India Summons Pak DHC, Lodges Protest

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1 20 TUESDAY MARCH-2018 SRINAGAR TODAY : CLOUDY 21 KASHMIR Contact : FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS & YOUR COPY OF Maximum : 18 O Minmum : 04 O Humidity : 79% SUNSET Today 06:42 PM SUNRISE Tommrow 06:35 AM 02 Rajab Al-Murajab 1439 Hijri Vol:21 Issue:67 Pages:12 Price: `3 twitter.com / kashmirobserver facebook.com/kashmirobserver Postal Regn: L/159/KO/SK/ Opinion / 06 END THIS MADNESS With return of the border eruptions with a vengeance, and the attendant prospect of a major attack in Kashmir or mainland India... 7/ Panorama... THE CREDIBILITY OF THE INTERNET The influence which the internet has on people is tremendous and is considered one of the mainstream platforms of mass media. Revolutions begin and are put through plan online / Life and times... WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT? EAT A HIGH-ENERGY BREAKFAST... The hour of the day when you eat and how frequently you eat is more important... Wisdom The true art of memory is the art of attention. -Samuel Johnson News Digest HoD Orthodontics GMC Attached Srinagar: Amid protest by students, the state government on Monday attached Dr Mushtaq Ahmad (HoD), Orthodontics Government Dental College Srinagar. In the interest of administration, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad, HOD orthodontics government dental college Srinagar is hereby attached with directorate o health services P10 KAS (Mains) In July: JKPSC Jammu: J&K Public Service Commission has notified that in future the examinations under Jammu & Kashmir Combined Competitive Examination Rules, 2018, shall be held at each stage as far as practicable after 15 days from the completion of UPSC Civil Services Examinations i.e. Preliminary, Mains and Personality Tests. However, in view of the circumstances of Jammu & P10 Lalu Guilty In 4th Fodder Scam Case Ranchi: Lalu Yadav has been convicted in the fourth case linked to the fodder scam while his predecessor, former deputy chief minister of Bihar Jagannath Mishra has been acquitted by a court in Jharkhand's Ranchi. RJD Chief Lalu Yadav has gone to court straight from a hospital where he was admitted after he fell ill inside prison. P10 Panel For 30-pc Salary To Judges New Delhi: A panel, set up to recommend a hike in the salaries of lower court judges, has proposed a 30-per cent interim relief for the judicial officers. The National Judicial Pay Commission, which submitted its interim report to the Supreme Court last week, has recommended a 30-per cent interim relief to the lower court judges, on the existing basic pay, from January 1, P10 Parl: No Confidence Motion Not Taken Up New Delhi : The notices for noconfidence motion against the government could not be taken up in the Lok Sabha on Monday due to noisy protests by several parties, which washed out the proceedings in both Houses of Parliament. P10 Agencies New Delhi: Reacting strongly, India termed as "highly deplorable" the killing of five civilians by Pakistani forces in "unprovoked firing" and summoned the Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner to lodge a protest over the issue. Pakistan DHC Syed Haider Shah, who was called to the South Block here, was also told that such heinous acts are against established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct and asked Pakistan to instruct its forces to desist from such acts immediately, the external affairs ministry said. "It was conveyed that the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians, who are located two kilometers away from the forward line of defences, by Pakistan forces using high caliber weapons, is highly deplorable and is condemned in the strongest terms," the ministry said. The strong protest was lodged at the loss of lives of five innocent Indian civilians (a couple and their Hindu Mahasabha Refers To Mecca, Taj Mahal As Temple' New Delhi: In a controversial move, the Hindu Mahasabha in Aligarh has released a controversial Hindu New Year calendar in which seven mosques and monuments from the Mughal era, including the Taj Mahal, and the holy Muslim site of Mecca, have been referred to as "Hindu temples", said a media report. While Taj Mahal has been referred to as "Tejo Mahalaya temple", Mecca has been called the "Macceshwar Mahadev temple", mentioned the report published in Times of India. Similarly, Madhya Pradesh's Kamal Maula Mosque has been referred to as "bhojshala" and Kashi's Gyanvyapi mosque has been called the Vishwanath temple", Qutab Minar "Vishnu Stambh", Jaunpur's Atala mosque "Atla devi temple" P10 Apology A Hit: Kejriwal Cleared In Defamation Cases New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was on Monday acquitted in two separate defamation cases lodged against him by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and advocate Amit Sibal after he tendered apology to both of them. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal also acquitted Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, a co-accused with Kejriwal in the defamation case lodged by Sibal, after he too tendered an apology to the lawyer through a letter. The relief came from the court after the apologies were accepted by the complainants in both the cases. The proceedings against lawyer Prashant Bhushan P10 THE BADAM WARI IN SRINAGAR PLAYS HOST TO SRINAGAR residents keen to spend precious moments of leisure amid the splendour of nature Pic Faisal bhat Killing Poonch Family s Five Members India Summons Pak DHC, Lodges Protest Low Intensity Indo-Pak War Can Take Ugly Turn: Hurriyat (M) Srinagar: Stating that low intensity war between India and Pakistan can anytime take an ugly turn and bring the region on the brink of disaster, Hurriyat Conference (M) led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday urged both neighbors to shun confrontation path while underling that the three children) and grievous injuries to two other minor children in unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan forces on March 18 in Bhimber Gali Sector across the LoC in Jammu & Kashmir, the ministry added. India also asked Pakistani authorities to investigate such heinous acts, the ministry said. "Our strong concerns were military approach by the nuclear power countries won t yield anything. P10 Mehbooba Implores Modi To Take Lead, End Bloodbath Poonch: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti on Monday made a passionate appeal for dialogue and reconciliation to get the State out of bloodbath and continued the exchange of fire on the borders. P10 shared at continued unprovoked firing and ceasefire violations across the LoC and the International Border. More than 560 such violations have been carried out by Pakistan forces at the LoC so far during 2018 in which 23 Indian civilians have been killed and 70 other have been injured," the ministry said. P10 IT WAS CONVEYED THAT THE DELIBERATE targeting of innocent civilians, who are located two kilometers away from the forward line of defences, by Pakistan forces using high caliber weapons, is highly deplorable and is condemned in the strongest terms." KVIB Selections Govt Sets Up Probe Panel, Finally Not Chief Secretary As Promised By CM, Principal Secy Home To Head Committee, To Submit Report In A Month Observer News Service Srinagar, March 19: Over three weeks after chief minister Mehbooba Mufti made the announcement, the government set up a high-level inquiry committee on Monday to go into the selections made in the Khadi and Village Industry Board (KVIB) recently in which the son of PDP vice president Sartaj Madani had been appointed as an executive officer. Amid the opposition's charges of nepotism and "backdoor entries," the government has apparently been goaded into action by persistent questions on Sunday by National Conference working president Omar Abdullah who had asked whether Mehbooba Mufti was being obeyed at all as chief minister. Though Mehbooba Mufti had said on February 25 that the inquiry would be headed by the chief secretary, the probe panel announced on Monday has principal secretary in the home department, RK Goyal at the helm, and principal secretary government H&ME department, Dr Pawal Kotwal, and secretary school education, Farooq Ahmad Marouf Ali Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Monday issued a notice to government of India and Jammu and Kashmir Bank among others on a petition, seeking introduction of Islamic Banking in the state. The notice, returnable in four weeks, was issued by a Division Bench of Justices Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice D S Thakur on a petition filed by an NGO JK Peoples Forum through its secretary M M Shuja. The NGO seeks direc- tion to GoI secretary Kashmir Can be India s Integral Part If Art 370 Restored: Yechury Observer News Service Srinagar: CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Monday said that Kashmir can be an integral part of India only after the eroded provisions of Article 370 are restored. He also blamed RSS and BJP for killing Muslims through private "armies" like "Gau Rakhshaks" and "anti-romeo squads". "They (BJP-RSS) kill Muslims in the name of 'Gua Raksha' and 'Love Jihad'. And then the killers are being projected like heroes. The RSS-BJP and Modi sarkar decides the choice of one's eating habits, dress code and with whom one has to marry and make friendships. It is a fascist mindset," Yechury said while addressing a gathering at 11th state conference of CPM in Srinagar. While describing Jammu and Kashmir as the crown of India, he said, "Kashmir can be an integral part of India only after the eroded provisions of Article 370 are restored. (But) ever since the Modi government took over, Kashmir is being tackled through military means only." "CPM believes that withdrawing of AFSPA has to start for confidencebuilding measure," Yechury said. Pic Abid Bhat / KO While lashing out at the Centre's policies, he said, "Modi visited the US five times in last three years and accepted all the conditions of imperialist America. The developed countries, including the US, are facing recession from the last one decade and Modi is being asked to make policies which suit their economic interests." "When Manmohan Singhji was the PM, 49% of the wealth of the country was in the hands of 1% people. Today 73% of the wealth in the country is the hands of just 1% SARTAJ MADANI Shah, as its other two members. The High Level Inquiry Committee has been tasked to enquire into the complaints relating to the selections made by the J&K KVIB against various posts; determine as to whether proper procedure as laid down in the relevant rules has been followed; enquire into the methodology in selecting the agency(ies) for setting the question papers, evaluation process etc; and ascertain whether any deviation has been made in the selection process from advertising the posts to the release of selection lists. P10 to government, Ministry of Finance to file response and issue necessary notification for Introduction of Sharia Complaint windows (Islamic banking) as recommended by Deepak Mohanty Committee and report of the Inter- Departmental Group of RBI and Its Feasibility of Introducing Islamic Banking in India: Technical Analysis and RBI s view and the conclusion drawn over it. RBI s Deepak Mohanty committee in its report posted on the RBI website on December 29, 2015 had recommended that banks open a separate window offering interest free Sehrai Replaces Geelani As TeH Head Observer News Service Srinagar: Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai was on Monday appointed the new chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, the organisation founded by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Geelani, however, would continue to be the chairman of the conglomerate Hurriyat Conference (G). The decision to replace Geelani with Sehrai, who is his old-time friend and associate, was taken after an executive meet of the organisation The TehreeK-e-Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Geelani today held a meeting P10 Plea In High Court For Islamic Banking In J&K GoI, J&K Bank Asked To File Response In Four Weeks of people," Yechury said. On the occasion, CPM's lone legislator in the state Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said the BJP government had closed all the doors for Kashmiris. "When any young Kashmiri boy goes for studies outside the state, he is dragged out of the hostel and mercilessly beaten. A Kashmiri labourer is afraid of going out. Till there is the cancer of RSS and Sangh Parivar, life is hell for minorities, Dalits and Kashmiris," he said. P10 Observer News Service Srinagar: National Conference and CPI (M) on Monday attacked PDP- BJP government in the state over sacking of a doctor over his Facebook post, Launching a scathing attack on the ruling alliance, opposition National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on said ministers can protest to defend rape and murder accused but a doctor can t point out the truth. Omar s reaction came in wake of government order in which a doctor Amit Kumar, who was working as an anesthesiologist at the Government Medical College Jammu, was sacked for criticising the government on Facebook. Taking to social networking website, Twitter, Omar wrote: Ministers can protest to defend rape/murder accused but a doctor can t point out the dictatorial Govt in J&K - J&K doctor faces action for correcting minister on Facebook. In another tweet, Omar said: All the Sharia compliance (Islamic banking) deposits and advances to address financial exclusion based on faith. The Constitution of India as applicable to the state Jammu and Kashmir as also the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir guarantees every citizen within the country and within the state to profess, practice and propagate his/her faith and religion. The constitution also guarantees every Citizen the right of life and liberty and exercise and avail equal opportunities in the overall economic developmental process of the country P10 THE NOTICE, RETURNABLE IN FOUR WEEKS, was issued by a Division Bench of Justices Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice D S Thakur on a petition filed by an NGO JK Peoples Forum through its secretary M M Shuja. NC, CPI (M) Hit Out At Govt For Sacking Doc Over FB Post Ministers Can Protest To Defend Rape And Murder Accused But Doctor Can t Point Out Truth: Omar doctor did was point out that the lift the health minister claimed to have inaugurated was actually an old lift & for that he was removed from his post of Registrar. An order under SRO 525, barring a government employee from posting on social media websites anything prejudicial to the government, was issued last December. Meanwhile, lone CPI (M) MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Monday termed the sacking of the doctor against the fundamental rights of a citizen. Tarigami said the decision to sack a medico for highlighting some issues P10

