Category: Jammu

Jammu

Rohingyas emerge as new security concern for state

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Refugees on Intel radar after recovery of fake identity documents Dealing with armed insurgency for the past 28 years, the state is now faced with new security concerns emerging from the illegal settlement of Rohingya Muslim refugees in Jammu, forcing the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to think of their deportation to their country. The issue snowballed into a major controversy when some refugees managed to acquire important documents such as Aadhaar cards, ration cards, fake permanent residence certificates and election identity proof through fraudulent means with the help…

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Jammu Festival sans Mubarak Mandi disappoints residents

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Restoration work by Archaeological Survey of India prohibits cultural activity at heritage site While Jammu Festival returns to the region after a decade promising a four-day fiesta of fun, music, dance and culture starting April 13, it, however, will bring along a conspicuous miss with monumental Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex not participating in the festivity. The reason: Ongoing preservation and restoration work prohibits any activity at the venue that may cause damage to the fragile structure. This has led to disappointment among people of Jammu who have been regular visitors…

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Post controversy, Mubarak Mandi–Bahu Fort Cable Car Project tender cancelled

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After the J&K State Cable Car Corporation (JKSCCC) cancelled its controversial tender having change in the nomenclature of the Mubarak Mandi–Bahu Fort Cable Car Project to the Mubarak Mandi-Shahabad Project, the government tried to shield the officers who were responsible for issuing the controversial tender. Even as the government sought to clarify that there was no renaming of Bahu Fort, there was no formal notification in this regard. In a hurriedly called press briefing at her office chamber in the civil secretariat here, Priya Sethi, Minister of State for Tourism,…

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BJP under fire over ‘Renaming’ Mubarak Mandi -Bahu Fort

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The change in the nomenclature of the Mubarak Mandi-Bahu Fort Cable Car project to the Mubarak Mandi-Shahabad project is set to snowball into a major controversy as Jammu-based groups have upped the ante against the “attempt to change the demography” of the winter capital of the state. In other terms, the name of Bahu Fort no more exists in the official records of the cable car project as it has now been named “Shahabad Station”. The ruling alliance partner, BJP, has come under fire not only from the Opposition but…

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PDP unlikely to surrender Poonch seat to BJP

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Even as the BJP is staking its claim on the Legislative Council seat reserved for Poonch district, sources said the PPDwas unlikely to leave the seat for its coalition partner as the party had set a target to make the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri its citadels. For the PDP, Poonch and Rajouri are politically “fertile” belt in the Jammu province so the party leadership is likely to leave no opportunity to make inroads into the mountainous belt, the sources said. The BJP during its state election committee…

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Muslim youth form ‘Defense Committees’ for night vigil in Jammu

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Composite culture of Talab Khatikan an example of communal harmony: BJP MLA After yesterday’s attempt to flare up communal tension in Jammu city, Muslim youth in Old City, here formed defense committees in their respective areas for their security. “The youth are patrolling the streets and lanes during the night. About 30 Muslim youth conducted night patrolling. They have been tasked to remain alert to detect any suspicious activity taking place around the Muslim areas,” said a youth pleading anonymity. About a hundred youth riding motorbikes came to Talab Khitikan…

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City drenched in festive colours

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Holi, the festival of colours, was celebrated across J&Kwith traditional fervour and gaiety today. In Jammu, people celebrated the festival by splashing colours on their family members and friends. Educational institutions had already celebrated the festival on Saturday by organising cultural events. In schools, students were seen dancing to the drum beats. The public transport was mostly off the roads as people were celebrating the festival. However, groups of youths, in celebratory mode, hit the streets in cars, open jeeps and motorcycles. Reports said that Holi was celebrated with religious…

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BJP legislators take party ministers to task for ‘surrendering’ before PDP

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers in the coalition government were taken to task by the annoyed party legislators for, what they alleged, completely surrendering before the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by endorsing highly controversial decisions recently taken by the government. Legislators of the BJP warned that they would come on streets along with people if party ministers failed to convince coalition partner PDP to withdraw such decisions, which would prove to be counter-productive for the party in the Jammu region. Highly placed sources said a meeting of the party legislators…

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Central Govt out to appease Separatists: Displaced Kashmiri Pandits

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Displaced Kashmiri Pandits have alleged that the Central Government was following the ‘appeasement policy’ towards separatists in the Valley. The community has claimed that the rising terrorist violence is the direct result of the weak policies adopted by the government. Addressing a meeting of the Jagti Tenement Committee, its president SL Pandita said militant violence had increased in the Valley in the last two years, but the Central and the state governments had no formal policy to deal with the separatists. He also demanded that the government should resume the…

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Udhampur gets Radio Station, Passport Kendra

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Minister of State in the PMO, Jitendra Singh, today laid the foundation stone of a 10-kW FM transmitter with studio facility at Malhar. Speaking on the occasion, Singh said the establishment of the radio station at Udhampur was a pending demand of the locals. He emphasised that this would provide a suitable platform to the local artistes of the area as there was no place for them to show their talent. He said the radio station would play an important role in reflecting the folk art of the area. Later,…

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