are all either celebrities or representing money-bags with not even an iota of connection with ground-politics.
When he should have been hitting the ground to protest against the arrest of both Mr Kejriwal and Mr Sisodia, the former Finance Minister of Delhi, he quietly flew to London with his film-star wife by his side. It created serious doubts about Mr Chadha’s intentions and motives.
Whether Mr Kejriwal was aware that Mr Chadha was quietly working, in tandem with top BJP leaders, to engineer defections in the AAP’s Upper House ranks, is still not known. If he was aware and could not control the situation, or if he was caught totally unaware, in either case it is portending his losing grip on the totally monolithic and one-man driven party.
Ostensibly drunk on political power and riding high on arrogance, which his former colleagues describe as his basic trait, Mr Kejriwal, perhaps, had lost sight of the emerging issues and problems. His shenanigans including transformation from a muffler-wrapped “aam aadmi” to an aristocrat and ignoring trusted party-persons for Rajya Sabha to favour “popular” persons, seems to have done him in.
Has he paid for his over-confidence? Did he ignore the prying eyes of Narendra Modi-Amit Shah combine even while he was chief minister of Union Territory of Delhi which is under the direct control of Union Home Ministry, while preferring to raise his political fortune out of confrontation rather than try and workout a coordinated approach like Mr Dikshit?
Although AAP under his leadership secured a landslide win in the 2022 Punjab assembly elections defeating both Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, he seemed to be continuing with his dictatorial-style. Nominating outsiders and non-political persons to Rajya Sabha, mostly from Punjab quota, has ultimately created serious crisis for him as they have all shown their back to him and made a common cause with Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo.
As Punjab will face assembly elections in 2027, this crisis has come at a wrong time for him. However, it has been perfectly timed and allegedly engineered by the BJP strategists. The saffron party despite having no feet to stand in the state has pulled all stops including undemocratic means to attract “talent” from opposition parties. The main players in Punjab politics, the Congress and the AAP, are the BJP’s prime targets.
There are two aspects of the AAP’s current crisis- political and legal. The jury is still not out on the legality of Chadha-led defection of Rajya Sabha MPs to BJP, whether the merger of the party by a section of the MPs is constitutionally and legally valid, or that it is valid only if the parent party and not the legislatures merge with another party. As seen in the case of Mr Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party- the case is pending before both Election Commission of India and Supreme Court- where the claims of the parent party have been ignored. The legal-constitutional battle, if and when started, will have to follow a long course as per the current systemic norms.
A crisis in a political party always opens a window of an opportunity for the rivals. The BJP, which has been instrumental in creating crisis in the AAP is already on it squarely with an eye on Punjab assembly elections as they have already got the better of Mr Kejriwal in Delhi with Congress after that showing no hurry at redemption and getting pushed to the backdrop.
More than the BJP the current AAP imbroglio has provided a floodgate of an opportunity to Congress to waylay team-Kejriwal and corner them in Punjab and Delhi. Having already lost Delhi and crisis-ridden in Punjab, the Congress could not have expected anything better than this to corner AAP. But there are many ifs and buts and more importantly whether the grand old party has the will to do it?
Apart from Delhi and Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir is another territory where Mr Kejriwal had initially tried to set base and had even got public-traction only to lose interest sooner than expected as he shifted his priority to more fertile Punjab. With the release of its first-ever MLA in the Union Territory, Mehraj Malik from jail after J&K High Court had annulled his arrest under the draconian Public Safety Act, the scenario could change fast. And more so because Mr Malik is a young and dynamic political leader, who had won election on his own, and an excellent speaker, the AAP could be back on track in J &K.
The Congress must shrug its lethargy and focus on reshaping its party units in Delhi, Punjab and J &K. The common problem with the three PCCs is the lackluster chiefs failing to control factionalism and on top of that refusing to change their style of functioning to take everyone on board. On top of that the party high command has preferred to simply look the other way round as the PCC heads have almost completed two listless years in office.
Every political movement and subsequent change has started from Delhi and in the olden days Ramlila Maidan played the historic host. In this case even the AAP was born and flourished in Delhi before it spread to some other states. The prime victim of its flourish has been the Congress. Not only in Delhi and Punjab but in states where Congress has been in direct contest with BJP and the APP playing a spoil sport to ultimately help the saffron party.