2 To place an advertisement CALL bazar Observer Tuesday Monday - Saturday (9am - 6pm) No 1- Dal Lake Boulevard Srinagar, , Kashmir Office of the Assistant Regional Transport Officer Pulwama Notice Whereas joint application has been received by this office from Jalal Ud Din Bhat And Others S/O = Sena Ullah Bhat R/O = Larkipora Padgampora Pulwama (Party No 1st) as Transferor, (seller) owner of the Vehicle Bearing Regd No JK13B 5611 (Commercial/non-commercial ) covering under R/P No. -- Ang and Hulam Mohd Bhat S/O = Abdul Samad Bhat R/O = Lower Munda, Changoo (Party No. 2nd) as Transferee (purchaser) requesting for transfer of R/C & R/P of the above noted vehicle from Party NO. 1st and 2nd & Hp Endorsement with Shriram Transport Finance Co. Ltd. Before the case is disposed off on its merit, andy body having any objection regarding the proposed transfer amy file his objection within seven (7) days from the publication of this notice to the office of the undersigned. No any representation / objection shall be entertained after stipulated period. CORRIGENDUM Bidders are requested to update the following below mentioned Corrections for Electrification of Women s Hostel issued vide E-NIT No: IUST/EW/18/Tend/ELE/WH/01, Dated: ; SERIAL No. as per BOQ PUBLISHED AS READ AS UNITS: RM ITEM DESCRIPTION: Supply, Laying, Testing and Commissioning of 1.1 KV grade XLPE insulated extruded PVC inner and outer sheathed armoured cables conforming to IS 7098 amended up to date including the cost of providing required gap between adjacent cables (min. one cable dia.) and including the cost of providing identification tags etc, complete as per specification, as required. UNITS: NOS ITEM DESCRIPTION: Supply, Laying, Testing and Commissioning of 1.1 KV grade XLPE insulated extruded PVC inner and outer sheathed armoured cables conforming to IS 7098 amended up to date including the cost of providing required gap between adjacent cables (min. one cable dia.) and including the cost of providing identification tags etc, complete as per specification, as required. (3.5 Core 120 Sq.mm XLPE Cable Armoured) Quantity: 10 Note: Bidders are requested to Quote the rates for 10 no instead of 1 no Sd/Superintending Engineer Quantity: 1 Arto/Pul/2018 Dated: RN ANG Assistant Regional Transport Officer Pulwama OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICER BUDGAM NOTICE Where a application has been recieved from one. Shri :<?> Ab Rashid Lone S/O: Ali Mohammad Lone R/o: Dharmunah Budgam for issuance of duplicate driving license. D.L. No JK Dated: 05/08/2013 Now therefore it is notified for the information of the general public that objections if any to the issue of duplicate driving license in respect of D.L No JK Shall be filed in writing in the office of the Assistant Regional Transport office ARTO Budgam within a period of 07 days from the date of publication of this news. No submission /request shall be entertained after the expiry of sipulated period of time. No. ARTO/ BUDGAM.8378 Dated 19/03/2018 Assistant Regional Transport officer Budgam Kashmir Ms Raja (aged 62 Years) W/o Deceased Mohammad Ramzan Lone R/o Budran Tehsil Magam District Budgam Petitioners/ Applicants) V/s Pulblic At Large (Non - applicants) MQ BUD Office of the Assistant Regional Transport Officer Anantnag 48,670 28/03/18 Public Notice 17/03/18 The parties transferor seller viz Sajad Ahmad Bhat s/o WIM BUD RN ANG SAM ANG Ab Rashid Bhat R/O Khashipora Anantnag A/P do District Anantnag owner of the vehicle Tavera bearing registration No JK03D 1316 permit No 4214/MC/ And and transferee purchaser viz Bilal Ahmad Dar S/O Gh Mohd Dar R/o Adigam Kulgam presented before undersigned on as per statement issued by both the parties. They have handed taken over the aforementioned vehicle along with documents properly and there is no any dispute in connection with transfer of said case from transferor of transferee. SAM ANG Office of the Assistant Regional Transport Officer Anantnag Public Notice The parties transferor seller viz Showkat Ahmad Mir s/o Abdul Aziz Mir R/O Siligam Seer Anantnag A/P do District Anantnag owner of the vehicle Tavera bearing registration No JK03C 7022 and transferee purchaser viz.s/o.. R/o..Presented before undersigned on as per statement issued by both the parties. They have handed taken over the aforementioned vehicle along with documents properly and there is no any dispute in connection with transfer of said case from transferor of transferee. rn ang Office of the Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Subject:- Grant of cash compensation in lieu of appointment in terms of Govt. order No 567-GAD of 2011, Dated: in favour of dependents left behind by late Gh. Ahmad Ganaie S/o Gh. Nabi Ganaie R/o Thindima Tehsil Kreeri & District Baramulla. NOTICE F.N GBL Name Correction My name has been wrongly entered as Naseer Ah Wani S/O Gh Hassan Wani R/O Kachan Ganderbal while my Correct Name is Nissar Ah Wani S/O Gh Hassan Wani R/O Kachan Ganderbal. Now I have applied for the correction of my Name, If anybody has any objection in this regard he/she may file his/her objection in the concered office within a period of seven days from the date of publication of this notice. After that no objection shall be entertained. Correct Name : Nissar Ah Wani S/O Gh Hassan Wani R/O Kachan Ganderbal F.N GBL Public Notice I have lost my driving licence bearing No JK Somewhere Now I want to apply for the duplicate of the same If anybody has any objection in this regard he/she may file his/her objection in the concerned office within a period of seven days from the date of publication of this notice. After that no objection shall be entertained Fayaz Ahmad Ganai S/O Ghulam Mohammad Ganai R/o Wakoora Ganderbal Kashmir F.N GBL Based on the recommendations of Tehsildar Kreeri vide his No. 16/TK/MM/2016, Dated and dependent certificate issued by the Addl. Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla vide No. Nil, Dated , the instant case is being processed, for payment of cash compensation in terms of Govt. order No. 567-GAD of 2011, Dated: on account of death of Gh. Ahmad Ganaie S/o Gh. Nabi Ganaie R/o Thindima Tehsil Kreeri & District Baramulla, who was a Surrendered militant and died on in a subversive related incident, as per reports of Police / CID vide No s CRB/SRO/78/ , dated: , & Dated: & CID/MR/SRO-43/2016/19, dated: respectively. The dependents of the deceased entitled/eligible to receive Cash compensation have been identified as per the Dependent certificate referred to above as under:s.no SAM ANG RN ANG SAM ANG Name of depen- Relationdent ship with the deceased Gh. Nabi Ganai Father Azizi Mother Noor Jahan Wife Mohd Yousuf Brother Mima Sister Mohd Shafi Brother Rafiq Ahmad Son Age Occupation 60 Years 58 Years 25 Years 24 Years 16 Years 26 Years 05 Years Mazdoori House Work House Work House Work House Work Student Minor Before payment of cash compensation to the dependents of the deceased person as reflected above, objections are invited from all concerned regarding identification / eligibility of dependents. The objections, if any, should reach the office of Deputy Commissioner/Additional Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, in person or through an authorized representative within 07 days from the date of publication of this notice. No objection shall be accepted after the expiry of stipulated time and the case shall be decided on merits. DIPK-15753/17 Addl. Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla. NO:-DCB/SRO-43/ Dated: / /2018 Office of the Assistant Regional Transport Officer Anantnag Notice Whereas joint application has been received by this office from Niyaz Ahmad Choh S/O Ghulam Hassan Choh R/O Qazigund, Anantnag (Party No 1st) as Transferor, (seller) owner of the Vehicle TRUCK Bearing Regd No :JK03C9246 (Commercial/ non-commercial ) covering under R/P No. -- Ang And Shabrooz Ahmad S/O Abdul Rehman Garhanji R/O Ghaat, Batangoo, Anantnag. J&K (Party No. 2nd) as Transferee (purchaser) requesting for transfer of R/C & R/P of the above noted vehicle from Party NO. 1st and 2nd & HPA cancellatoin With Shriram Transport Finance Company Ltd Branch Office Batengoo, Anantnag Before the case is disposed off on its merit, andy body having any objection regarding the proposed transfer amy file his objection within seven (7) days from the publication of this notice to the office of the undersigned. No any representation / objection shall be entertained after stipulated period. Arto/Ang/2018 Dated: rn ang Assistant Regional Transport Officer Anantnag Heritage Stationers Wholesaler of Stationers Products Cell: fida_khan73@yahoo.com Ist Floor Hyderiya Building Dalgate Near State Bank of India OFFICE OF THE DY. GENERAL MANAGER (CIVIL) J & K STATE FOREST CORPORATION SHORT NOTICE INVITING E-TENDER e-nit No.04/ /Civil/SFC Dated For and on behalf of the Managing Director J&K State Forest Corporation, Dy. General Manager (Civil) J&K State Forest Corporation invites tenders by e-tendering on item rate basis from approved and eligible contractors registered with J&K State Government for the following works:s.no. Name of work Name of Divi- Estimated Cost of Doc (in Earnest Time allowed Time and date Class of consion cost (in lacs) Rs.)(in Rs.) money for completion of tender tractor 1 Construction of chain link fenc- Dy. GM (Civil) months B, C & D ing at SFC Sale Depot Nikas 1400Hrs 2 Filling of dumping yard at SFC Dy. GM (Civil) months B, C & D Sale Depot Kakapora 1400Hrs 3 Renovation of SFC Head Office Dy. GM (Civil) months B, C & D Srinagar (Finishing) 1400Hrs The details of the above is given in the General Tender Notice (SBD&BOQ) issued vide this office e-nit endorsed vide No.50-54/DGM/Civil/ SFC dated The tenders shall be submitted online on J&K State e-procurement portal 1 Date of issue of NIT 14/03/ Date of downloading of Bid document 17/03/ Bid submission starts date 17/03/ Bid submission end date 26/03/2018(1600 Hrs) 5. Dead line for receipt of hard copy of original 26/03/2018(1600 Hrs) Tender Document and Earnest Money 6. Date of opening of Financial Bids 27/03/2018(1400 Hrs) The tenders (Financial/Technical bids) will be opened online, in the office of Dy. Financial Advisor Kashmir J&K SFC Srinagar on in case of any un-foreseen circumstances, the date of opening will be next working day or else notified separately. The detailed tender documents (SBD) with terms and conditions are available on Sd/NO /DGM/Cvil/SFC Dy. General Manager (Civil) Date 14/03/2018 DIPK-NB-4139/17 G DISCLAIMER: Kashmir Observer makes every effort to ensure that the information carried in display/ classified advertisements, appearing in the newspaper is correct. However the newspaper takes no responsibility nor does it necessarily endorse the contents of these adverts. The readers are therefore requested to verify the contents before acting thereupon. Management

