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Meets scores of delegations from Kulgam at Nawa e Subha, exhorts functionaries, workers to strengthen party to meet new challenges

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR,, MARCH 29 :

National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament (Retd) Justice Hasnain Masoodi on Monday called upon party workers to work for the future of Jammu and Kashmir, saying the party has the responsibility of its present and future.

Masoodi as per a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said this while addressing scores of delegations here at Party Headquarters Nawa-e-Subha.

The visiting delegations comprised from Kulgam town, Behibagh block, Safai Karamchari Union, including people from all walks of life. The delegations were led by Party Spokesperson, Constituency in Charge Kulgam Imran Nabi Dar. The meeting saw a huge participation of party’s block and Halqa level functionaries of Kulgam.

Masoodi in his address said the party has been living up to its commitments since 1931 by giving voice to every single citizen of Jammu and Kashmir in an inclusive manner. He said the party has given space to the weakest voices of voices in its fold saying that the collective challenge of the party is shaping our party to the current scenario to face the emerging situation at all levels.

He said the prevailing situation in J&K is a product of the measures taken under the cold hand of reason on August 5, 2019, have confirmed to our fears about its ramifications which we had cautioned against, Masoodi said adding, “NC has long been functioning as an institution comprising experience and energy and as a bridge between the past, present and the future. The need of the hour calls for increasing our efforts to improve our base on ground to face the challenges ahead. The need of the hour is to make it more inclusive, diverse, dynamic and representative.”

Referring to the development needs of people in Kashmir, he said the party has not shied away from its responsibility to raise the issues concerning people at every level. He said the MPs of NC including him, has been raising predicaments of local people in Lok Sabha and other forums as well very effectively.

Masoodi said that he in his personal capacity raised the health care issues and strengthened tertiary health care and suggested that new maternity hospitals be set up in south Kashmir areas. “I have sought maternity hospitals at Narbal and Pampore to cater requirements of north and south Kashmir. I also sought Nursing Colleges at Kulgam and Shopian,” he said.

Masoodi said that he also took exception to the import of apples in LS demanding increase in commercial processing and cold storage facilities across south Kashmir areas to prevent loss of fresh fruit due to frequent road blockades. “Not just horticulture , I also raised the failure of Saffron Mission and refuted the claims that there was bumper saffron and labeled it as a conspiracy to get the saffron from other places introduced as produced in Kashmir to the detriment of local crop,” he said

Remarking on the acceleration of work on road and tunnel projects, Masoodi said the he has also demanded concrete steps for construction of Dessa-Kapran, Simthan, Razadan, and Sadhna pass tunnels and release of 3000 crore rupees CRF to facilitate improvement in road connectivity.

He said that he has also sought proper and efficient implementation of National Education Policy 2020 on ground to make benefit reach the beneficiaries across Kashmir in particular south Kashmir.

Masoodi also stated that he also raised the appalling situation of nearly sixty one thousand consolidated and daily wagers due to pay anomalies in SR0-202 job policy and asked the GOI to bring wages of employees engaged under it at par with other government employees.

He said that, keeping in view the pro- workers and pro farmer ideology of the party he also remonstrated the government from washing its hands of its responsibility to provide succor to the horticulture in Kashmir. He said that he has also sought establishment of cold storage facilities across Kashmir in particular the apple producing regions of south and north Kashmir.

On the occasion Imran said, “The claims of the government on fast tracking of the slew of development projects in south Kashmir areas have fallen flat. The thrust areas it was made known will have IT technology, Infrastructure, Renewable energy, Education, tourism sector and manufacturing. The ground realities however give ditch to the claims of the government. Major inter district roads, and intra district arterials present a grimy tail of neglect. Power infrastructure merits special attention of government for it has seen no substantial expansion, up gradation since 2015. Likewise the government owned academic institutions are awaiting a major flip to increase their capacity to meet the demands of increasing student count and contemporary academic demands,” he said.

“In addition to that, people in various hamlets of south Kashmir particularly in Behibagh area continue to use untreated water for drinking purposes. Agricultural activities in various belts of south Kashmir have come to a grinding halt due to shortage of electricity and availability of water for irrigation. The region waits on to have more lift irrigation and water treatment plants to cater to the agricultural and household requirements of people,” he said.

