NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and briefed him about the prevailing security situation in the State and various other issues including return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.

Omar, who was in the national capital, had earlier met Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Emerging after a 20-minute-long meeting with the Prime Minister, Omar said, “it was a courtesy call during which I briefed him about various issues”.

Omar later tweeted that he discussed the situation in the State including tourism, economy, electricity and employment avenues as also about the security situation and the assessment for the next few months including preparations for Amarnath yatra.

This was the first meeting of Omar with top NDA central leadership during which the issue of return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley was also discussed.

The forthcoming Amarnath Yatra also figured prominently during the meeting and Omar briefed the Home Minister about the arrangements made for smooth conduct of the pilgrimage which will commence later this month.

The Centre has been actively considering the state’s proposal for return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley in which the Omar Government had proposed increasing the amount for construction or repair work in their houses to Rs 20 lakh from existing Rs 7.5 lakh per family.

This proposal was sent to the previous UPA Government but no decision for enhancement of the amount from Rs.7.5 lakh which it had announced earlier.

Kashmiri Pandits had left the Valley in 1990 with the outbreak of militancy and the number such migrants in Jammu, Delhi and other parts of the country are estimated somewhere between six and seven lakhs.

The package for enhancement of monetary assistance was sent by the State Government in 2012 but nothing was done about it. “I am glad that the present Government is actively considering the proposal with some modifications,” he said, adding, “we are supportive of this measure”. (AGENCIES)

JAMMU: An Army jawan was today injured in a mine blast along Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district.

During patrolling along LoC in Sabzian forward belt of Poonch district, a jawan stepped on a mine accidentally resulting in blast, a Defence spokesman said.

The injured jawan was shifted to hospital and his condition is stable, he added. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI: India today made strong objections to the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) once again making an “incorrect and misleading” reference to the status of Kashmir.

The Kashmir issue finds mention in the resolutions adopted during the 41st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from June 18 to 19.

“We note with regret that the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has once again made factually incorrect and misleading references to matters internal to India, including the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said here replying to a query from the media.

“We reject all such references/resolutions. The OIC has no locus standi on matters concerning the internal affairs of India,” he said. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI: Government has appointed two private secretaries, including a private person, to Union Ministers Narendra Tomar and Inderjit Singh.

Brahm Dutt, who retired as Joint Secretary in Lok Sabha secretariat, has been appointed as private secretary to Inderjit Singh, Minister of State (independent charge) for Planning, statistics and programme implementation.

Singh is also Minister of State for Defence.

It is for the first time that a private person, Brahm Dutt, is being appointed as PS to a minister in the new government.

Dutt’s appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) and his tenure will be co-terminus with that of the minister or until further orders.

IAS officer Nikunj Kumar Srivastava has been appointed as PS to Narendra Tomar, Minister for Labour and Employment, and Steel and Mines, an official order issued by the Ministry of Personnel said.

Srivastava, a 1998 batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, is presently working as Director in Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

41-year-old Srivastava has worked as Bhopal Collector before coming to Delhi on central deputation in June last year.

Another IAS officer Brajendra Navnit has been appointed as Director in the Prime Minister’s Office. Navnit, a 1999 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, is presently serving in the cadre.

The order for appointment of Navnit, who hails from Bihar, has been issued by the Government. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI, June 20:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar  Abdullah has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7 Race Course Road here today.
“It was a courtesy call,” according to an official statement issued here.
Earlier, Nagaland Governor Ashwani Kumar also met the Prime Minister at the latter’s residence. (AGENCIES)