3 Srinagar Observer Tuesday Drinking water shortage in parts of city; authorities unmoved SRINAGAR: Several places of Srinagar city including some civil line areas are facing acute shortage of drinking water from last several days. Locals accused the Public Health and Engineering (PHE) Department of being indifferent towards their problems. A group of residents from the Dalgate told KNS that they are facing shortage of water and the authorities are doing nothing. Our area is without tap water for the last few days. We brought into the notice of concerned officials many a days but nobody is paying heed to our repeated pleas, the residents of Abi Guzar, in the heart of Srinagar told KNS. Residents of Barbar Shah also complained of water shortage. We are facing a tough time due to water shortage, said a group of aggrieved residents from these area. As per official data, the total water requirement of Kashmir is around 12 crore gallons per day, which includes seven crore gallons in the urban areas and five crore in rural areas. The residents, meanwhile, threatened to protest if the problem was not resolved at the earliest. Meanwhile KNS also received complaints from various parts of south and north Kashmir where people said they are forced to fetch water from streams and consume contaminated water. An official of the Public Health Engineering Department said that had the government completed the water supply schemes, there would not have been shortage of tap water. A water supply scheme was started over 5-years-ago, which has not been completed so far. We fetch water from a stream for drinking purposes, Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Drugmulla Kupwara, said SMC kick starts plantation drive SRINAGAR: Srinagar Municipal Corporation today kick started plantation drive. The drive which was inaugurated by Commissioner SMC Riyaz Ahmed Wani was organized by Floriculture Officer SMC Zahoor Ahmed Shah in collaboration with Chief Sanitation Officer Mohammad Akbar Sufi. The plantation drive began near Bakhshi stadium where SMC planted multiple species of plants/saplings. The plantation was also taken up at Lalded hospital where the administration staff under the supervision of Dr Shabir Ahmed Siddique along with the attendants present there participated in the drive. Riyaz Ahmed Wani passed on spot instructions to conduct weekly special sanitation in all associated hospitals within the city limits with a special thrust on LD hospital. Directions were also passed that the maintenance of park in front of LD hospital will be hence forth Atleast 173 were allotted for Baramulla, Anantnag 156, Budgam 111, Kupwara 109, Kulgam 101, Shopian 90, Srinagar 98, Bandipora 89, and Ganderbal 73. Similarly, 294 schemes were sanctioned for Jammu district, 168 for Rajouri, Poonch 89, Kishtwar 99, Kathua and Samba 72 each. While for Leh and Kargil distrcts of Ladakh region, 149 schemes were allotted. However, work has been halted on atleast 1600 schemes due to Shehr-e-Khaas assumes much significance in Smart City project: Bukhari SRINAGAR: Minister for Education, Finance, Labour & Employment Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Monday said that Shehr-e-Khaas assumes a great deal of significance in the ambitious smart city programme for Srinagar being implemented by the present dispensation. Addressing a party convention at Khanyar, Bukhari observed that the state government is committed to revive the historic, cultural and economic significance of Shehr-e-Khass and its adjoining areas in Srinagar. You will shortly witness an equitable and balanced development in all sectors of the governance in your areas, he told the gathering of party workers. He said that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has shown her keen interest in restoration of pristine glory and the historic importance of Srinagar city especially Shehr-e-Khaas. Srinagar, after being included in the Smart Cities Mission, will go through a major transformation in the coming years as the state government is moving ahead with a major infrastructure development across the city. I am sure that Shehr-e-Khass will be a major beneficiary of this programme, he added. He asked the gathering to strengthen the party at grass root taken care by SMC. He further said that many parks in Srinagar city shall be landscaped by Srinagar Municipal Corporation at an earliest. The motive of planting trees shall not only beautify the surroundings but shall also provide clean and fresh environment to the people living in and around Srinagar city said Commissioner SMC. He further said with this initiative the pristine glory of Srinagar city shall be regained and it will also help in achieving the mission of cleaner and better city. All the senior Municipal Officers including Ward Officers participated in the event and planted around 1000 saplings at many places across the city. Meanwhile the civic body also launched the plantation drive at Soura 90 Feet near footpaths and other green patches, including Safa Kadal Alijan road, Pantha Chowk and Malkha. level by disseminating its socio economic and political agenda in their areas of influence. I assure you that the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is fully aware of your livelihood concerns and she will soon come up with some remedies to your sufferings, he added. Speaking on the occasion, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, PDP general secretary central Kashmir said that National Conference during its tenure of governance has destroyed the historic character of Shehr-e-Khas by wanton destruction of all symbols of Kashmir s glorious heritage. He said that during NC regimes in the past there was deliberate tampering with the distinct character of built heritage in the capital city especially Shehr-e-Khaas which is proud to be hub of the most ancient lack of funds. Contractors have stopped work on these schemes after government failed to clear their bills, an official of the Public Health Engineering Department, said. The official said that state was receiving over Rs 500 crore per annum under National Rural Development Water Programme till Since then, there has been decline in the centre s funding, the official said. During , the centre released around Rs 230 crore under NRDWP, creating impediments in completion of schemes. The official said that incumbent government is blaming the previous regime (NC, Congress) for starting these schemes without adequate funds. The official said that state government has failed to make arrangement of funds from own resources. The issue has been raised with the centre for one time funding for completion of these pending schemes, the official added. Public Health Engineering (PHE) officials said that the department was trying to provide adequate water supply to the people in the rural areas. We are trying to provide maximum water supply to all areas, but people should also cooperate. They should not waste water or use booster pumps. It creates problem in the distribution, said a PHE official. Chief Engineer, Public Health and Engineering Department admitted that there was water shortage in the parts of Srinagar city. We were shifting water line from TRC which caused problem in providing the water supply to some areas in the city, Chief engineer told KNS. He added that they have completed the work now and that the water supply will be restored in all the areas today late evening. Enhanced surface connectivity key to overall development: Div Com SRINAGAR: Appreciating the work done in enhancing connectivity in urban as well as rural areas, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan said that the need of the hour is to not only sustain the momentum but also enhance the speed of work wherever there is a scope of improvement. The Div Com was speaking at a meeting to review the functioning of Public Works Department. The meeting was attended by Chief Engineer R&B, SEs and other officials. The Chief Engineer R&B made a detailed presentation of the work that has been completed and the projects that are under various stages of completion. The meeting was informed that in a total of 2552 kms civilization in the region. He regretted that people of Kashmir were made to compromise their socio-economic and political identity by National Conference for the sake and lust of power. Whatever baggage of challenges and difficulties we face at present have been inherited by us as an outcome of the deeds of National Conference. The voices of dissent in Kashmir also face the same challenges created by the power hungry National Conference, Mansoor observed. He said that PDP government is committed to bring Shehr-e- Khaas at the national and international map of socio-economic development. Our government is working on this and people of Khanyar constituency by now would have understood it by our performance, he said while appreciating the role of Mohammad Khurshid Alam in raisings the day to day issues of people of Khanyar in Legislative Council. In his address, PDP District president and MLC Mohammad Khurshid Alam said that Shehre-Khaas is an obvious priority for the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and occupies a prime place in her vision to restore pristine glory of Srinagar city. He said that he would strive tirelessly to restore the pristine glory of Shehr-e-Khaas for ensuring its holistic development on priority. He emphasized on need for liberal funding for a desired social change through well-conceived infrastructure buildings. Alam reiterated that not only the religious and historical places will get her due attention; it is the other key sectors of public health, sanitation, protection of water bodies and planned infrastructure building which is receiving her personal attention for positive change. Alam said with CM s personal interest, city has seen sea change in traffic management and functioning in hospitals and municipality. Other key sectors are being mobilised on her personal direction and it is because of her leadership that construction of marriage halls, opening of parks and protection of water bodies have received visible fillip, he added. He thanked the minister for finance for showing a keen interests in restoration of historic significance of Sheh-r-eKhaas. The other who addressed and were present on the occasion include, MLA Batmaloo Nooor Mohammad Shiekh, party leaders Dr Ali Mohammad, Nazir Ahmad Khan, Abdul Hamid Kosheen and Mohammad Ashraf Dar party Zone president Amirakadal. of roads were macadamized as compared to just 335 kms in He said that for , the road length to be macadamized will be a record in the making. Regarding NABARD scheme, it was said that out of total 313 approved schemes, 99 have been completed and work is going on rest of the works. Under special bridges programme, against the total 199 bridges, 66 have been completed. The Div Com appreciated the work done under CRF scheme and said that CRF will go a long way in changing the socioeconomic scenario by way of building modern roads. Under the CRF, 99 schemes have been approved at a cost of Rs crore. Out of these 30 schemes already stand completed. The CRF consist of major projects like Awantipora-Tral via Dadsara road, Chehlan Asthal bridge, Adijan bridge, Bijbehara Shopian road, Reshnagri bridge and others. The Div Com said that most of the works were taken up in 2017 and will be completed by 2019 thus bringing a sea change in inter-district and intra-district road communication. He said that the enhanced road communication will catalyze the increased economic activity and thus open new avenues of livelihood. On the occasion, the officials flagged various issues like land acquisition and shifting of utilities that are hampering the speedy work of the department. The Div Com directed Chief Engineer PDD and PHE to immediately start work on shifting of utilities. Addl Transport Commissioner chairs MVD meeting SRINAGAR: Additional Transport Commissioner, J&K on Monday chaired a meeting to review the working of Motor vehicle Department (MVD) in Kashmir Division. The meeting was attended by Regional Transport Officer Kashmir, Assistant Regional Transport Officer (HQ Srinagar), Assistant Regional Transport Officer (Board of Inspection, Srinagar) and all the representative of transport companies. The transporters of the Kashmir valley raised some demands regarding a circular issued by RTO, Kashmir for color coding of sumo / maxi cabs. The Additional Transport Commissioner assured them that action will be taken by the department on the points as per rules /act. He also apprised the transporters about the action taken by the department on various demands already forwarded by them. The Additional Transport Commissioner and RTO, Kashmir directed all the transporters to ensure reservation of seats for ladies and handicapped persons in all buses and mini buses. He also warned the transporters not to alter the seating capacity of their passenger vehicles after getting fitness certificates. DIAL-EMMA AIRPORTS TRAFFIC POLICE : , PCR: , PDD: FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES : , , CAPD: SMC HEALTH OFFICER: SHIEK UL ALAM AIRPORT: RAILWAYS SRINAGAR: ANANTNAG: BARAMULLA: BIJBHERA: PAMPORE: PATTAN: QAZIGUND: HIGHWAY STATUS SRINAGAR JAMMU: OPEN SRINAGAR-LEH: CLOSED MUGHAL ROAD: CLOSED SRINAGAR-MUZAFFARABAD: CLOSED HIJRI CALENDAR 02 RAJAB-UL-MURAJJAB 1439 PRAYERS FAJR---5: 18 ZUHR---12: 43 ASR---5:02 Magrib 6:46 ISHA---8:05 This Day in History Military intervene in South-Yemen (leftist ministers resign) Communists and socialists win French municipal elections Columbia flies on Shuttle carrier aircraft to Kennedy Space Center NASA launches Palapa B2P Eritrean War of Independence: Having defeated the Nadew Command, the Eritrean People s Liberation Front enters the town of Afabet, victoriously concluding the Battle of Afabet Supreme Court rules unanimously employers can t exclude women from jobs where exposure to toxic chemicals could potentially damage fetus Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, a former Black Panther once known as H. Rap Brown, is captured after a gun battle that leaves a Georgia sheriff s deputy dead Pope John Paul II visits Holy Land - Jordan, Israel, Palestine A US-led coalition launches an invasion of Iraq, beginning the Iraq War Stephen Harper wins the leadership of the newly created Conservative Party of Canada, becoming the party s first leader Over 150 Chadian soldiers are killed in eastern Chad by members of the rebel UFDC. The rebel movement sought to overthrow Chadian president Idriss Deby people are killed and 240 injured in a wave of terror attacks across 10 cities in Iraq Pierre Deligne wins the 2013 Abel Prize in mathematics Barack Obama becomes the first US President to visit Cuba since 1928, arriving for a 2 day tour Barack Obama Indian rivers Yamuna and the Ganges declared living entities by court in the state of Uttarakhand From KO Archives Wordplay on Kashmir begin afresh Observer News Service NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today expressed hope that Pakistan will change its stand on Kashmir and said India has accepted the partition of the sub-continent in "I hope that attitude (towards Kashmir) will change, our relations in other areas will develop, the forces of peace will gain strength and geophysical scenario will change", Vajpayee said in interviews to the Star TV. Vajpayee said his visit to Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore was to tell people of Pakistan that we have accepted partition and they should have no apprehensions on that ground". He was responding to a question whether the visit to the monument symbolising the emergence of a new nation was reflective of the "battle within the Sangh Parivar". Asked if India was following a "blow hot, blow cold" policy towards Pakistan, first by conducting nuclear and then taking a bus to Lahore, Vajpayee said "strength is the prerequisite for friendship. We should forge friendship on the basis of equality, not weakness. First our security and then extend the hand of friendship. Now that both countries have nuclear weapons,ihereis no alternative but to remain friendly, he added. He denied that there was any talk of an Indo-Pak confederation. Meanwhile Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has asked Indian leaders to avoid making "provocative" statements over the disputed state of Kashmir, reports said Thursday. Sharif, in remarks reported by the official APP news agency, called for adherence to the spirit of a declaration signed by him and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during a summit last month. Vajpayee warned last week that a cross-border bus service which took him on a historic trip to Pakistan in February could be stopped if violence in Kashmir, blamed by India on its neighbour, didn t not end. At the same time Indian Home Minister Lai Krishna Advani said Kashmir was an integral part of India and there could be no compromise over its future. "I respect the Lahore Declaration and feel that all issues including Kashmir can be solved through negotiations by adhering to this declaration,". APP quoted Sharif-as telling reporters here Friday He said Vajpayee and other Indian leaders "should have avoided provocative political statements which are against the very spirit of the Lahore Declaration." In the joint declaration the two leaders pledged to intensify efforts to resolve oustanding issues between the two countries, including Kashmir (Kashmir Observer 20 March, 1999)

