August 2023 | Page 6 of 20

Sonia Gandhi to meet Rahul Gandhi in Srinagar for a ‘Private Visit’

August 25, 2023 Editor

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be reaching Srinagar on a two-day “personal visit” and will be joined by his mother Sonia Gandhi next day, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Vikar Rasool Wani said on Friday. Wani, however, said the two senior leaders will have no political engagement or meeting with any party leaders in Srinagar during the “family tour.” Also read: Sonia Gandhi writes to ISRO chief on Chandrayaan 3 success: ‘Great pride and excitement’ Rahul has been in the Union Territory of Ladakh the past one…

Kashmir Willow Bats to be Used by 17 International Cricketers in 2023 ODI World Cup

August 25, 2023 Editor

As many as 17 international cricket players from three different countries are set to play with Kashmir willow bats during the upcoming ICC Men’s ODI World Cup For the first time ever, bats made of the legendary Kashmir willow will make an official appearance at the 50-over Cricket World Cup scheduled to be held in October in India. Bats manufactured by GR8 Sports, a bat manufacturing company in the Sangam area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, will be used by teams such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, said…

The Kashmir Files: A Case Study in BJP’s Use of Cinema for Political Gain

August 25, 2023 Editor

The film, which won the National Award on Thursday, was criticised by the Opposition after it was released last year; it was also at the centre of a row at a film festival when an Israeli director labelled it “propaganda”. Honoured with a National Film Award for Best Film for National Integration, The Kashmir Files is a movie that has divided opinions ever since it was released last year because of its contested portrayal of the Kashmiri Pandit exodus from Kashmir in 1990. The film caused a stir last November…

Jammu Chamber of Commerce & Industry Calls for Bandh on August 26 to Protest Sarore Toll Plaza and Smart Meters Installation

August 25, 2023 Editor

Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Thursday gave a call for Jammu bandh on August 26 to register a protest against “installation of smart meters and functioning at Toll Plaza at Sarore.” This was announced by the Chamber president Arun Gupta, flanked by other members, in a press conference this evening. He stated that the transporters and Jammu Bar Association were also supporting the Jammu Bandh call. The call has been given while the protests against the functioning of Sarore Toll Plaza and installation of smart meters continue in…

Govt’s land for landless scheme in J&K restricted to domiciles

August 25, 2023 Editor

The landless domiciles of J&K, who are Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) or Awas plus beneficiaries in specified categories of Rural Development Department’s permanent waiting list 2018-19, will get 5 Marlas of state land on lease basis. The land in respect of these beneficiaries will be granted on lease on payment of a token amount of Rs 100 per Marla as one-time premium and a nominal amount of Re 1 per Marla per annum as ground rent, in relaxation of Jammu and Kashmir Land Grant Rules, 2022. J&K Revenue…

Impact of Heavy Rains in Himachal: Urgent Need for New Infrastructure Policies in Mountain States to Combat Climate Crises

August 25, 2023August 25, 2023 Editor

In a distressing turn of events, the recent heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh have unveiled a pressing need for new and robust infrastructure policies in mountainous regions, as eight buildings in Kullu district collapsed due to the onslaught of rain-triggered damages. The incident occurred in the Anni area, casting large clouds of dust and debris, but thankfully, there were no casualties reported. The buildings that crumbled had already exhibited cracks and were marked as unsafe following the recent bout of rains. These structures, which housed commercial establishments including shops and…

Rahul Gandhi’s Visit to Srinagar: A Political Masterstroke or a Calculated Risk?

August 25, 2023 Editor

Rahul Gandhi’s Planned Visit to Srinagar Sparks Anticipation The anticipation is palpable as former Congress president and Member of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi, prepares for his impending visit to Srinagar. Scheduled for tomorrow, this private journey has been the topic of much speculation. Reportedly traveling by road, Rahul Gandhi is set to arrive in Srinagar and enjoy a night’s stay in a houseboat on the serene waters of Nigeen Lake. Following this, he is expected to take up residence in a Rainawari hotel for the subsequent two nights. During his stay,…

NCF aims to reduce stress on students by holding board exams twice a year

August 24, 2023 Editor

The two board exam system is set to be back with the Education Ministry announcing final exams will be held twice-a-year to give students both “time and opportunity”. They can take it when they feel ready, it said. In the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for School Education, 2023, NCERT said that this will be made possible by creating a “comprehensive test item bank” which can be used to create tests using suitable software. This will enable the move towards a system of on demand examinations in the near future as…

Double Money Within 15 Days: Seven charged with Rs 13.8 Crore fraud in Rajouri

August 24, 2023August 24, 2023 Editor

The Crime Branch on Wednesday produced a charge sheet against seven fraudsters, who had duped people of ₹13.84 crore, said officials. The fraudsters had floated a financial institution ‘Hablas-e-Commerce Pvt. Ltd’ in Rajouri and had promised the people to double their money within 15 days. “Economic offences wing of the crime branch charge-sheeted seven fraudsters for swindling Rs13.84 crore from the gullible people belonging to the Pir Panjal area,” said an official spokesperson. They were booked under sections 420, and120-B of the IPC. A 1160 pages charge-sheet was produced before…

SC seeks clarity on whether Constituent Assembly speeches can be used to challenge abrogation of Article 370

August 24, 2023 Editor

The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed doubts that the Constituent assembly debates or a speech by one of its “weighty” members could represent a “commitment by the Dominion of India to the state of Jammu & Kashmir” regarding perpetuity of the latter’s special status under Article 370, observing that such an inference would be difficult to be accepted as a legal principle. “Can we say that a speech made by an individual member of the Constituent Assembly, howsoever weighty, represents a binding commitment of the Dominion of India to the…