Category: Jammu

Jammu

BJP flays Drabu for equating leisure tourism with pilgrimage

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Says it will not accept decision to impose tax The state unit of the BJP today flayed Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu for his “adamant attitude” over imposing tax on chopper services to the cave shine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra. The party also lambasted the minister for equating leisure tourism with the pilgrimage. Stating that the party has conveyed its resentment in strong words to the state government on the issue of imposing surcharge on helicopter services to religious places, chief spokesperson for the state BJP Sunil Sethi said:…

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PDP-BJP govt trying to takeover Vaishno Devi Shrine Board: NC

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The National Conference (NC) on Monday condemned the PDP-BJP Government’s decision to hike the service tax to 12.5 percent on the trip charges to the Vaishno Devi via chopper, and alleged that it was an effort by the latter to take over the Shrine Board. “It is the most unfortunate act on the part of PDP-BJP Government. This tax is unnecessary and is not going to add much to the state government. It has all the potential to hurt the sentiments of pilgrims. It is a direct confrontation with the…

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Pakistan violates ceasefire in Poonch district

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With today’s ceasefire violation, the number of such violations has gone up to seven in September. A day after an army jawan was injured in ceasefire violations from across the border, Pakistani troops once again resorted to firing on Indian positions in the frontier district of Poonch on Sunday. The firing drew retaliation from the Indian army. “Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violations in forward areas of Poonch’s Mandi sector along the Line of Control (LoC) today,” Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said. “The area witnessed ceasefire violations…

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One year after flash floods, illegal construction continues along Tawi

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Even after one year of flash floods, nothing seems to have changed when it comes to removing encroachments along the Tawi in Jammu. During September-2014 flash floods, several residential colonies constructed illegally along the river bank were damaged. The administration had promised to stop such activity. Between September 3 and 6, 2014, heavy rainfall had led to massive flooding in the Tawi, which breached its banks and devastated several areas. Most of them were built in an illegal way during the last two decades when Jammu saw massive expansion due…

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Altaf Bukhari inspects infra projects in Jammu

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Minister for Public Works, Floriculture and Gardens & Parks, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today made an extensive visit to various areas in Jammu city and took stock of developmental works under execution in these areas. As per an official spokesman, the Minister inspected ongoing construction work on the Gandhi Nagar maternity hospital coming up at a cost of Rs 50 crore. “He directed the executing agency to redouble its efforts and speed up the pace of work and complete the building at the earliest. He said that the issues pertaining…

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No role for any third party in Indo-Pak talks: BJP

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BJP today said there was no role for any third party, including Hurriyat Conference, in talks between India and Pakistan as per the Simla agreement. “There is no room for any third party interference or consultation for holding talks between India and Pakistan,” state BJP chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi told reporters here. “Dialogue can take place only between the two countries as per the Shimla agreement and any involvement of a person or an organization within or outside India is not acceptable… there is no role for Hurriyat Conference or…

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Rs 56-lakh scam unearthed in ICDS

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The Vigilance Organsation today unearthed a scam worth over Rs 56 lakh in the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in Samba district and booked officials for involvement in it. “Following allegations of irregularities in purchase of nutritional and non-nutritional items in the ICDS, a check was conducted by the Vigilance Organisation, Jammu,” said an official. “It revealed that the District Social Welfare Officer, Samba, in the capacity of Nodal Officer, ICDS project, Samba, had floated four tenders for purchase of nutritional items before the creation of a separate Integrated Child…

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Pakistan can’t claim an inch, says Mehbooba

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Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti today said her party wanted to resolve the Kashmir issue, which if left unsettled could trigger another war between India and Pakistan. Addressing a public rally in Poonch here today, she said: “Both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers and if a war takes place, it would cause destruction everywhere. “Neither can Pakistan take an inch of Kashmir nor can an inch of the PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) land come to us. So, the ammunition worth crores of rupees being wasted by both countries on…

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Tragedy averted, explosive recovered from J&K highway

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A tragedy was averted when an explosive TNT slab was seized from Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. A Road Opening Party (ROP) of CRPF was engaged in routine duty of sanitisation of the highway when they found a TNT slab on the side of highway in Kheri area of Udhampur district about 0530 hours today, police officials said. However, police said it may be left out during the clearance of landslides in this area, they said, adding, investigation is underway into the matter.

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No question of change of guard in J&K: BJP

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As rumours about change of guard gripped J&K amid reports that Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed is not keeping well and wants to replace himself with his daughter, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Ram Madhav Monday said that there is no question of changing the Chief Minister in the State. “There is no question of change of Chief Minister in J&K,” Madhav told us in reply to a question. “When there is no question, how come BJP will know it?” The BJP National General Secretary said that coalition government…

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