4 State Tuesday IN BRIEF Seminar on implementation of RTI Act held in Sgr SRINAGAR: In order to commemorate nine years of RTI Act in the State, Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement in association with Abdul Ahad Azad Memorial Degree College Bemina organized a seminar here today. The seminar titled 9 years of RTI Act in J&K was attended by Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), Khurshid Ahmad Ganai as chief guest and by former Chief Information Commissioner G R Sufi and Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Syed Abid Rashid Shah along with a large number of RTI activists and students. The CIC said that awareness level on RTI Act is still very less and more and more programmes on awareness generation need to be organized across the state. He congratulated RTI Movement Founder Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat and Principal Degree College Bemina for organizing the seminar. G R Sufi former CIC said that RTI is a Powerful tool that strengthens democracy and promotes good governance by enhancing People s participation. DSEK initiates plantation drive at Badamwari SRINAGAR: Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK), Dr. G N Itoo Monday initiated plantation drive at Badamwari Srinagar. He also presided over the event to facilitate the adoption of Government Boys Middle School, Kathidarwaza by a Delhi based NGO. Chief Education Officer Srinagar Farooq Ahmad, Deputy Director News DDK Srinagar Salman Qazi, ZEO Rainawari Shaista Masarat, Principals, Headmasters, teachers and other concerned were present on the occasion. Dr Itoo said the School Education Kashmir is observing cleanliness week and plantation drives and awareness of the environment is part of the campaign. He said the year 2018 would be remembered as a golden year in terms of capacity building and infra development as the Government has accorded sufficient funds in the budget for the same. Star Hospital organizes free camp for Gastroenterology and Liver patients SRINAGAR: A one day free medical camp was organized by renowned Gastrointestinal and Liver transplant surgeon Dr Mir Samiullah at Star Hospital Srinagar. Almost 300 patients were given free consultation. All laboratory tests including ultrasound endoscopy and colonoscopy were done at discounted rates. The response from patients was very good and they appreciated the efforts of the hospital. The camp mainly focused on disorders of gall bladder liver stomach and intestines. Almost twenty patients from camp will be operated at very cheap rates in coming few days, Dr Samiullah said adding that he feels happy to help to downtrodden and poor. 6 Jaish-e-Mohammad activists held in Tral operation, says police Two-Week Research Methodology Course Sponsored By ICSSR concludes at IUST AWANTIPORA: A Two-Week Research Methodology Workshop for faculty and research scholars, sponsored by Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR) concluded at Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST)here on Monday. The workshop was jointly organized by Rinchen Shah Centre for West Himalayan Cultures, IUST and Center for International Relations (CIR), IUST. Dr. SonamJoldan, workshop coordinator, welcomed the guests and participants and stated that the workshop had been organized keeping in mind the extreme importance of quality research. The workshop covered various aspects of research methodology including theoretical concepts, data collection techniques, data analysis besides providing the participants a hands-on experience of statistical research tools. SRINAGAR: Police on Monday claimed to have busted a module of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit by arresting six of its activists along with the incriminating material from Tral area of south Kashmir s Pulwama district. Acting on a specific information, Awantipora police along with 42 RR and CRPF, in a joint operation in Tral, busted a criminal network involving JeM outfit who were involved in recruiting youth into the militant ranks, a statement issued to GNS said. They were involved in providing logistic support and facilitating movement of militants in the general area of Tral, the spokesman claimed, adding that on their disclosure incriminating materials have been recovered from their possession. The spokesman identified the activists as Ghulam Nabi Shah son of Ghulam Qadir Shah resident of Gang Tral, Ishfaq Sameer Sheikh son of Ghulam Nabi Sheikh resident of Takiya Gulab Bagh, Irfan Ahmad Mir son of Mushtaq Ahmad Mir resident of Batagund, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Salam Bhat resident of Batagund, Bashir Ahmad Sheikh son of Ama Sheikh resident of Khangund and Junaid Rashid Bhat son of Abdul Rashid Bhat resident of Nowdal, Tral. In this regard, a case FIR number 23/2018 under section 18, 18B, 20, 39 ULA (P) Act stands registered in Police Station Tral and the investigation has been taken up, the spokesman added. (GNS) Students Protest: Horticulture University welcome but not at the cost of SKUAST(K) SRINAGAR: Hundreds of students from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST) Monday staged a massive protest against Government proposal to carve out Horticulture University from SKUAST itself. The protesting students said that they are not opposing the government move but this horticulture university should not be set up at the cost of SKUAST Kashmir. The protesting students assembled here in Press Enclave Srinagar who raised slogans against State as well as Central Government. While talking to reporters, Amir Bashir, SKUAST Students Union said that the proposal of Government to create Horticulture University out of SKUAST is mere a formality. We are not opposing the setting up of horticulture university but it should not be carved out from SKUAST Kashmir, he said. He said Horticulture University is in fact need of the hour, but it should not meet the fate of Central University that even after being established in 2009 proved only a rehabilitation centre for a few professors at the cost of Kashmir university. Central University, till date, exists in name only and we are sure proposed horticulture university will meet the same fate, he said. The protesting students said that it is of no fun to cut the body party of SKUAST and adjust that part to somewhere else. If government wants to set up a University, it should create it with new infrastructure and land. It should not touch the SKUAST, they said. They further added that creation of new University will pave the way for employment, however, the present proposal of government to set up horticulture university out of SKUAST will kill that concept and it will not generate any employment. We have to decide to boycott class work till government doesn t change it s decision.we will go for indefinite strike if government persists to carve out proposed horticulture university out of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir. (CNS) Vacating State land: SHRC seeks details from Government SRINAGAR: State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Monday issued a notice to Jammu Kashmir Government seeking details about its order to Pakistan Administered Kashmir residents settling in South Kashmir s Pulwama district asking them to vacate the land. Pertinently, State government has asked the migrants of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION Office Jammu : Govt. Polytechnic campus, Bikram Chowk Jammu (NOV. TO APR.) OFFICE SRINAGAR: A-BLOCK, OLD SECRETARIAT. SRINAGAR (MAY TO OCT.) Ph/Fax : Srinagar: Off. : Jammu : Off. : NOTICE It is notified for information of General public that The below mentioned student of polytechnic College Kulgam has approached this office for correction in parentage for his marks certificates issued in his favour by the State Board of Technical Education The details of the candidate is as under: Any person having Objection, should submit his objection in writing, to the office of the undersigned within seven days from the date of publishing of this notice. After which no objection will be entertained/ accepted. SBOTE/Correction/ 18/ Dated: (19/03 /2018 DIPK-15832/17 ALMOND BLOOM: Families are picnicking at Badamwari, Srinagar at the revived almond blossom park in old Srinagar. PIc Faisal Bhat (Er. MAHMOOD AHMAD)\ Secretary J&K,SBOTE Jammu. area of Muzaffarabad to vacate the state land at Lassipora in Pulwama. The order triggered reaction from the families who have contended that they have proper allotments over the land. Human Rights activist and the Chairman International Forum for Justice Muhammad Ahsan Untoo had filed a petition before the State Human Rights Commission seeking justice for these inhabitants. Acting upon the petition, one of the members of the Commission, Abdul Hamid Wani issued notive to Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama and Commissioner Secretary Revenue asking them submit a detailed report about the matter. Quoting a newspaper report, the petitioner has said that the families settled in the areas of Khan Basti and Pati-Tantraypora Lassipora have have not illegally occupied the land but have all the relevant documents issued to them by then prime minister of Jammu and Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah. (CNS) Boost confidence of students: Altaf Bukhari tells academicians National seminar on Assessment & Evaluation commences at Srinagar SRINAGAR: Minister for Education, Finance, Labour & Employment, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today asked academicians to boost confidence among the students so that they can prove their mettle in various spheres of life. By incorporating a bit of confidence and boosting their morale, our students can do miracles and prove that they are second to none, Bukhari said adding there is a feeling among the students of Jammu and Kashmir that they are being deprived of many privileges that are enjoyed by the students in other states. The Minister was speaking as a Chief Guest at the commencement of two-day national seminar on Assessment and Evaluation organized by Cluster University Srinagar at Institute of Advanced Studies in Education at M A Road here. Vice Chancellor, Cluster University Srinagar, Prof. Dr Sheikh Javaid; Director School Education, Kashmir, Dr GN Itoo; Professors from Delhi University, Principals from various colleges and Higher Secondary Schools, academicians, paper presenters, teachers and students and other concerned officials of Education Department were present on the occasion. Bukhari said that our colleges and schools should not make students see low at themselves as they are the future of the nation. We need to encourage our students to do well and show them the right direction for their better future. He told the academicians to change the system of education and access the students by what they are in classrooms. Students are already overburdened by the amount of work they have to do, both at schools and at private tuition centres. This consumes their time and energy and they get a little time to assimilate knowledge, he added. While congratulating management of Cluster University for organizing such a seminar, Bukhari said that the aim of this seminar is how to make the process of evaluation better. Through this seminar, Bukhari said, we hope that our academicians will come up with some fruitful suggestions and recommendations for the betterment of Education system. Bukhari asked the academicians to look into the reasons why the marks percentage of J&K students is lower than the students of the other states. He said that many of the brilliant students are not able to seek admissions in various outside colleges and universities because of their low percentage. He said the role of teachers besides imparting formal education should be to widen the mental horizon of students. He said the teachers should help in channelizing potential of students towards creative activities. Addressing the audience, Prof. Dr Sheikh Javaid said that the Education Department needs to bring the education system at par with national and international standards. He said that the educational institutions should not only be only the degree providers but should also lead to the intellectual brilliance in the students. BGSBUs Startup cell holds Entrpreneurs Talk Observer News Service RAJOURI: Startup Cell in Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University of Rajouri