On the occasion the visiting delegations brought various issues concerning them to the notice of Party MP Hassnain Masoodi. The visiting Safai KaramChari Association in particular apprised the MP about the initiative of the government to engage sweepers on contract rather than employing them. The visiting delegation said the step is aimed to snatch livelihood of scores of locals who have been effectively engaged by the administration to carry out the sanitation.

The MP gave a patient hearing to the delegation members and assured them that he would take up the issues at all appropriate forums. He said the step seems to be part of the plan to disenfranchise Kashmiri and snatch their livelihoods as was done previously by giving sand extraction contracts to the non locals.

Later the visiting delegations called on party General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar who impressed upon the delegation t6o ensure that party programme reaches to one and all. On the occasion he laid emphasis on the party membership drive and asked workers to take part in it actively. Among others Adv Shabir Ahmad, Ahsan Pardesi and other functionaries were also present on the occasion—(KNO)

SNS KASHMIR

JAMMU. MARCH 29 :

Crime Branch Jammu (CBJ) on Monday claimed to have booked Cyber fraudsters for luring and cheating a victim on the pretext of marriage proposal.

In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), officials said that CBJ registered a criminal case against Cyber Fraudsters viz Atom Roy, son of Bimal Roy of Mahi Nagar P.O Parail P/S Gazole Malda, West Bengal, Zahir Hussain, son of Dabar Hussain, Flat No.4-D 4th Floor Block-HH Tushar Apartments, Arunachal Hatiara West Bengal, Hazrat Ali, son of Shahid Miya of Barua P.O Ram Nagar P/S Raghu Nathpur Siwan, Bihar A/P A-46 Harkesh Nagar Okhla Phase-2 Delhi, Sartaj Hussain, son of Akbar Hussain of Flat No. 4-D Arunachal Hatiara Tushar Apartment 4th Floor Block HH North 24 Parganas West Bengal, Vinay Kumar, son of Hem Raj of D-265 Indira Kalyan Vihar, Okhla Phase-I CRRI South New Delhi and Huinu, wife of Mangginhao of Khoken, Tehsil Thanion District Churachandpur Manipur and others for their involvement in cheating the complainant by hatching criminal conspiracy and duping her of her money on the pretext of luring her in their trap with a marriage proposal.

“A written complaint was lodged by the victim, living in Jammu, wherein she inter-alia alleged that suspect Dave Kumar approached her on Instagram and proposed her for marriage and after a couple of days forced her to receive gifts sent by him. Despite her denial the suspect sent the parcel and its tracking details. On checking the details and the shipping Agency United Nations Post Courier they were found to be fake,” the statement said.

It added that after sometime she received a call purportedly from a Customs officer namely Atom Roy about her parcel and told her to give Custom duties of Rs. 45,500/- to claim the parcel. “On verifying from Dave about the parcel, he told her to pay immediately as it contained valuable items and she paid accordingly. Next day, she got a call from a fake Custom Officer that a parcel was containing currency (100,000 pounds) inside it. On this she again got it verified from Mr. Dave and he asked her do as the Custom people would tell her to do as he wanted his parcel to reach her safely. Then she was sent e-mail regarding Anti-Money Laundering Certificate for which she had to pay Rs. 1,18,900/- Again she got mail from Foreign Remittance Department, RBI, for which she had to pay Rs. 2,73, 000. Then she called upon International Bank Services Srinagar who told her to stop immediately as it is a scam.”

“On receipt of the complaint a preliminary verification was conducted by Crime Branch Jammu and during the course of enquiry Oral/documentary evidence was collected and the allegations were prima facie substantiated against the accused. It has been found that the accused have opened various bank accounts on fake/forged documents and obtained various SIM cards besides making fake Instagram accounts by impersonation and used the internet through fraudulent e-mails/Whatsapp and allured the complainant and other gullible victims to cheat them.”

