General News Archives | Page 70 of 367

Altaf Criticizes Budget, Demands Focus on J&K Tourism

July 26, 2024 Editor

Srinagar, July 25: National Conference leader and Member of Parliament (MP) from Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency Mian Altaf Ahmad on Thursday raised several issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir during the ongoing Parliament budget session 2024-25. While speaking on the discussion on the budget session presented by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday, Mian Altaf Ahmad expressed disappointment over the budget and alleged it has nothing for the Jammu and Kashmir. Participating in the debate on the Union Budget, he said before presenting the budget for Jammu and Kashmir…

KPDCL Denies Tariff Hike, Confirms Load Revision for Non-Metered Areas

July 25, 2024 Editor

Srinagar, July 24: The Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has addressed recent media reports about alleged electricity tariff hikes, stating that no such increase had been implemented for non-metered consumers in the current financial year. Addressing a news conference here today, the Managing Director of KPDCL, Mussarat ul Islam emphasised that only the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was authorised to revise electricity tariffs. He addressed several critical issues facing Kashmir’s power sector. The MD KPDCL emphasised that providing 24×7 electricity was currently impossible…

Boosting Your Take-Home Pay: Understanding the Latest Tax Changes

July 24, 2024July 24, 2024 Editor

Union Budget 2024: Finance Nirmala Sitharaman, in a major relief to the taxpayers, tweaked the tax slabs for the New Tax Regime. The FM also announced an increase in the standard deduction to Rs 75,000 from the previous Rs 50,000, which can be availed by taxpayers opting for the New Tax Regime. The Old Tax Regime has been kept untouched. The Finance Minister in her Budget speech said: “I have two announcements to make for those opting for the new tax regime. First, the standard deduction for salaried employees is…

Government Acts Tough: 4 Employees Fired Over Anti-Nationalism

July 24, 2024 Editor

Four Employees Sacked for Anti-National Activities in J&K Srinagar: In a decisive move to curb anti-national elements within the government machinery, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday terminated the services of four employees for their alleged involvement in terror-related activities. The sacked employees include two police constables, a junior assistant in the school education department, and a village-level worker from the rural development and panchayati raj department. An official spokesperson stated that the decision was taken based on evidence suggesting the employees were deeply involved in activities detrimental to…

J&K Sizzles: Heat and Humidity to Continue

July 22, 2024 Editor

J&K to Sizzle Through Week, Rain Predicted from July 27 Srinagar: The Meteorological Department has issued a forecast predicting continued hot and humid weather conditions across Jammu and Kashmir until July 26. While there is no significant weather activity expected until the end of the month, the weather office has warned of isolated to scattered rainfall in both divisions over the next few days. From July 21 to 26, the region can expect mainly clear to partly cloudy skies with brief spells of rain and thundershowers in isolated to scattered…

Socio-Political Groups to Protest Increased LG Powers

July 21, 2024 Editor

Several socio-political groups held a meeting here on Saturday over the Union Home Ministry’s recent order giving more powers to the Lieutenant Governor and threatened a chain hunger strike if the order was not revoked by the end of this month. The meeting also expressed serious concern over the deteriorating security situation and paid rich tributes to the nine Army personnel, including a Captain, who lost their lives in terrorist attacks in Kathua and Doda district within a fortnight. The meeting was among others attended by former minister and Dogra…

DGP’s Accusation Disputed: J&K Police Asserts Neutrality and Professionalism

July 17, 2024July 17, 2024 Editor

DGP of J&K Police RR Swain on Monday had blamed the regional parties for Pakistan’s ‘successful’ infiltration into the Kashmiri civil society. Additional Director General (Law and Order) of Jammu and Kashmir Police Vijay Kumar on Wednesday said that the statement by DGP RR Swain about regional parties allegedly hobnobbing with terrorist leaders could be his “personal opinion.” “Jammu and Kashmir Police has been an apolitical force from the beginning. We work with impartiality. The statement of the DGP could be his personal opinion. We are a professional force, apolitical…

J&K’s Grim Toll: 28 Soldiers Martyred in Terror Attacks Since April ’23

July 17, 2024 Editor

On April 20 last year, an Army vehicle was ambushed in Mendhar Tehsil of Poonch district killing five personnel Five Army personnel, including two Captains, died during an encounter in the Kalakote area of Rajouri on November 22 Four soldiers were killed in another ambush by terrorists on an Army vehicle on December 21 in Surankote of Poonch At least 28 soldiers have been killed in major terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since April last year. On April 20 last year, an Army vehicle was ambushed in Mendhar Tehsil…

New J&K Directive on Official Complaints Faces Backlash: Dissent Suppression Alleged

July 16, 2024 Editor

Critics have said the circular protects corrupt officials and suppresses dissent in the guise of shielding government servants from harassment. Jammu & Kashmir’s new circular on handling complaints against government officials has stirred up a hornet’s nest, with critics accusing it of shielding corruption and muzzling dissent while the administration claims the circular is designed to shield public servants from “unnecessary harassment”. The contentious circular, titled “Handling of complaints against public servants” and dated June 20, 2024, threatens legal action against individuals lodging complaints against officials deemed “false/frivolous/anonymous/pseudonymous”. The order,…

Statehood Struggle: Omar Abdullah Highlights Challenges Ahead for J&K

July 15, 2024 Editor

Two days after the Central Government handed over more powers to the Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant-Governor ahead of the upcoming Assembly election, National Conference vice president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said a “strong government” in Jammu and Kashmir “with a solid mandate” is the only answer to the order. Omar said while the L-G of Delhi is often challenged by the elected government there, the amendments in J&K government business rules have left little scope for such a challenge to the powers of the L-G by…