Monday organised an 'Entrepreneurs Talk' in which CEOs of three companies delivered their lectures. They include CEO COROVER,Bangalore, Ankush Sabharwal, Shahid Ansari from Startup Kashmir and founder Venusgeo solutions Hyderabad, Giridhar Giriraju. The said event was held with aim to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship among students, awareness about startup areas and funding agencies. The event was attended by about 500 students from different departments. Registrar and Dean Academics, Iqbal Perwez was chief guest on this occasion who in his address stressed Machil residents protest DC s misbehavior over closure of road KUPWARA: Scores of people from Machil area, stranded in district headquarter Kupwara owing to closure of the only link road connecting their border sector, staged a protest against misbehavior of deputy commissioner with them. Reports reaching news agency GNS said that a group of people from Machil area approached the Deputy Commissioner Kupwara to apprise him about the inconveniences faced by people due to the continuous closure of the Machil- Kupwara road since last two weeks. Today morning at around 11:00 am our delegation were allowed to enter the office of the Deputy Commissioner Kupwara. Soon after we raised the demand of continuous closure of the Machil road, the officer shouted at us and asked to get out from the office (Dafa hojaw), Ghulam Hassan Tantray, a resident of Ring Balla told GNS. The delegation left the office and STUDENTS ARE ALREADY overburdened by the amount of work they have to do, both at schools and at private tuition centres. This consumes their time and energy and they get a little time to assimilate knowledge. staged the protest by shouting anti- DC slogans and demanded his immediate removal from the district. We are requesting the government and particularly the Minister for Law Abdul Haq Khan to intervene into the matter and transfer of the DC who misbehaved with us, the angry protesters said. They said that if the DC seems that the Machil was not the part of his jurisdiction and don t want to listen to the people of the far-flung areas then higher authorities of the government to annex Machil with Pakistan administered Kashmir so that we may not suffer anymore. This is the height o injustice. DC did not listen to us and such officers should not be given such posts, the residents said. The protesters also alleged that an educational institute namely Government High School Ring Payeen Machil was closed since the schools in the Valley reopened. The staff has been changed in recent reshuffle of the teachers and the new staff was yet to join the school as such the school is closed. We have brought the issue before the concerned CEO but to no avail, the protesters alleged and demanded the immediate restoration of the road so as the students and the people of the area do not suffer anymore. Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Khalid Jehangir, when contacted by GNS, refuted allegations and said that delegation s visit his office daily and he has never misbehaved with anyone. I am here from last 10 months and I have never ever misbehaved with people, he said. Regarding the road, he said that the thoroughfare was intermittently closed in wake of the avalanche warnings issued by the government for the safety of people. We are not closing the road for fun but for the safety of people, he added. (GNS) on need of entrepreneurship in this era and encouraged students about opening their own companies. He further stressed that students of BGSB university should be job giver rather than job seekers. The event was coordinated by Chairman of Startup Cell of BGSBU, Nikhil Gupta who spoke about objectives and goals of startup cell and provided awareness about various startup areas where students can actually look for opening their own startup companies. Others department coordinators of startup cell who were present were Nitin Sharma, Vishal Sharma, Nassir Ahmad, Ruksana Thaker. On this occasion, CEO COROVER,Bangalore, Ankush Sabharwal also announced a paid project of rupees ten lakh for students of BGSBU. Div Com reviews modalities for shifting of CUK to Ganderbal SRINAGAR: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan today chaired a meeting to review the modalities for shifting of Central University of Kashmir (CUK) to Ganderbal. The meeting was attended by Registrar CUK, ADC Ganderbal, representative of NBCC and other officials. The meeting was informed that the Chief Medical Officer s building at Ganderbal has already been transferred to CUK and the varsity has shifted administration unit to the building. The Registrar said that the university has already started MPeD programme and skill development courses in the old Physical College building. With the handing over of more rooms to CUK in the building, another course will be soon started in the building. The Div Com directed the university officials to finalize the hiring of a suitable private building for the classwork within a week s time.

5 NEWS Tuesday Suu Kyi receives guard of honour in Australia Sydney: Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi s was feted in Australia on Monday with a military honour guard and 19-gun salute as part of a state visit that has provoked protests over her response to her country s violent campaign against Rohingya Muslims. Suu Kyi arrived in Sydney over the weekend for a summit of Southeast Asian leaders and her state visit officially began on Monday as she was welcomed to Parliament House in Canberra. Her visit comes as she faces international criticism over what has become Asia s worst refugee crisis in decades. More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled from Buddhist-majority Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh since August, when the military responded to insurgent attacks on police with a clearance operation that the UN has described as ethnic cleansing. The campaign has included the burning of Rohingya villages, systematic rape, shootings and other rights violations. There was no press conference with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull or any public comment from Suu Kyi during her brief visit to the national capital on Monday. She had meetings with the prime minister and opposition leader. Turnbull said on Sunday that Suu Kyi had used the weekend summit to seek humanitarian help from her fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Australia to deal with the crisis. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak told the summit the refugee crisis was no longer solely a domestic issue for Myanmar, as fleeing Rohingya could be prime targets for terrorist radicalisation. Myanmar staunchly denies that its security forces have targeted Rohingya civilians and Suu Kyi has bristled at the international criticism. But Myanmar s denials have appeared increasingly tenuous as horrific accounts from refugees have accumulated and satellite imagery and other evidence of destroyed Rohingya villages have been assembled. Sri Lanka Lifts State of Emergency Colomo: Sri Lanka s president announced he has lifted the nationwide state of emergency that was imposed after communal clashes resulted in the deaths of three people. The latest series of violence began on March 4, after a Buddhist Sinhalese man was beaten to death by a group of Muslim men following a traffic accident in Teledeniya town in Kandy, Al Jazeera reported. Several dozen people were wounded in the riots, in which mobs vandalized mosques and scores of Muslim homes and businesses. Upon assessing the public safety situation, I instructed to revoke the State of Emergency from midnight yesterday, President Maithripala Sirisena said on Twitter. The measure was imposed on March 6 after police failed to control the riots and the military was deployed. Internet access was also blocked across the country. Police have arrested the suspected instigators of the riots. Office of the Assistant Regional Transport Officer Anantnag Notice Whereas joint application has been received by this office from Ilays Ahamd Kattoo S/o Mohd Shafi Kattoo R/o Katoo Mohallah Arwani Ang (Party No 1st) as Transferor, (seller) owner of the Vehicle Royal Enfield Bearing Regd No :JK03E-9007 (Commercial/noncommercial ) covering under R/P No. -- Ang And Umar Abdullah Mir S/O Mohd Abdullah Mir R/o Hanji Danter Ang (Party No. 2nd) as Transferee (purchaser) requesting for transfer of R/C & R/P of the above noted vehicle from Party NO. 1st and 2nd &. Before the case is disposed off on its merit, andy body having any objection regarding the proposed transfer amy file his objection within seven (7) days from the publication of this notice to the office of the undersigned. No any representation / objection shall be entertained after stipulated period. Arto785/ MVD/ANG Assistant Regional Dated: Transport Officer Anantnag rn ang Office of the Assistant Regional Transport Officer Anantnag Notice Whereas joint application has been received by this office from Zahoor Ahmad Zarger S/O Ab Rashid Zargar R/O Magray Pora Achabal (Party No 1st) as Transferor, (seller) owner of the Vehicle --Bearing Regd No - (Commercial/non-commercial ) covering under R/P No. -- And Rameez Hassan Dar S/o Gh Hassan Dar R/o Mir Danter Ang (Party No. 2nd) as Transferee (purchaser) requesting for transfer of R/C & R/P of the above noted vehicle from Party NO. 1st and 2nd &. Cancellation of Hire Purchase Agreement with J&K Bank Achabal Ang/ Satwari Investments( JK) LTD (103-D- Nehru Market Jammu. Before the case is disposed off on its merit, andy body having any objection regarding the proposed transfer amy file his objection within seven (7) days from the publication of this notice to the office of the undersigned. No any representation / objection shall be entertained after stipulated period. Arto782/ MVD/ANG Dated: Assistant Regional Transport Officer Anantnag rn ang Putin Cruises To Landslide Election Win Agencies Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has scored a landslide re-election victory for the fourth time with 73.9 percent of votes, according to an exit poll by state-owned pollster, VTsIOM. According to the exit poll from 1,200 polling stations around Russia, Communist candidate Pavel Grudinin is runner-up with 11.2 percent of votes. VTsIOM also said in a statement that over 37 percent of those polled refused to say who they voted for. VTsIOM's statement also gave the following exit poll results: Putin's new election win will extend his total time in office to nearly a quarter of a century, until He won election on the promise to use his new term to beef up Russia's defense capability against the West and to raise living standards. According to Reuters, Putin's loyalists argued that the election result was a vindication of his tough stance towards the West. "I think that in the United States and Britain they've understood they cannot influence our elections," Igor Morozov, a member of the upper house of parliament, said on state television, adding, "Our citizens understand what sort of situation Russian finds itself in today." Casting his ballot in Moscow, Putin said he would be pleased with any result giving him the right to continue as president, AFP reported."i am sure the program I am offering is the right No difference between men and women in Islam Agencies Riyadh: Saudi Arabia s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman is set to meet with United States (US) President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday. Mutual rival Iran will be high on the agenda, but the 32-year-old strongman prince will also be looking to showcase his sweeping changes to Saudi society and an increasingly assertive foreign policy that includes the war in Yemen and an ongoing diplomatic feud with Qatar. Prior to his US visit, he gave an interview to CBS News which was aired on Sunday. The following are excerpts from the interview the first to an American network: The role of women Prince Mohammed has implemented some reforms on women s rights, loosening clothing restrictions, pushing for greater participation in the workforce, and, significantly, lifting a ban on women driving. But guardianship laws, which require women to seek the permission of male relatives for a host of activities, Subject:- one," he said. Most people who spoke to AFP said they voted for Putin, praising him for restoring stability and national pride after the humiliating collapse of the USSR. "Of course I'm for Putin, he's a leader," said Olga Matyunina, a 65-year-old retired economist, who added, "After he brought Crimea back, he became a hero to me." Sunday also marked four years since Putin signed a treaty declaring Crimea to be part of Russia. Russia's presidential polls opened at 8 a.m. local time (2000 GMT) in the country's far eastern regions on Saturday and will close in the exclave of Kaliningrad at 2 p.m. (1800 GMT) on Sunday. There were almost 109 million eligible voters inside Russia, with 94,500 polling stations across the country. An additional 1.8 million remain in place. We have extremists who forbid mixing between the two sexes and are unable to differentiate between a man and a woman alone together and their being together in a work place. Many of those ideas contradict the way of life during the time of the Prophet (pbuh), he said. We are all human beings and there is no difference. Roots of Saudi extremism The prince acknowledged Saudi society was dominated by particularly harsh strain of conservative Islam, which he traces back to 1979, the year of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the seizure by extremists of the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Office of the Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Grant of cash compensation in lieu of appointment in terms of Govt. order No. 567-GAD of 2011, Dated: in favour of dependents left behind by late Bashir Ahmad Ganai S/o Mohammad Munawar Ganai R/o Dangerpora Tehsil Dangerpora & District Baramulla. N O T I C E Based on the recommendations of Tehsildar Sopore and dependent certificate issued by the Sub Divisional Magistrate Sopore vide No. SDMS/SRO-43/Dep/530, Dated : , the instant case is being processed for payment of cash compensation in terms of Govt. order No. 567-GAD of 2011, Dated: on account of death of Bashir Ahmad Ganai S/o Mohammad Munawar Ganai R/o Dangerpora Tehsil Dangerpora & District Baramulla who was a Surrendered militant and died on in a subversive related incident, as per reports of Police / CID vide No s CRB/SRO/ , dated: , & CID/MR/SRO-43/2011/ , dated: respectively. The dependents of the deceased entitled/ eligible to receive Cash compensation have been identified as per the Dependent certificate vide No. referred to above as under:- S.No Name of dependent Relationship with Age Occupation the deceased 01 Mohd Munawer Ganai Father 65 Years Old aged 02 Sarwah Begum Mother 62 Years House work 03 Mushtaq Ahmad Brother 22 Years U/Edu 04 Hanifa Bano Sister 28 Years House Work 05 Nabla Begum Widow 32 Years House Work 06 Azher Bashir Son 09 Years U/Edu 07 Shahzada Daughter 07 Years U/Edu Before payment of cash compensation to the dependents of the deceased person as reflected above, objections are invited from all concerned regarding identification / eligibility of dependents. The objections, if any, should reach the office of Deputy Commissioner/Additional Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, in person or through an authorized representative within 07 days from the date of publication of this notice. No objection shall be accepted after the expiry of stipulated time and the case shall be decided on merits. Addl. Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla. NO:-DCB/SRO-43/ Dated: / /2018 DIPK-15754/17 voters were abroad, and 369 polling stations were based overseas. Official pollsters had predicted a turnout of around 65 percent in the ongoing presidential election. The main opposition leader and Putin's most vocal opponent, Alexei Navalny, was disqualified from the race due to a fraud conviction that he has claimed was politically motivated. Putin has seen his approval ratings skyrocket since the last election in Many say the surge in the incumbent's popularity is mainly because of his successful policies toward regional issues, particularly the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria. The 65-year-old leader was first elected in 2000 following a handover of power by then-president Boris Yeltsin, who resigned six months before the end of his tenure. Subject:- Bangladesh SC cancels bail for opposition chief Khaleda Zia Agencies Dhaka: Bangladesh's Supreme Court on Monday halted the release of opposition leader Khaleda Zia on bail, deepening a political crisis ahead of a national election due in December. The top justices suspended a lower court's decision to grant Zia bail until May, prompting a sharp reaction from her lawyers who said it was part of a campaign by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to silence the opposition. "It is an unprecedented order in the judicial history of Bangladesh. We think it is not the decision of the top court, rather it is a government decision," one of Zia's lawyers, Sanaullah Mia, told AFP. Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said the order was a "reflection" of the government's desire to keep Zia confined during the election, which is widely expected to be held in December. "We've repeatedly said people are not getting justice in the country and the judiciary is controlled by the government," Alamgir told AFP. The 72-year-old BNP leader was jailed for five years last month on charges of embezzling money intended for an orphanage. The three times former prime minister, now being held in a special jail, has Office of the Deputy Commissioner Baramulla consistently dismissed the charges as politically motivated. The BNP wanted Zia freed pending appeals before a high court so that she can lead the party's election campaign. Violence erupted in cities across Bangladesh after the guilty verdict on February 8 as BNP supporters clashed with police and ruling party activists. Zia, who entered politics in the 1980s after her military dictator husband was assassinated in a failed coup, also faces dozens of separate charges related to violence and corruption. Her party boycotted a 2014 national election in which Hasina was re-elected. The BNP is expected to contest the upcoming election however. Zia and her son were detained by an army-backed government in 2007 and spent a year and a half in detention pending trials for alleged corruption. Hindu Mahasabha controversial calendar refers to Makkah, Taj Mahal as temples Agencies New Delhi: Amid rising attacks on minority Muslims by vigilantes in India, a Hindu extremist group released a controversial Hindu New Year calendar, claiming that several mosques, the holy site of Makkah and Mughal era's monuments are Hindu temples. The calendar, issued by Hindu Mahasabha Aligarh on Sunday, calls Makkah the Macceshwar Mahadev temple, besides referring to Taj Mahal as 'Tejo Mahalaya temple'. Fanning a new controversy, the calendar says the Kamal Maula Mosque in Madhya Pradesh has been called 'Bhojshala' and Gyanvapi Mosque in Kashi has been referred to as 'Vishwanath temple,' reported The Time of India. It further termed the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya as 'Ram Janam Bhoomi', Qutub Minar as 'Vishnu Stambh' and Atala mosque in Jaunpur as 'Atla devi temple'. Hindu Mahasabha national secretary Pooja Shakun Pandey, while speaking to The Times of India, said that the organisation has pledged to make this India a Hindu Rashtra. She hoped that the government will accept their demand and declare the country a Hindu nation. She claimed that Muslims occupied several Hindu sites, which now will be restored to their original names. Meanwhile, Imam-e- Eidgah Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahli, who belongs to All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), has rejected all these claims as baseless. He said that dubbing the holy site of Makkah a Hindu temple is against the spirit of secularism. Former MLA from Aligarh, Zamirullaha Khan said such attempts were being made to divide the society. He accused PM Narendra Modi-led government of these attempts. He said that the incumbent government believes in the policy of dived and rule. Fanning a new controversy, the calendar says the Kamal Maula Mosque in Madhya Pradesh has been called 'Bhojshala' and Gyanvapi Mosque in Kashi has been referred to as 'Vishwanath temple,' Grant of cash compensation in lieu of appointment in terms of Govt. order No. 567-GAD of 2011, Dated: in favour of dependents left behind by late Mohd. Ramzan Malik S/o Rehman Malik R/o Palhallan Tehsil Pattan & District Baramulla. N O T I C E Based on the recommendations of Tehsildar Pattan vide his No. TP/SRO-43/381, Dated : and dependent certificate issued by the Addl. Deputy Commissioner Baramulla vide No. DCB/SRO-43/289-90, Dated , the instant case is being processed, for payment of cash compensation in terms of Govt. order No. 567 GAD of 2011, Dated: on account of death of Mohd. Ramzan Malik S/o Rehman Malik R/o Palhallan Tehsil Pattan & District Baramulla, who was a Surrendered militant and died on 06/ in a subversive related incident, as per reports of Police / CID vide No s CRB/SRO-C/D/ , dated: ,, Dated : & Dated: and CID/ MR/SRO-4/2013/273-76, dated: & Dated: respectively. The dependents of the deceased entitled/ eligible to receive Cash compensation have been identified as per the Dependent certificate vide No. referred to above as under:- S. No Name of dependent Relationship with the deceased Age Occupation 01 Shameema Bagum Wife 42 Years House Hold 02 Asima Ramzan Daughter 20 Years House Hold 03 Mohd Aadil Malik Son 18 Years Student 04 Tahira Ramzan Daughter 16 Years Student Before payment of cash compensation to the dependents of the deceased person as reflected above, objections are invited from all concerned regarding identification / eligibility of dependents. The objections, if any, should reach the office of Deputy Commissioner/Additional Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, in person or through an authorized representative within 07 days from the date of publication of this notice. No objection shall be accepted after the expiry of stipulated time and the case shall be decided on merits. Addl. Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla. NO:-DCB/SRO-43/ Dated: / /2018 DIPK-15787/17

6 Tuesday kashmir No Holds Barred Send your write ups and feedback at Opinion All in a days work -, Editor-in-Chief : Sajjad Haider Legal Counsel: Tasaduq Khwaja Switchboard: (0194) Editorial: (0194) editorial: editor@kashmirobserver.net Printed & Published by Sajjad Haider on behalf of the Kashmir Observer LLP Published from: # 1- Boulevard, Srinagar Printed at: KT Press Pvt. Ltd, Rangreth Ind Area, Srinagar. RNI Registration No: 69503/98 Postal Registration No-L/159/KO/SK/ End this madness It seems that a sickness has infected our borders. Almost everyday, there are reports of ceasefire violations which frequently result in the killings of civilians and soldiers. On Sunday, five of a family were killed and two injured in Pakistani firing in Mendhar area along the LoC in J&K s Poonch district. Earlier, Pakistan has reported similar killings on its side by Indian firing. But far from taking steps to put an end to this madness, the two countries seem to be deriving a sadistic pleasure by bleeding each other. And going by the belligerent rhetoric emanating from the two capitals, things seem set to go on regardless. The current cycle of ceasefire violation is going on amid heightened diplomatic tension between the two countries over alleged harassment of diplomats. Pakistan has temporarily recalled its High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood in protest against the alleged harassment. What is more, it has decided to skip the upcoming WTO meet in New Delhi. In Valley, militancy has made a dramatic return to the scene. Both local recruitment and the infiltration has raised the level of violence. The militancy, on the other hand, has been complemented by an overwhelming public support. The rising violence, in turn, has cast its long shadows on any Indo-Pak rapprochement, already hobbled by the lack of diplomatic contact between the estranged neighbours. The leaders of the two countries have now even given up the pretension of showing interest in the engagement thus abdicating their responsibility towards peace in the region. This has let the violence take the centre stage again. The developments like these are deeply troubling and doesn t bode well for the near future. The escalating trend of the violent border exchanges have already unravelled the 2003 ceasefire agreement which had held strong for close to a decade. The calm borders had become an important factor in the normalization of the relations between the two countries, enabling New Delhi and Islamabad to start one of the most promising dialogue processes through which by accounts of the top leaders of the two countries who were at the helm of it was close to a breakthrough on Kashmir. But with return of the border eruptions with a vengeance, and the attendant prospect of a major attack in Kashmir or mainland India, the situation is threatening to go back to square one. And if left unattended, the situation is likely to deteriorate and possibly lead to dangerous consequences. Hence the need for the two countries to reach out to each other and pull the situation back from the brink. With dialogue already suspended and tensions rising high, India and Pakistan can ill-afford to let the border skirmishes go on unchecked and escalate into a major conflict. o t h e r o p i n o n High noon: dealing with above-normal temperatures The India Meteorological Department s forecast of above-normal maximum and minimum temperatures across the country during the pre-monsoon March-May period is a timely alert for State authorities to review their preparedness. Even a marginal rise above the normal will lead to enormous heat stress for millions of Indians, given the deprived conditions in which they live. Moreover, there are distinct groups at particular risk for health-related problems during a heat wave, such as senior citizens and people with pre-existing disease, mental illness or disability, which prevents them from being able to care for themselves. It is the responsibility of governments to ensure that community-level interventions are taken up to help vulnerable groups. The advent of hot weather this year is marked by temperatures rising between 1.6 Celsius and 5 C above normal in States such as Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh; other northern, central and eastern States also show a small increase from March 1. Of course, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and parts of Rayalaseema have begun the season with a slight decrease in minimum temperatures, and will possibly have less oppressive temperatures in coming weeks. For most other States, though, the summer of 2018 may pose a public health challenge, for which they must prepare with the experience gained during the many previous heat waves. One scientific estimate of annual mortality attributable to heat waves between 2010 and 2015 ranges between 1,300 and 2,500. A spike in summer temperatures in India is not new, but some scientists contend that a half-degree rise in average temperature in recent decades has resulted in a higher probability of extreme heat waves and caused a lot of deaths. A heat event thus has serious implications for public health: it can lead to fatal heat stroke in a small percentage of people, while many more could encounter exhaustion, cramps and fainting. It is vital for governments to ensure that all stakeholders, including the health-care