“In this manner, the gang of fraudsters duped the complainant of her money to the tune of Rs. 4,37,400/- by fraudulent means thereby causing wrongful loss to her and wrongful gain to themselves. As such, a formal case is registered in P/S Crime Branch, Jammu against the above mentioned accused persons under the relevant sections of law for in-depth investigation,” the statement said—(KNO)

Passengers Blamed Traffic Department for Mess

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 27:

Only after a week since the Traffic department announced the 19% hike in fare, the drivers especially the small passengers vehicles Sumo and Tavera drivers are looting the passengers as they are receiving the fare from them as per their will hence violating all the laid down guidelines of the traffic department.

One of the commuter namely Rayees Ahmad, while talking to CNS said, “ when I leave for Srinagar through Lasjan Road, I am forced to pay 4o Rs as fine and when i return from Srinagar, I have to pay only 35rs, that is 5 Rs less than the arrival fare and its out of logic to me” he said agitatedly.

Shameema Akhtar, another commuter a private teacher by profession said, “fare from Khrew to Pampore was 30 Rupees and 5 rupees were increase as per new rule, same fare was from Pampore to Awantipora, how can they increase 10 Rs double than other routes” she questioned.

Despite repeated requests by general masses to the traffic department to intervene in the matter, the department seems to be in deep slumber.

“They hardly care about the problems of people” said one of the aggrieved commuters. (CNS)

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR,, MARCH 29 :

After authorities rejected her passport, former chief minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday questioned if “this is the level of normalcy achieved in Kashmir since Aug 2019”.

“Passport Office refused to issue my passport based on CID’s report citing it as ‘detrimental to the security of India. This is the level of normalcy achieved in Kashmir since Aug 2019 that an ex Chief Minister holding a passport is a threat to the sovereignty of a mighty nation,” Mehbooba said in a tweet.

The regional passport officer has informed Mehbooba that he application for the passport which received on 14 December last has been refused following a Police Verification Report (PVR) received from Addl. Director General of Police, J&K-CID, which do not favour issuance of the passport in her favour. (GNS)

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR,, MARCH 29:

At least four non-teaching faculty of Green Valley School Ellahi-Bagh on Monday were tested COVID-19 positive.

The news agency— KNO has leant that the management of the school has ordered closure of the institution for three days.

Chairman of the school, Mohmmad Yousuf Wani said that four non-teaching faculty members in a Coronavirus test drive were tested positive.

He said among the four faculty members includes one receptionist and an accountant.

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 29 :

Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather on Monday asked all the medical superintendent (MS) of district hospitals, sub-district hospitals and community health centres to conduct morning meetings for smooth functioning and to bring accountability and transparency to the work.

A circular issued in the regard reads that in order to improve the functioning of District and sub-district hospitals and to bring transparency, accountability in their working, all the medical superintendents of the district hospitals, sub-district hospitals and community health centres are impressed upon to conduct the “Morning Meetings” in their respective hospitals.

“The meeting will ideally, start at 9.30 am, half an hour prior to the start of the day activities in the hospital and end before 10:00 am so that no day activity of the institution is impeded in any manner,” the order reads.

The order said that the meeting would be chaired by the medical superintendents/block medical officers in person without delegating to some other officers of the hospital, so that the patient care in the hospital shall not suffer.

“It will be ensured that meeting will be attended by heads/ in charge of all the hospital sections including clinical departments, casualty in-charge medical officer/ in charge of labs/ X-Ray/ ECG/ blood bank/ nursing supervisors/ ward nurse on night duties/ sanitary inspector/ in-charge sanitation central heating/ electrician/ plumber/ lenin/ store in-charge/ accounts section etc,” the order reads.

The order said that the focus of the meeting will be improving the delivery of patient-related services, the meeting will compulsorily ascertain the work done during the night and any issues that have arisen (including discussing referrals Deaths etc).

“The resolution of the issues of the previous day will be recorded in the meeting note,” it reads.

“It shall be ensured that the minutes of these meetings will be diligently recorded in a separate register created for the purpose. The register shall be kept open for audit by the supervisory officers of the district and at the level of this directorate,” the order said—(KNO)

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 29 :

The School Education Department on Monday said it has decided to withhold assessment of students in educational establishments in view of non-adherence of COVID-19 protocols by some schools in Valley.

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has learnt that some schools in Kashmir division were not following the recommended COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) against which the directions of withholding of assessment among the students in schools was ordered.

