Srinagar, July 20,: People’s United Front organized a protest march in Srinagar on Saturday, against the recent derogatory remarks of Maharaja Hari Singh’s grandson, Vikram Aditya Singh, while referring to martyrs of 13th July 1947.

 Led by Er. Rasheed, protesters were holding play cards in their hands, seeking immediate arrest of Vikram Aditya Singh for his shameless remark, as they termed it.

They were chanting slogans, asking NC & PDP to explain their relation with Congress party, of which Vikram Aditya Singh is a member and those forces, who praise Maharaja Day in and day out. Protester march of PUF commenced from Regal Chowk and culminated at Press Enclave Srinagar. 

Speaking to media persons, Er. Rasheed said, “We don’t want to indulge in blame game, but it is shameful, that a person who happens to be grandson of Maharaja Hari Singh, instead of collecting courage to seek apology for the heinous crimes committed by his father and grandfather is getting involved in character assassination of National Heroes of Jammu & Kashmir, who fought against tyranny and laid down their lives, while fighting against the autocratic rule.

“Aditya Singh needs to be reminded that during recently concluded parliamentary election as a Congress nominee he claimed to be representing so called secular forces and was supported by main regional parties NC & PDP. However after facing a humiliating defeat, he is trying to pose more communal, address a particular constituency now”, Rashid said.

“The martyrs of 13th July 1931 did not fought against Maharaja for being Hindu but laid down their lives against his brutal rule and autocracy”, he said.

Er. Rasheed asked Vikram Aditya Singh to gather the courage to answer who legalized prostitution in J&K, before calling martyrs as rapists. Rasheed asked NC & PDP leadership to apologize for openly supporting Vikram Aditya Singh during the recently concluded Parliament election and accused both the parties of always acted as proxies of New Delhi by representing a view point of Congress and BJP in the state.

He said “How can NC abuse Maharaja in Srinagar but seek holiday on Maharaja’s birthday in Jammu. The hypocrisy must end and National Confrence should clear its stand over Maharaja’s rule. Congress too needs to understand that its politics of exploitation has lost the ground and its claims of being secular stand exposed. Congress must either expel Vikram Aditya Singh or apologize for his statement or must toe the line of communal forces publically.”

Er. Rasheed condemned the resolution passed by Jammu Municipal Corporation seeking holiday on eve of Maharaja’s birthday and said that action should be taken against the members of Jammu Municipal Corporation for praising Maharaja who committed huge atrocities on people of State.

He asked people to understand how in an organized and systematic manner the history is being distorted and to implement the notorious agenda efforts for abolishing and abrogating the role of National heroes, who laid down their lives for our better tomorrow. Protesters burnt effigy of Vikram Aditya Singh and took a pledge to protect the sacrifices of their martyrs.

Srinagar, Jul 20 : Shehla Rashid, General Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM), met Governor Satya Pal Malik at the Raj Bhavan here today.

Ms. Rashid apprised Governor about various developmental matters and other issues of public importance including upgradation of health facilities, setting up of more National Testing Authority (NTA) examination centres in Jammu & Kashmir, Airfare regulations, grievances of Anganwadi Workers and special benefits for new industrial units.

Governor appreciated the sincere efforts of Ms. Rashid in working for the welfare of people. 

Police in a statement today said that it today filed charge sheet against 06 militant associates.

The charge sheet was filed before the competent court for Case FIR No. 02/2019 registered under relevant sections of law against the 06 militant associates identified as Tanveer Laway, Shahnawaz Bhat, Imtiyaz Bhat, Gulzar Wani, Imtiyaz Bhat and Azad Wani.

Pertinent to mention here that Case FIR No.02/2019 was registered for Dalwan (Chahar-e-Sharief) encounter which happened on 21.01.2019 in which 03 militants affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Al-Badr were killed.

Subsequent investigations in the case revealed the complexity of these 06 terrorist associates. As per the records available with police, they were affiliated with proscribed militant outfit Al-Badr.

Tassaduk Rashid | 

Srinagar, Jul 20 : Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Atal Dulloo Saturday said that bottlenecks in some of the projects in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district needs intervention of secretariat level for the resolution.

Talking to news agency, Duloo who chaired a meeting of officers today in Anantnag district said that Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anantnag and other officers are doing a fine job but there are some bottlenecks in some of the projects.