system, are prepared to deal with the phenomenon. The World Health Organisation recommends that countries adopt heat-health warning systems, including daily alerts to ensure that people are in a position to deal with adverse weather, starting with reduction of exposure. Water stress is a common and often chronic feature in many States: arrangements should be made to meet scarcity. There is some hope that the southwest monsoon this year will benefit from an expected moderate La Niña condition in the equatorial Pacific, marked by cooler-thanaverage sea surface temperature. Taking the long-term view, India has to pursue mitigation of greenhouse gases vigorously, since there is a perceived link between increases in average temperature caused by climate change and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. The Hindu OBSERVER MAIL Euthanasia: The last right? All letters intended for publication must include the writer s name and address, even if a pseudonym is used. Letters are edited as clarity, spaceand accuracy of expression require. Our publishing a letter does not mean we agree with everything or even anything in it. -EDITOR The Supreme court in a very recent judgement held that passive euthanasia, that is, a form of euthanasia in which medical treatment that will keep a dying patient alive for a time is withdrawn, resulting in a silent death of the patient, to be legal. This decision by the apex court implies that right to life under Article 21 of the Indian constitution includes easing the process of death of a terminally ill patient or a person in persistent vegetative state with no hope of recovery, nullifying the earlier judgement in the case of Gian Kumar where right to die was clearly excluded from Article 21 of the constitution. The question that arises here is whether the right to live should include the right to die, and not just die, but die in a dignified manner. It is worth mentioning that Netherlands and Belgium have recognized euthanasia already and there is a possibility that in near future a few more countries will follow suit. In United States, the state of Oregon has already recognized euthanasia and Washington seeks to be the second state to legalize it. The debate around which it all rotates is whether euthanasia is a mercy killing or a murder. The ones in favour of it say that a person should be allowed to choose his faith, also assisting a subject to die might be a better choice than requiring they continue to suffer. On the other side, those who oppose euthanasia say that not all deaths are painful, alternatives such as cessation of active treatment combined with the use of effective pain relief are available and legalizing it would place society on a slippery slope, that will lead to unacceptable consequences. To those time for New Delhi to seriously think about Kashmir & time for new Delhi to initiate dialogue hyper optimistic lot, I ask, why should they and why would they? I, as a Muslim and Kashmiri, take offense when it is requested; rather beg for dialogue and civil approach from the occupier. The Supreme court in the same judgement has also legalized advanced directive or living will, by which patients can spell out whether treatment can be withdrawn if they fall terminally ill or are incompetent to express their opinion, and the court s reasoning is very apt when it says burdening a dying person with life prolonging treatment just because medical science has advanced, would be against the dignity of that person. In the same connection, the central government also stated that it was also in the process of introducing a law to regulate passive euthanasia, but opposed the concept of advanced directive on the ground that it would be misused. The apex court seems to have justified in concluding that advanced directive will adhere the doctors treating the particular patient by assuring them that they are acting lawfully in Zulkarnain Banday For better understanding you need to give a balance to Reasoning & Logic. Reasoning alone can leave you into wilderness as there is no limit to fancy the various dimensions... Logic alone cannot play the desired role unless it is not supported by well established facts. Citizens As Clients And Sponsored Welfare Is The New Urban Agenda In India Ankit Jha 99 Smart Cities, and an investment of Rs. 1,91,155 of which 80% funds are being spent on a mere 9% population of a city in the Area BAsed Development component of the project. Housing for all by 2022 of which foundation lies in concept of slum free city. Is this how we are heading towards an inclusive, participative and cohesive urban development? With 6 major Urban infrastructure development and housing schemes coming to the half mark of its implementation and targets still looking far away, the Parliamentary Watch Report 2017 (PWR) prepared by a civil society organisation working on the issues of Housing, Basic Services and informal workers in a right based perspective, brings forth the important aspects of urban issues in the legislative context. This report is an evaluation of questions raised in Parliament to Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in both the houses during all three sessions. It was a very busy year for urban phenomenon in the central legislative houses. Firstly, the merger of two different ministries, ie Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation into one which is Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in the mid year and the two changes in the minister portfolio with the incumbent minister becoming the Vice President and then the change of portfolio of minister from cabinet ministry to independent charge. It is to be understood that Minister of State (Independent Charge) is different from a Cabinet Minister who is the authority of a particular ministry or Minister of State. It is very important to conceptualise the current urban issues with questions asked, replies received, members of parliament who ask these questions, focus area of the questions and the most important whether the question was starred or unstarred. Conceptualisation is a tough task and this report helps us go towards there. Of Questions raised in parliament in total, a mere 2.95% (768) were addressed to MoHUA (which was earlier MoUD and Mo- HUPA) and among which approximately 70% members who raised the questions were from ruling alliance at the centre. The report broadly focuses on the implementation gaps on the ground, which in itself is a subjective matter. Along with implementation gap, major focus has been given to the sanction-received-utilised gap of all the schemes. The success of any scheme (especially SBM, PMAY and AMRUT) is in question as the target set for a scheme and the pace with which work is being done is very different. The close analysis of the report and looking around at other subsequent studies done by different organisation brings down four important facets on which we need to understand the Parliament s relation with urban issues. These facets can broadly be described in the context of political economy of urban schemes. The most important facet is the development paradigm that these schemes have been evolved in. The politics of economy is another important facet where the report focuses on. The regime based political ideology and its effect on implementation of these schemes is another facet and the place of vulnerable and marginalised social sections in parliament is the last. The development theorists and practitioner around the globe has continuously been deliberating on the paradigm shift which urban development around the world. This has also given birth to the new urban agenda. This new agenda talks about inclusion, and participation. But the actual agenda has been very different in last 3 to 4 years, where Urban spaces have been looked as change and reform laboratories. Following the same line where private players have been included in the reformation projects in cities. Along with private players, inclusion of capital centric schemes which may reap profit in coming future have also been brought in to the picture. For an instance, the HRIDAY is about conserving the heritage and cultural capital but projects in the schemes have focussed more on generation of revenues through cleanliness and tourism. New definitions and newer concepts have been created to cater the client based urban development. Citizens are turning out to be the new clients now. Sponsoring welfare of people to the private players is the new paradigm. The Smart city project is the most important of all, where citizens have turned into clients and client based projects are being designed. State is sponsoring private players for this client based tasks. This development paradigm can be easily explained through the marxist thought of Dependency. Smart City Project is receiving heavy foreign funding, and several cities are signing MoUs with foreign cities for development in partnership. The Metropolis- Satellite relationship between cities are coming into life with these schemes which PWR brings forth very nicely. As said earlier the current regime focuses on the amalgamation of Culture and Capital. They are publicising it with rhetoric. The ontological stand of present regime is very confused between the conserving cultural and capital based modernity. The fall of myths and conservative practices is the rise of modernity but this regime is confusing these two. Rather they have presented this confusion in clarity with the help of their control of economic practices. They are investing on creating a new culture where everything is turning scientific except the thought process. They are using science against scientific. The creation of smart city concept but not putting any scientific definition to it. Naming a scheme AMRUT which in english means nectar which is a liquid used for immortality, similarly the guidelines of scheme focuses more on sustaining the development practices with society. Syed Arshad Kashani It focuses more on basic services which are important for life, like amrut which is important for life. But it has been limited to the flow of funds and actual work is absent on the ground. It is being implemented in 500 cities in India and the structural arrangement is so cumbersome that the funding never gets enough for the actual development. The difference between requirement, sanctioning, release and utilisation is the politics of economy for these schemes. This is the most important finding of PWR and it raises some serious question for parliamentarians. Although discussed partially earlier, the political regime is the most crucial facet to come out of the report. A government formed with complete majority in lower house and getting a huge support from public took a lot of time in creating their agenda for urban development. Then they came with 6 schemes, some new and some just brilliant name changes, but introduction of all the schemes were interesting. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was presented as single biggest campaign towards cleanliness but what it lacked was a scientific methodology. The scheme which was initiated in a campaign mode with so much discussions and photographs became a toilet construction scheme like Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan. The targets always kept changing so was the funding and achievement. Similarly Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana was introduced as a single biggest solution to the housing crisis in the country but what it turned out to be was another scheme for private funded slum redevelopment and providing some government sponsored middle class housing. Government never answered anything about evictions of slums due to PMAY. It also raises the question of inclusivity and integration of marginalised communities in development. The strength of women parliamentarians stood at a mere 8% in both houses, with no transgender member and a very low proportion of parliamentarians with disability. This is where a major chance of inclusion in perspective leaves behind. Due to several state sponsored propaganda there has been a huge livelihood losses in rural areas of the country increasing into urban informality. An analysis of questions raised bring forth that questions which were raised were mostly about the implementation than social impact of any project. Countercurrents MAIL YOUR LETTERS P.O. Box # 337, GPO, Srinagar editor@kashmirobserver.net editpage.ko@gmail.com respecting the patient s wishes, because, logically an advanced directive is the patient s autonomy and does not amount to a recognition of a wish to die. Although there is no reason that euthanasia can t be regulated, but, some problems that might rise out of it, for example, it would be difficult to deal with people who want to implement euthanasia for selfish reasons or pressurize vulnerable patients into dying. This seems to be little different from the position with any crime, just like the law prohibits theft, but, that doesn t stop bad people from stealing. Also, Immanuel Kant has said about ethics that only those ethical principles that could be accepted as a universal rule (that is, one that applied to everybody) should be accepted. Huzaif Ashraf huzaif002@yahoo.com