Meanwhile, Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK), Mohammad Younis Malik in this regard issued an order, asking the Heads of all Educational institutions to observe COVID-19 protocol and follow the instructions issued by the government from time to time.

“It has come to the notice of this directorate that some schools are not following the requisite SOPs while conducting the periodical assessment,” Malik said in an order.

He also said that in light of the COVID-19 SOPs and guidelines for Health and Safety protocols for reopening of the schools and learning with physical, social distancing, it is again reiterated that assessment plans may be prepared along with rubrics.

DSEK’s assessment plan

The formats for periodic test, midterm and final exams may be designed as per the demand of the situation and keeping in view the number of days and adjusted curriculum.

The school should not plan any assessment of student learning in the first two three weeks of reopening of schools in order to ensure emotional well being of the students.

Non-stressing assessments may be planned to identify the learning gaps that is to find out how much the students have learned during home based schoolings.

Assessments in the form of role plays, choreography, class quiz, puzzles and games, brochure designing, presentation journals and portfolios may be preferred over routine pen paper testing.

The above instructions shall be strictly adhered to until the commencement of Term-I assessment—(KNO)

SNS KASHMIR

BARAMULLA MARCH 29 :

9 boys from Zainapora area of Shopian were spotted in Sheeri Baramulla area in suspicious circumstances.

The statement issued here by police reads that 9 boys from Zainapora area of Shopian were spotted in Sheeri Baramulla area in suspicious circumstances.

They were detained by police for background verification and antecedents check. The detained boys are being counselled and handled as per law.

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, 29 MARCH 2021:

District Administration Srinagar today held a conference of Lambardars and Chowkidars of Srinagar District.
At the outset DC Srinagar Mohammad Aijaz took introduction of Lambardars and Chowkidars and enquired about their functioning and coordination with the Field Revenue staff.

Speaking on the occasion President of the Association appreciated the outreach of District Administration Srinagar in engaging the field functionaries of the Revenue Department. He raised Various issues pertaining to the Association like Honorarium, recognition and participation in revenue matters, etc. He assured full support to the District administration Srinagar.

While addressing during Lambardar Chowkidar conference DC Srinagar said Lambardar and Chowkidars are key functionaries of Revenue administration and they have to understand their roles and responsibilities. He sought their full cooperation to fight the Covid outbreak. He said that periodical meetings at Tehsil and District level will be held and Lambardars and Chowkidars shall submit monthly reports of their work and revenue officers shall involve Lambardars & Chowkidars in Mutations, Girdawari, etc. He also said he will look into the issues raised by association to sort them out.

This night of remembrance is observed across the Indian subcontinent and in Central Asia and Turkey, as well as among Sufis all over

BY Jawhar Sircar

One of the reasons why secularism is floundering in India today is that we hardly know or care to know the other’s religion, festivals and culture, beyond just a few essentials and stereotypes. We are, of course, happy to enjoy an extra holiday on the important festival days of another religion, but there has never been any conscious attempt to empathise and bond with them — except of course, the very showily political Iftar meals.

We grew up, literally, in silos as there was always a tug of war between the west-inspired antiseptic ‘stay away from religion’ secularism (that Nehru and the Left preferred) and a more inclusive deeper Gandhian ‘faith in all religions’ existence. Obviously, the latter goes better with the masses, as Indians are basically entrenched in religion, without necessarily being intolerant or becoming hard-liners.

Once we take a little interest in religion, we discover the sheer beauty of faith, devotion and values that have guided humanity for several millennia before the formal legislation of human affairs and conduct arrived and commenced its operations. We also discover so many commonalities between religions far apart, and one such ritual is the annual remembering of the dead.

For some odd reason, some major religions do so in in October-November or thereabouts. For instance, Hindus observe Pitri Pakhsa, Tarpan on Mahalaya day before Navaratri commences or on Bhoot Chaturdesi during the Diwali season. Christians celebrate their All Souls’ Day on November 2, by lighting candles and placing flowers in graveyards. Americans go a step further and enjoy their Halloween three days before, while the Mexican ‘Day of the Dead’ is actually celebrated for a whole week. At countless pagodas in Southeast Asia, Buddhist monks help the laity in autumn, by transferring their offerings of food and drinks to ancestors in the other world. The Chinese month of the ‘Hungry Ghosts’ is a little before this season.