Under the circumstances it is imperative for the Congress to re-energise itself in these three areas. Delhi should be the top priority being the national capital and centre of the political-pond as any change here has a ripple effect in rest of the country. Apart from changes in the state/UT units Mr Rahul Gandhi should ensure that senior leaders act as facilitators and not impeders.
Khatana concludes two-day Mendhar visit, stresses timely resolution of public grievances
Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, May 3: Ghulam Ali Khatana, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) concluded his two-day visit to the Mendhar Constituency in District Poonch aimed at reviewing developmental works and addressing public grievances.
On the occasion, SDM Mendhar, Imran Kataria, Executive Officer Waqf Board, Tiku Khan, Ex MLC Murtaza Khan besides all district/sectoral officers and officers from line departments were present.
On the first day of the visit, the MP held a Public Darbar at Pangeli Bridge, Mankote, where he interacted with locals and reviewed ongoing development activities in the area.
On the second day, the MP held another Public Darbar at Dak Bungalow Mendhar and later at Panchayat Ghar, Middle Dhargloon in Block Balakote.
During the interaction, villagers and local residents raised several issues, including road projects, bridge construction, electricity supply concerns, non-functional water lift schemes, gaps in health infrastructure, issues related to BRO roads and matters concerning education, agriculture, horticulture schemes and overall developmental works.
The MP patiently listened to all grievances and assured the public that their genuine demands would be addressed. He issued on-the-spot directions to the concerned Executive Engineers and district officers to take immediate steps for resolving the issues. He emphasized that all genuine problems must be identified and resolved promptly to ensure that the public does not face inconvenience.
During the meeting, all the issues raised by the local residents were addressed by the concerned officers. They provided detailed responses, explaining the existing gaps and shortcomings in various sectors. The officers also elaborated on the status of each grievance on the spot, giving clear and comprehensive information regarding the problems and the steps being taken to resolve them.
The MP further directed the officers to closely monitor the issues raised and ensure timely redressal, reaffirming his commitment to the welfare and development of the region.
SJAC organises public rally, submits memorandum of demands to authorities
Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, May 3: A major public rally organised by the Sawalkote Joint Action Committee (SJAC) was stopped twice by cops today triggering a brief peaceful protest after which the SJAC leaders submitted the memorandum of demands to the concerned authorities.
Hundreds of locals, daily wagers, youth groups and civil society members from across Ramban district participated in the rally which began from Dak Bungalow Ramban with participants raising slogans like ‘Ramban Ka Nara Hai, Sawalkote Hamara Hai’ etc.
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However, the rally was stopped at the main gate by cops but after discussions, the procession was allowed to move ahead and it was again stopped after a short distance.
Police cited the lack of formal permission for the gathering while the organisers claimed that prior intimation was given and no written denial was communicated.
After stopping the rally for the second time, the SJAC team was allowed to submit a formal memorandum of demands to the administration through concerned officials. The memorandum was addressed to the Chief Minister, Lieutenant Governor, Chief Secretary of J&K and the Deputy Commissioner, Ramban.
Addressing the protesters, SJAC president, Fairoz Khan said that people of Ramban are not against the development but they cannot accept uncertainty, injustice or exclusion from decisions that determines the fate of their land, livelihood and children’s future.
He flagged the reports of a proposed road diversion via Udhampur instead of Ramban, warning that such a move would marginalise the district from its own developmental project.
Other SJAC leaders who addressed the gathering were Muzaffar Lone, Mohd Akhtar, Saddam Bali, Mudassar Azmat Mir, Manzoor Ahmed, Mohd Irshad Rather, Wakeel Singh, Sheetal Singh Bali, Surjeet Singh, Zakir, Iftiyaiz Shoil, Imtiyaz Ahmed, Mohd Rabir, Happy Singh, Ab Rahim Bali and Mohd Asif Tak.
The memorandum submitted by SJAC contains demands like immediate official clarification on the proposed road diversion, declaration of the tender schedule and a fixed, time-bound project timeline, fair compensation strictly in accordance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, return or reassessment of acquired land that remains unused for extended periods, a comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement policy for affected families, wage security for families dependent on land and local employment, preference in project-related employment for local residents and protection of environmental and social interests through mandatory impact assessments
JKTJAC raises teachers’ issues, announces expanded provincial body
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 3: The Jammu Kashmir Teachers’ Joint Action Committee (JKTJAC) today highlighted a series of pending issues concerning the teaching fraternity and announced the expansion of its provincial body for Jammu province.