He added that to resolve these bottlenecks, there needs an intervention at of secretariat level. “We are identifying these bottlenecks and will be pursue at secretariat level,” he told.

Duloo also said that all the issues pertaining to officers, funds, offices will be resolved soon. “We have already started a process for the better implementation of flagship projects,” he said.

He further said that the issues pertaining to delay in completion of road projects being carried out by PMGSY and others were discussed threadbare in a meeting today. “These issues will also be resolved,” he added. (KNS) 

Ishtyaq Ahmad | 

Srinagar, Jul 20 : Jammu and Kashmir is likely to increase in the number of rainy days.

As per a report of Indian Himalayas Climate Adaption Programme (IHCAP) of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the number of rainy days in the Himalayan region in 2030s may increase by 5-10 days on an average, with an increase by more than 15 days in the eastern part of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The intensity of rainfall is likely to increase by 1-2mm per day,” the report reads.

It says that unseasonal rains may invariable cause heave damage to farmers who at times can lose whole standing crop in the state.

The unseasonal rains may invariable cause heavy damage to farmers who at times can lose whole standing crop in the state, a report says.

Climate change affects the food production and the increase in the seasonal temperature can reduce the duration of many crops and reduce the yield.

During the year 2019, the hailstorm and high speed winds hit parts of the state resulting heavy damage to crops.

In Jammu region, the damage has been caused to mango production.

Similarly, this is the season of apple production in Kashmir Valley. The apple orchards are spread over 1,46,016 hectares in the Valley.

The Kulgam and Baramulla districts were maximum hit by hailstorm in the Kashmir Valley.

Climate change and agriculture are interrelated.

The report says that most significant impact of climate change on the Himalayas will affect a good part of Asia including Kashmir Valley.

“This is especially so since most of the farmers plant varieties which give maximum yield within the prescribed crop calendar. When the crop calendar gets disturbed with unseasonal rains, their productivity and production drops,” it reads.

Mid-season drought, as per the report, is considered as harmful as unseasonal rains for the standing crops.

“The number of both these events is expected to increase with climate change. Farmers are realizing that some of the traditional varieties of food crops have better resilience to weather-related uncertainties during the cropping cycle than the high-yielding varieties,” the report adds.

Official data reveals that Jammu and Kashmir had 8.47 lakh hectare agriculture land in 2005-06 which has shrunk to 7.94 lakh hectare till 2015-16. So, in a decade, farmland equivalent to 10, 60,000 kanals have illegally been converted for non-agricultural activities across the state. (KNS) 

A day-long convention of National Conference (NC) workers was on Saturday held at Environmental hall Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Member of Parliament Hasnain Masoodi, Member of Parliament Mohd Akber Lone, General Secretary Ali Mohd Sagar, former MLA Handwara Choudhary Mohd Ramzan, provincial president Nasir Alsam Wani and Sharif-ud-din Sharik and Youth leaders were present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, senior leaders exhorted upon the National Conference workers to work hard for strengthening the party at grass root level and predicted that National Conference will form New Government in Jammu Kashmir.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Abdullah said if the special status of Jammu and Kashmir will be removed, all the presidential laws will come to an end by itself. He also said the rising drug menace in Kashmir is a trap used to spoil the future of Kashmiri youth, urging youth to stay away from the menace.

Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, while speaking on the occasion highlighted the local issues. He appealed the party workers to remain united to defeat the opportunist forces. (KNS)

Kashmir Despatch News

Srinagar, July 20 : Ahead of Defence Minister’s viist forces on Saturday morning launched a cordon and search operation in Mehmoodabad Dooru area of Anantang in South Kashmir.

Reports reaching Kashmir Despatch said forces jointly 19 RR, SOG and CRPF sealed the area and conducted house to house searches.

Reports said all entry and exit points have been sealed in the area.
A police officer while confirming this cordon and search operation said on receiving specific inputs about the presence of militants, joint team of forces launched search operation in the area.

Pertainally, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are onJammu and Kashmir visit today to lay wrath at Kargil War memorial in Dras area.

Kashmir Despatch News

Baramulla, July 20 : After three days of shutdown, life limped back to normalcy in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town on Saturday.

Baramulla town observed a three-day shutdown over the killing of local LeT militant Adnan Chana in a gunfight with forces in Sopore village on Wednesday.

All shops, commercial establishments and government and private offices reopened on Saturday in the town. The public and private transport also plied normally in all routes in the town including old town Baramulla.