Muslims, however, go by their lunar calendar and observe Shab-e-Barat on the night of the 15th of the month of Sha’ban, which falls on March 28-29 this year. Those Muslims who observe this night do so with special prayers, fasting and rituals, but this Islamic festival is not only for ancestors.

Let us first look at the origins. It is said that the Prophet’s wife, Hadrath Ayesha Siddiqa, found him missing on this night and went out in search, which ended when she found him in the cemetery of Medina. He spent a long time there lamenting and praying for the deceased, so that they may all be forgiven. This is said to have lent ultimate sanctity to this day, which has other significance as well. But while this night of remembrance is observed across the Indian subcontinent and in Central Asia and Turkey, as well as among Sufis all over, it is not so with Salafis, Wahhabis and more orthodox Arabs and followers.

Shia Muslims believe that Muhammed al-Mahdi, the last of their ‘Twelve Imams’ who were divinely ordained to succeed the Prophet, was born on this day. He is especially important as he is believed to be the promised Mahdi, who would appear again to destroy the false Messiah and save the world. He is like the Kalki Avatar of the Hindus, but Islam’s earlier link with Christianity becomes apparent when some legends mention that in his task of deliverance, the Mahdi would be supported by the Second Christ. In Shia countries like Iran and in Shia-dominated parts of the world, localities are decorated on this great occasion.

In Arabic legend, Sha’ban is also the ‘month of separation’ when in their pre-Islamic stage, tribes dispersed in different directions in search of water. The 15th of this month has always been considered holy, as it is Laylat al-Bara’at, the night when Allah goes over the records of believers to adjudge their virtues and sins, so far. The noted scholar, Abu Jafar, has explained that ‘Shab’ is a Persian word for night while ‘Barat’ in Arabic stands for salvation and forgiveness. Muslims believe that on this night the Almighty can be approached for his infinite mercy, so that some of their sins are condoned.

Where the Indian subcontinent is concerned, 19th and early 20th centuries records indicate that most Muslims here observed the night by visiting mosques. “After repetition three times of a chapter in the Koran and prayers,” the reports said that “they rise and go to various cemeteries. On the way they purchase flowers to place on the graves and the very pious spend the whole night in going from one cemetery to the other.” This obligation is to remind them that life is basically ephemeral and what awaits everyone is death and God’s judgement. This particular night is also important because Allah is believed to decide the fortunes of all for the next year: who would live, who would die and who would be born. It also sets the date of the month of Ramadan or Ramzan that begins from the next fortnight.

A British report of 1917 noted the concerns of the Maulavis even then, who said that “it was originally set apart for fasting, but has become a festival and a great day for fireworks”. Earlier, in 1880, Edwards Sell mentioned his Faiths of Islam that “large sums are spent on fireworks (on the next day) and more are let off at this festival than at any other.” But Islam made Zakaat or charity as an essential mandate and during this festival also, food is distributed to the poor. Many feel that this good deed would redeem the souls of their departed ancestors. The custom of preparing food and sweets benefits not only ancestors, but also friends and relations who are sent these, because community spirit dominates matters in the Semitic religions.

A century ago, we find Jafar Sharif bemoaning in his Islam in India that “all such ceremonies are innovations, superfluous and extravagant”. But these traditions persist despite Salafi objections, because Muslims in all three countries have evolved their own rituals and celebrations in their own manner, suited to the intrinsic nature of people of this subcontinent. Most Muslims here believe in Pirs and visit their dargahs to seek duas and make manats, that would shock many from the Arabian peninsula. They participate in colourful weddings and festivals with Quwwals, other rhythmic songs and dances and also take pride in their scathing wit at Shayari poetry sessions. Describing the custom of lighting lamps and candles on this night, Kazi Nazrul Islam drew a comparison, purely in his emotional poetic sense and in no other: “Shabe-baraat’s Lamps Have Lit The World Aglow / This Deepavali Shall Drive Away All Darkness!” ( The Wire) The Articel first appeared in https://thewire.in/)

Jawhar Sircar is a former culture secretary, Government of India. He tweets at @jawharsircar.