SRINAGAR, MAY 27 : Jamyang Tsering Namgyal new Member of Parliament (MP) from Ladakh said that Ladakhis have wanted to be a separate entity from Jammu and Kashmir.

“No other party supported the UT demand of Ladakhis, only the BJP is onboard from regional to national level. Hence, Ladakh’s political aspiration will be a priority. Ladakh is known as part of Kashmir but that is not factually true. We have a different culture, ethnicity and even language. Valley-centric policies cannot be geographically implemented in Ladakh. In every respect, Ladakh must be separated from Kashmir,” said Namgyal in an interview with India Today.

Namgyal added, “Tourism suffered in Ladakh due to tensions in Kashmir. The separate division now and relaxation of the inner-line permit by Modi ji will help boost Ladakh tourism. It has given us a new identity”.

He added that this demand is not recent but “since 1948, Ladakhis have wanted to be a separate entity from Jammu and Kashmir”. “Focusing on development on all fronts. Ladakh is neglected and remained backward. People want change,” he added.

Ladakh witnessed communal tensions in 2017 over inter-religious relationships but Namgyal assures disturbances will not last long. “Buddhists and Muslims are connected still by blood and tradition. We celebrate similar festivals. Ladakh, by character, is secular and democratic,” he said. (PTK)

Srinagar, May 27 : Darbar Move Employees Federation (DMEF) J&K State President OvaisWani criticized the Governor’s administration for coming up with a vague order against the contractual, need –basis and daily-wagers.

Terming the order anti-youth and discriminatory in nature, Wani called for an immediate rollback of the order so that the youth who have been engaged in different departments will have a sigh of relief.

He also said that it is ironic that instead of coming up with a concrete policy to secure the future of youth who are sacrificing their present at meager remunerations in different government departments.

The Governor administration should realize the grave the situation on different fronts in the state and the battle of the youth on different fronts to earn their livelihood.

The order passed by the GAD will further add unemployment in the state.

After the Government issued this anti-youth order, an emergency the meeting was called by the Federation and it was decided to support the contractual, need- basis employees in every way till their regularization.

The meeting also formed a five-member committee which will reach to all stakeholders including all permanent and contractualemployees’ unions of all departments, business leaders, Secretaries, Advisors and Governor besides daily-wager unions so that a full-scale agitation is launched to end the exploitation of our qualified youth and secure their future.

“We believe in sitting together and talking with all stakeholders to find a solution. We don’t want to resort to strike and always suggest other organizations also not to go for it. We believe it only harms our already ailing economy. But at the same time Government should not be insensitive to the demands of the contractual employees who are highly qualified, “Wani said.

Srinagar, May 27 : Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan today convened a meeting to review cleanliness drive in Badami Bagh cantonment and the connected areas.

The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir stressed the concerned officers to remove all bottlenecks immediately so that the inhabitants of the Badami Bagh cantonment and the connected areas do not face inconvenience due to the lifting of garbage.

He directed all concerned officers to furnish a complete report within a week to the Divisional Commissioner’s office.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Dr Syed Abid Rashid Shah, Commissioner SMC, CEO Cantonment Board, Principal CTC Lethpora, Adm Commandant BB Cant, Deputy Director Urban Local Bodies, Executive Officers Urban Local Bodies of Pampore & Ganderbal and other concerned officers were present in the meeting.

Srinagar, May 27, : Casual labours associated with Kashmir PHE Joint Employees Association on Monday held a protest demonstration in Srinagar demanding a release of their pending wages.

Chanting slogans, scores of the casual workers and daily wagers assembled in Partap Park to protest against the delay in their wages. Holding placards that read “release our pending monthly wages”, employees sought early redressal of the “grave concern”.

    The protestors said that the protest is to remind the promises which the government had made with the labours and daily wagers working in the department.

   “Our job is to provide clean drinking water to the people and it is the job of government to release our monthly payment on time,” one of the protesting employees said.

Srinagar, May 27, : Booth Level Officers Association of Jammu and Kashmir Monday urged upon the government to release the additional salary for a month that was promised to them during the conduct of Panchayati and Municipal elections.

   Association members headed by Fayaz Ahmed Rather told that Government had promised them one month additional salary for conducting Panchayat and Municipal polls. “We performed our duties well. Government provided all the perks to other offices but we were ignored. The promise to us was made by Governor himself in the SAC meeting,” he said and urged upon the governor administration to fulfill the promise and release the additional one month salary for them. 

Srinagar, May 27 : Peoples Conference Senior Vice President and former Minister, Abdul Gani Vakil while welcoming the decision of Medical Council of India to allow MBBS admissions in Government Medical College Baramulla from current academic session said that it will go a long way in giving impetus to medical facilities in north Kashmir.

“This decision is of far reaching consequences. It will not only play a vital role in producing doctors in north Kashmir but will ensure that the patients of north Kashmir need not to visit Srinagar for tertiary care treatment as the same will be available now at their doorsteps”, Vakil said in a statement.

While lauding the role of Governor, his advisor K.Vijay Kumar and Principal Secretary Health Atul Dellu for ensuring the commencement of MBBS course in medical college Baramullah, Vakil emphasized that it was only due to the tireless efforts of Governor Administration that such a mile stone could be achieved.

Vakil also appreciated the role of Government of India for allowing the admissions on 100 MBBS seats in medical college Baramulla and said that “it is clear indication of the fact that GOI is serious and interested in expanding the quality healthcare facilities to the people of Kashmir at their door steps.”

He thanked Governor Administration and Central Government for this favor and expressed hope that it will end the miseries of people of north Kashmir who had to travel all the way to Srinagar for minor medical issues. 

