February 2022 | Page 2 of 4

Delimitation panel for J&K gets two-month extension

February 23, 2022 Editor

Amid uproar by political parties over its draft report, the Delimitation Commission for J&K has been given two months’ extension in its tenure to complete its task of redrawing the Assembly constituencies in the Union Territory (UT). The term of the commission had to end on March 6. The move came two days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the announcement for Assembly elections in J&K will be held within eight months. In a gazette notification, dated February 21, the Centre said, “In exercise of powers conferred under Section…

Snowfall disrupts life across Kashmir Valley, Flights disrupted; Highway closed; Train service suspended

February 23, 2022 Editor

Widespread snowfall across Kashmir on Wednesday disrupted normal life as flight operations, surface transport and routine activities of life came to a grinding halt in Kashmir. It has been continuously snowing in the entire Valley since early morning and around 5 inches of snow has accumulated on the ground in Srinagar city. For the over 1.2 million residents of Srinagar city, Wednesday’s is the first major snowfall of this winter. Flight operations from Srinagar International Airport have been delayed as visibility at the runway has dropped to less than 500…

After two years gap juniors back in schools across Jammu region

February 22, 2022 Editor

Students of lower classes thronged their schools in most parts of Jammu province early Monday to attend offline classes after a gap of nearly two years, a week after the Jammu and Kashmir Administration announced phased opening of educational institutions amid declining trend of COVID-19 cases. However, the schools in Kashmir and winter zones of Jammu region are scheduled to open next week at the end of over two-month long winter vacation. On February 14, most of the high and higher secondary schools opened after the J & K Administration…

National Conference eyesore for those opposing inclusiveness: Farooq Abdullah

February 22, 2022 Editor

National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah Monday on Monday exhorted the party’s cadre across Jammu and Kashmir to remain steadfast in their resolve of serving the people and strengthening bonds of inclusiveness—the political philosophy of the party that has withstood the test of times. Dr Abdullah was reviewing the functioning of the party units in Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley regions of the Jammu province. “Emergence of National Conference as a big political force is an eyesore for elements opposed to J&K’s spirit of amity, brotherhood, harmony and inclusiveness,” he…

J&K logs 104 Covid infections; lowest in 53 days

February 22, 2022 Editor

Jammu and Kashmir witnessed one Covid-related death on Monday, while recording 104 fresh infections, the lowest daily total since December 30, an official health bulletin said. On Sunday, the union territory had logged 151 infections. The third wave of Covid, which peaked on January 25 with 14 deaths and 6,570 cases, has now ebbed with below 200 daily cases for the past four days. As many as 360 patients recovered, prompting the active cases to drop to 1,692. The officials said 54,641 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours…

In last 2 weeks four youths reported missing from across Kashmir valley

February 22, 2022 Editor

In the past two weeks, four youths from Kashmir have gone missing from their homes, including the son of a policeman who recently cleared his board examinations. In the past two weeks, four youths from Kashmir have gone missing from their homes, including the son of a policeman who recently cleared his board examinations. The relatives of these missing teenagers have lodged police complaints and sought help from locals to trace the teenagers. However, they haven’t been found yet. Mohammad Yasin, 18, has been missing from his home at Chakloo…

Delimitation exercise about to be over, Polls likely in 6-8 months: Amit Shah

February 22, 2022 Editor

Elections in Kashmir will be held within six to eight months of the delimitation exercise being wrapped up in the Union Territory, Home Minister Amit Shah has said in an exclusive interview. “The delimitation exercise is about to get over. After that, within six-eight months, the elections will be held. There is no confusion,” Amit Shah said. Asked about Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent statement that New Delhi and Islamabad should resolve their issues, especially Kashmir, together, Shah said: “Kashmir is an integral part of India. There is no…

Mother tongue underlying component of one’s identity: Farooq Abdullah

February 21, 2022 Editor

National Conference president and MP Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said that mother tongue is an underlying component of one’s culture and identity, and every effort should be made to protect the linguistic diversity of Jammu and Kashmir. In his message on International Mother Tongue Day, Abdullah said the mother tongue must be the medium of instruction in schools, especially at formative stages. “It lays a strong foundation for the expression of creativity and personality development. It also fosters creativity at the formative stages. As far as the Kashmiri language is…

Working to change public perception about govt schools: Bishwajit Kumar Singh

February 21, 2022 Editor

Bishwajit Kumar Singh joined as Principal Secretary School Education Department (SED) J&K in October 2020. In his over one year experience as the Principal Secretary, he believes that better days are in the offing for the government school students as well as the department. The government, he says, is making all efforts to change public perception about government schools. He shares his thoughts in an exclusive interview. Here are the excerpts: Reporter: J&K just saw the declaration of two major Board results. How do you see the overall performance of schools?…

To punish BJP, people must support PAGD: Mehbooba Mufti

February 21, 2022 Editor

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday urged people to vote for the PAGD allies in the next J&K Assembly polls to defeat the BJP and its associates, which, she said, were hampering the case of restoration of the Union Territory’s special status in the apex court. She also reiterated her call for a peaceful struggle for the restoration of the special status of J&K.