Addressing a press conference, here today JKTJAC UT President Vinod Sharma, accompanied by executive members of the organisation from across Jammu province, demanded an early decision on the long-pending transfer policy for ReT teachers. He also highlighted the issue of pending Mid-Day Meal (MDM) dues, claiming that teachers have been managing expenses from their own pockets for smooth functioning of the scheme.
On the issue of rationalisation of teaching staff, the JKTJAC president demanded a transparent and rotation-based rationalisation process. He said practices such as “pick and choose” and favouritism should be avoided while reallocating staff.
Another major issue raised during the press conference was the demand for one-time exemption in favour of Teachers and Masters who have pursued higher qualifications. He further urged the Education Minister and Secretary School Education to fill vacant posts of Chief Education Officers (CEOs), Principals, Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) and Headmasters in schools and offices.
On the occasion, Vinod Sharma, with the consent of executive members and district presidents, also announced the expansion of the JKTJAC provincial body for Jammu province.
The newly announced provincial office bearers include Rajesh Singh Jamwal as Provincial President, Ashok Seth and Mangat Choudhary as Vice Presidents, Ravinder Chib as General Secretary, Rajesh Singh as Additional General Secretary, Chain Singh and Sanjay Singh as Secretaries, Inderjit Singh and Pammy Raina as Joint Secretaries, Khem Raj as Convenor, Ray Raj Thakur as Chief Coordinator, and Shafeeq Melu and Parbhat Singh as Advisors.
Other office bearers include Pritam Goswami as Finance Secretary, Noor Ahmed as Publicity Secretary, Surjit Singh as Press and Media Secretary, Khursheed Naik and Shree Ram as Coordinators, Manzoor Malik and Sohan Kumar as Organisers, Ikhlaq Hussain Shah as Spokesperson, and Mohd Farooq Bhati and Roshan Kumar as Co-Convenors.
Among those present on the occasion were Surjit Singh Chib, Sham Sharma, Naresh Sharma, Khazan Singh, Raj Kumar Dubey, Anita Kiran, Sandeep Sharma, Shabir Chowdhary, Subash Chander, Pawan Sharma, Ravinder Singh Manhas, Mahesh Kumar and others.
Mehraj Malik vows to fight for public welfare
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 3: AAP MLA Mehraj Malik addressed a gathering of thousands at the Doda stadium today, and criticised corruption in sections of the administration, condemned revenge politics and asserted that his politics was centred on public welfare, not confrontation.
Malik, the MLA from Doda, described the growing support for his party as the beginning of political change and said major transformations often start with small movements.
He said that any attempt to suppress or humiliate people would be resisted as he described the public support for him as the beginning of a larger movement for change.
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Before he reached the stadium, at several places between Batote and Doda, people gave Malik floral welcome. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader arrived from Jammu on Sunday.
Malik was released from Kathua jail on Tuesday following the quashing of his detention under the Public Safety Act by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
Addressing the public meeting, Malik said corruption-free governance, proper roads, better schools, hostels with round-the-clock services, and accountable administration is the need of the hour.
The MLA said politics should not be used to divide people on religious lines, and that no political leader should claim “ownership” over religious matters.
“We do not believe in taking revenge. We want to live peacefully because our purpose is not to fight or quarrel, but to work,” he said.
Describing India as a diverse nation, Malik said the country’s beauty lies in its pluralism and unity. “This country is like a bouquet. Its beauty lies in its diversity,” he said.
He urged the administration to work transparently and honestly, saying officials should openly present the work done instead of hiding it. He also asked employees to resist unlawful orders and stand for truth and justice.
Malik alleged corruption in development projects, particularly road works, claiming that contracts were manipulated and project costs inflated in official records.
Claiming that leadership should come from genuine public support and not staged crowds, Malik said a true leader is one whom people willingly accept.
The AAP legislator reiterated his commitment to peace, promising improvements in hostels, schools and other public facilities.
“We want peace, and we stand for peace. We want to move forward. Victory is not just a moment. It belongs to the future,” he said.
Worker dies after fall from flyover construction site
Excelsior Correspondent
BANIHAL, May 3: A young labourer was today killed after falling from an under-construction site on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway in the Silard, Sher Bibi area of Ramban district on previous evening.