Srinagar, May 27 : Chairman PDF Hakeem Yaseen has hailed statements of Narendra Modi and Imran Khan where in they have shown their willingness to work jointly for the betterment of their people and fight against poverty.

In a statement issued, Hakeem Yaseen has said that the respective people of India and Pakistan have given overwhelming mandate in favour of their leaders, adding that onus now lies on Narendra Modi and Imran Khan to transform people’s faith into an opportunity for ushering an era of peace and prosperity in the region. He said animosity between the two neighbours since last seven decades have totally devastated lives of people socially as well as economically especially the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said it was high time that leadership of both countries should bring some flexibility in their stands to pave way for a congenial atmosphere for dialogue and reconciliation.

Hakeem Yaseen said that the latest statements of both leaders showing their willingness to work for the betterment of their people and restoration of peace in the region was very encouraging adding that both countries should resolve all their outstanding issues amicably.

PDF Chief has expressed optimism that the massive mandate given by the people in favor of their leaders will go a long way for ushering in an atmosphere of dialogue and reconciliation in the sub continent. He said that Narendra Modi has emerged as one of the most powerful and influential political leaders of the country who can give a new direction to the political, economical and social spectrum in the region. He has expressed optimism that both Narendra Modi and Imran Khan would utilize all the qualities of head and heart for resolution of all contentious issue to give peace a chance.

Hakeem Yaseen has also hailed Narendra Modi’s statement in Central Hall about eliminating the fear psychosis among the minorities.

Srinagar, May 27 : CPI (M) leader M Y Tarigami Monday said the recent order by the government that casual, seasonal, adhoc, contractual, need based and daily rated workers in all departments, who were engaged after April 29, 2010 and March 17, 2015 has created uncertainty as these poor people are already suffering due to the non-payment of wages for months together.

In a statement issued , Tarigami said, “The previous BJP-PDP government in the Assembly had assured that all these engagements would be regularised. However, instead of regularising them, the administration is issuing such orders which create confusion and chaos. The callous attitude of the administration has put this hapless lot to tremendous hardships.”

“Most of them are the lone breadwinners of their families and disengaging them will have devastating effects not only on them, but on their families also. Unemployment in the State has assumed an alarming trend and the successive governments in the state lacked vision for tackling this problem. It is not a matter of serious concern only, but we believe that any further delay in addressing this smouldering issue will make this problem worse to handle. One of the burning issues, which is adding to the atmosphere of uncertainty and alienation, is the alarming rate of unemployment in the state,” he said.

“Already there are limited job opportunities as there is virtually no industrial and private sector in the state. In absence of other viable avenues, the government sector is the only area which provides some opportunity for generating employment. But the inability of the government to create such opportunities the future seems to be bleak for our younger generation,” CPI (M) leader added.

Tarigami said, “The Governor administration should regularise all the casual, seasonal, adhoc, contractual, need based and daily rated workers, who are working for years together. Both Union and State governments must devise comprehensive youth-oriented policies with long lasting employment schemes.

Srinagar, May 27 : Most of the areas in Srinagar witnessed a gridlock on Monday ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr here, leaving the commuters to lurch at large.

The commuters remained stuck for a long time in the gridlock today, which was witnessed in several city areas including Rajouri Kadal, Lal Chowk, Habba Kadal, Fateh Kadal, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Hari Singh High Street, Jahangir Chowk and others.

The vehicles in large were seen stranded on the roads for a long time while as the traffic cops were seen regulating the traffic.

Commuters said that street vendors who are occupying the roads are one among the main reasons behind the traffic mess here. “The government had earlier claimed to have vacated the vendors from the roads but the street vendors continue to occupy the roadsides here thereby leaving the commuters to lurch at large,” they said.

They said that the people are out to buy the essentials for the Eid and the government must ensure free and smooth movement for the commuters as well as the shoppers.

The commuters also alleged that most of the traffic signals remain defunct while the rest of the signals are being put on blinker mode to ensure free and smooth vehicular movement of the VIP’s, which is also creating the frequent traffic mess.

“It took me almost half an hour today to reach Jahangir Chowk from Dalgate in my car,” a commuter said.

Citing illegal car parking on the roadsides as the reason, the traffic officials said that a number of commuters have so far been challaned in Srinagar city especially in the business Hub Lal Chowk who had parked their vehicles illegally on the roadsides.

“The commuters usually park their cars illegally on the roadsides, which result in the traffic mess. The norm violators are being challaned with each passing day. We are putting every effort to streamline the traffic,” the officials said. (KNS) 

Srinagar, May 27 : With few weeks left in resumption of holy Amarnath Yatra, police today said that it has made all the preparations for secure and peaceful pilgrimage of the yatris.

Director General of Police Dilbgah Singh told news agency that sensitive areas along the Yatra route have been sensitised with security personnel.

“We are done with the Yatra preparations. All sensitive areas along the Yatra route have been sensitised and security have been deployed at all the spots where it is needed,” DGP told.

The Yatra will begin in June and passes through Anantnag, Srinagar and Ganderbal districts to reach Baltal or some reach via Pahalgam route.

Last year, militants had attacked yatris at Anantnag in which eight pilgrims were killed.

DGP said that those points of the route where had been “weaker” earlier has been strengthened with security measures.

“Additional security personnel have been deployed at those areas who had been weak points earlier. These points are being strengthened with more security deployment,” he said.

Recently, Governor Satya Pal Malik also held a detailed meeting with officials concerned for smooth and safe conduct of Yatra.

The police chief said that the efforts of the police will be to deploy security before the Yatra begins so that pilgrims will feel safe and secure.

He said that the Yatra route is being cleared off snow and the damaged parts are being repaired for smooth passage of yatris. (KNS)