The deceased has been identified as Sanik Khan, son of Shahid Khan, a resident of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.
According to fellow workers present at the site, the incident occurred during ongoing construction work on a nearly five-kilometre-long viaduct project being executed by Sehgal India limited, a private construction firm.
The workers alleged that no proper safety equipment had been provided to labourers working at heights, terming the incident the third such fatal accident at the site in past few years.
Police officials said that upon receiving information, a team from police station Banihal rushed to the site and took custody of the body, which was later shifted to Sub-District Hospital Banihal.
The post-mortem examination was conducted on Sunday morning, after which the body was handed over to the deceased’s co-workers.
Police have initiated inquest proceedings under 194 BNSS in the matter.
GMC Jammu organises workshop on paediatric dialysis
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 3: A two-day workshop on all aspects of paediatric dialysis was organised by the Department of Paediatrics, Government Medical College, Jammu, in collaboration with IAP Jammu Branch & Adharshila Foundation.
The program was inaugurated by Dr Pawan Malhotra, Director Principal ASCOMS Jammu. He emphasised that such specialised training programs are essential to strengthen paediatric renal care services in this region.
Around 60 doctors from different parts of J&K and neighbouring States participated in the training program. The workshop provided comprehensive insights into paediatric dialysis techniques, the use of ultrasound in diagnosing and managing kidney diseases, and emergency management protocols in children with acute kidney conditions.
Neena Jolly, Founder of the Adharshila Renal Care Project, stated that under this initiative, more than 250 doctors across the country have been trained so far with the support of Rural India Support Trust, and dialysis machines have been provided to several institutions.
Course Directors of the PD-TAME, Prof Abhijeet Saha from Lady Hardinge Medical College and Ex Prof Dr O P Mishra from the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, delivered expert lectures.
Dr Sanjeev Kumar Digra, Professor & HOD Paediatrics & President IAP Jammu branch, apprised the gathering that the Paediatrics department has developed subspecialities such as paediatric nephrology in addition to Neonatology and paediatric haematology-oncology and is aiming to develop more in future. Dr Kaushal Khajuria, Consultant I/C paediatric dialysis ward, SMGS Hospital, Jammu, presented updates on the use of anticoagulation in hemodialysis.
The Principal and Dean GMC Jammu, Dr Ashutosh Gupta described the workshop as a significant step toward improving the quality of patient care.
The training sessions were conducted by senior faculty members including Dr Akash Kumar , Dr Mohd Ashraf, Dr Anshuman Saha, Dr Rachita Singh Dhull and Dr Rupal Gupta.
Other prominent persons present on the occasion were Sonika- Administrative Officer, GMC Jammu; Dr Dara Singh- Medical Supdt, Prof Meena Sidhu, Prof Fayaz Wani, Prof Jyotsana Suri, Prof Sanjeev Gupta, Prof Vipin Magotra, Prof Ashu Jamwal, Prof Sunil Dutt Sharam, Dr Raju Bhandari & Dr Vivek Gandotra.
Dr Anuj Bhatti, General Secretary IAP Jammu Branch, delivered the vote of thanks. Dr Vidushi Malha, Dr Nidhi Khullar, Dr Yudhishter Singh & Dr Sharvil Dhar conducted the proceedings.
JMC launches intensive pond cleaning drive at Bantalab
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 3: Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) here today organized a comprehensive sanitation drive at the pond located in Ward No. 63, Gurha Brahmana, Bantalab.
The drive was carried out under the leadership of MLA Jammu North, Sham Lal Sharma and Commissioner, JMC, Dr. Devansh Yadav and it witnessed participation from Disha NGO, local residents, volunteers and municipal staff.
During the drive, accumulated waste, silt and debris were cleared from the pond and its surroundings.
Addressing the gathering, Sham Lal Sharma emphasized that water bodies are vital ecological assets that require consistent care and protection. He noted that unchecked pollution and negligence can severely impact these resources and therefore, community participation is indispensable. To ensure sustained monitoring and upkeep, he announced that a local committee will be constituted in coordination with residents to oversee sanitation efforts and prevent future contamination.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Devansh Yadav underscored that raising public awareness is central to the success of such initiatives. He appealed to the citizens to refrain from disposing garbage, plastic and other waste materials into ponds, drains and open spaces.
Locals expressed their support for continued cleanliness and conservation efforts for the pond.