7 Tuesday How Civil Is India s Civil Service Moin Qazi A major reason for the dilution of bureaucratic excellence is the poor encouragement the system provides for meritocracy. Vision is one thing, creativity is another. But what can you do when you are up against a calcified system, fickleminded political leaders who change their opinions faster than they change their clothes and crude local interests who can make life miserable for an upright official. We must sympathise with those who suffer the taint and stigma of vigilance strictures and sometimes even dismissal from their service for a small slip in a career studded with professional achievements and sacrifices of their families. The IAS is hamstrung by political interference and outdated personnel procedures. The Government must adopt safeguards to promote accountability while protecting bureaucrats from political meddling. Does a career in the Indian civil service mean a life of public service? It is a puzzling question given the sloth and the thickets of red-tapism that have eroded the bureaucracy. Moreover, the way events have been unfolding, most will tend to agree that all it means is a lifetime of serving the most despicable lot of politicians ever to be found in the world. It means a career that will rub out your individuality, dull your intellect, and corrupt your morals. You will enter a fine young person; you will retire as someone you yourself will not be able to recognise, barring of course, a few courageous exceptions. Many idealised youngsters begin their careers with loads of ambition and a stock of dreams, waiting to dazzle the world with brilliance, confident that the corner office is theirs for taking. Most enter the profession fired up with noble visions and a sense that the multiple and manifest deprivations, injustices, double-dealings in their society can be alleviated.this conviction soon starts vaporising as the bureaucrat begins reveling in the new ambrosia granted to him by money, power and prestige. The Indian bureaucracy is both celebrated and reviled, the opinion changing its shades according to context. It has been called the steel frame and also derided as babudom. It has disillusioned many but has earned qualified praise from several others. But the overwhelming agree that it is no longer a steel frame but a creaking structure. A lingering view that corruption and politicisation of the civil services have become more entrenched is concluded by a research paper by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on India s elite civil service cadre, the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), has noted while calling for urgent reforms. In describing how the British avoided politicising their bureaucracy, Ivor Jennings, their famous constitutional scholar, once noted, The intrusion of politics is the first step towards the intrusion of corruption. The paper, titled, The Indian Administrative Service Meets Big Data, suggests that immediate reforms should be brought about by the Government to reshape recruitment and promotion processes, improve performance-based assessment of individual officers, and adopt safeguards that promote accountability while protecting bureaucrats from political meddling. The paper said many of its suggestions have been echoed in the various reports of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (SARC), a major Government-led initiative launched in 2005 to prepare a blueprint for overhauling the Indian bureaucracy. The commission had recognised that inefficiency, corruption and delays have become, in public perception, the hallmarks of public administration in India. A Hong Kong-based organisation, Political and Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd, in its study in 2012, rated Indian bureaucrats high on the index of red tape among other bureaucracies of Asian countries (9.21 points out of 10). It revealed that working with the civil servants in India is a slow and painful process. A World Bank assessment similarly shows a deteriorating rank from 35th in 1996, to 46th in There are several reasons for the loss of shine of a cadre which produced giants like K P S Menon, L K Jha, and P N Haksar. A major reason for the dilution of bureaucratic excellence is the poor encouragement the system provides for meritocracy. Vision is one thing, creativity is another. But what can you do when you are up against a calcified system, fickle-minded political leaders who change their opinions faster than they change their clothes and crude local interests who can make life miserable for an upright official. We must sympathise with those who suffer the taint and stigma of vigilance strictures and sometimes even dismissal from their service for a small slip in a career studded with professional achievements and sacrifices of their families.the IAS is hamstrung by political interference and outdated personnel procedures. The Government must adopt safeguards to promote accountability while protecting bureaucrats from political meddling. The system has been paralysed with precedents, so every year we accrete new ones. The wheels hobble at a slow lugubrious pace. The British bequeathed us hierarchical machinery-but when it comes to hierarchical institutions, nobody can teach India anything. Today our bureaucracy is twenty times more bureaucratic, our snobberies more snobbish, our deference to the chain of command more cringing and decorous, our worship of paper more entrenched. Honest and competent civil servants and there are several-must initiate human capital reform to create a high-performing state that does fewer things but does them better. A bureaucracy that wastes its precious human potential is morally indefensible. This does not mean that there should be fewer oversight checks. An administration certainly needs guardrails in the form of non-negotiable rules. Without such rails, the system can stray badly; but requiring a dozen signatures where a few can do is a criminal surfeit of supervisory controls. Similarly, we have a colossal army of paper-pushing subordinates churning out work of questionable value. A bureaucracy must be an enabler and not a hinderer that clogs the decision making pipeline. Bristish Prime Minister Theresa May observed: We re getting rid of bureaucracy so that we re releasing time for police officers to be crime fighters and not form writers. There are still horizons of hope. The system still has its stars which keep twinkling even in this looming darkness. Some may feel that their position is hopeless, that there is nothing they can do. The system is too strong for them. Perhaps the best antidote to this despair is to study the examples and lives of those who have fought against the odds and succeeded. In every country, there are some courageous people who have refused to give in, who have stuck by their principles and whose lives shine as examples to others of what can be done. For those who side with the disadvantaged, there may be unexpected floods of support. Not all can expect recognition or to become folk-heroes. For most of those who put the last first, the satisfaction and rewards are not fame, but in knowing that they have done what was right and that things are, definitely better than they would have been. Their small deeds may not command attention; but in merit, they may equal or exceed the greater and more conspicuous actions of those with more freedom and power. Big simple solutions are tempting but full of risks. For most outsiders, most of the time, the soundest and the best way forward is through innumerable small steps could be just nudges and tiny pushes. Slower and smaller steps also help to build up people s adaptability to changes. We should look for small innovations, not just blockbusters. Small gains well consolidated as part of a sequence can mean more than big gains which are unstable and short-lived. They then support each other and together build up towards a greater movement.by changing what they do, people move societies in new directions. Some contribute from a distance. Others work directly with and for those who are rural and poor, helping them to gain more of what they want and need and to demand and control more of the benefits of development. Jawaharlal Nehru once said the Indian Civil Service was Neither Indian, nor Civil, nor a Service. However, his Deputy Sardar Patel considered the civil service the steel frame of Government machinery. Both worked to create a model for civil servants that served India well when the primary task was nation-building. Now that it has shifted to public welfare we need bureaucrats with a new ethos, more attuned to performances on the ground, and not just policy designs. Several development successes have occurred in less than optimal settings often under appalling conditions of weak governance, widespread corruption, minimal infrastructure, deep-rooted social divisions and poorly functioning police system. In each case, creative individuals saw possibilities where others saw hopelessness. Moin Qazi is the author of the bestselling book, Village Diary of a Heretic Banker.He has worked in the development finance sector for almost four decades.he can be reached at moinqazi123@gmail.com The Credibility Of The Internet Abhishek Mishra The influence which the internet has on people is tremendous and is considered one of the mainstream platforms of mass media. Revolutions begin and are put through plan online, popular opinion is curated and a lot of ideas and thought processes which were once only remotely restricted spread like wildfire today. A decade ago libraries were considered to be the abode of knowledge and information for anyone who sought to go beyond what was classroom teaching. Fast forward a couple of years, and they have become obsolete establishments except for a select few who are paperback enthusiasts. With the revolution internet and computing brought in, giving people access to a vast range of data and information; there doesn t really exist a reason why one should physically travel to a different place to obtain what might be just a few clicks away. That isn t the purpose of this article though, do you blindly trust what you read online? Who guarantees the credibility of everything that is up on the websites? In most cases, information found on the web has not been checked for accuracy. While publishing a book is a lengthy process which involves drafting, compiling, proof-reading and finally releasing it to the markets; almost anyone can write on the internet without having the burden to verify information or take responsibility of the consequences which may follow. Most of the articles are opinionated voices rather than informed statements aimed to sway audiences instead of educating them. In recent times a case pertaining to "right to be forgotten" was in contention at the German Federal Court of Justice. The verdict stated that Google cannot be held responsible for defamatory content served on a website prior to notice. They went on to add that Google is obligated to take action only if it is notified of a clearly recognisable violation of individuals' rights. While this may come as a relief to Alphabet Inc., it raises disturbing questions about the authenticity of everything that is available. Plagiarism has become standard practice, and unbeknownst to many, it is an offence with serious implications. So have racial discrimination and hate speech received an enormous boost due to the unfiltered platforms that the internet provides. This article doesn t explore the scope of the dark or deep web but instead contemplates if the web which we access everyday fosters much more darkness and malice than the ones which make drugs, ammunition and other banned substances accessible. The influence which the internet has on people is tremendous and is considered one of the mainstream platforms of mass media. Revolutions begin and are put through plan online, popular opinion is curated and a lot of ideas and thought processes which were once only remotely restricted spread like wildfire today. One of the most challenging tasks with regards to moderating the internet comes from its humongous scope and exploitation of technology making anything banned a mythical concept. Books could easily be shelved if the printing process was aborted however similar ease isn t available when we talk about the internet. With the absence of any competent regulatory body, the onus of the preservation of the sanctity and credibility of the web lies on its users, you and I to ensure that what we value so much today doesn t become a junkyard of fabrications and misrepresentations tomorrow. linkedin.com

8 Life & Times Tuesday Want to LOSE weight? Eat a high-energy breakfast and average lunch In a new discovery, scientists have uncovered 20 genes linked to being transgender supporting claims that the condition has a physical basis. Scientists believe that the gene variations may contribute to people identifying with the opposite sex. Critics of transgender identity often say that the condition in all in the mind, and transgender people have a psychological problem rather than a medical one. However, by highlighting genetic mutations that affect brain development, the latest findings point towards transgender identity having a physical basis. In patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes, a meal schedule that includes a high-energy breakfast promotes weight loss, improves diabetes and decreases the need for insulin, according to a recent study. This study shows that, in obese insulin-treated type 2 diabetes patients, a diet with three meals per day, consisting of a big breakfast, average lunch and small dinner, had many rapid and positive effects compared to the traditional diet with six small meals evenly distributed throughout the day: better weight loss, less hunger and better diabetes control while using less insulin, said lead author Daniela Jakubowicz of the Tel Aviv University. The hour of the day when you eat and how frequently you eat is more important than what you eat and how many calories you eat, she noted. Our body metabolism changes throughout the day. A slice of bread consumed at breakfast leads to a lower glucose response and is less fattening than an identical slice of bread Scientists uncover 20 genes linked to being transgender Acne can be tough to deal with as an adult. Research has found it is five times more likely to affect women than men. Fluctuating pregnancy hormones, period and methods of contraception are big contributing factors. Here are some ways you can treat the skin issue, according to The Sun. 1 Try alternative contraceptive pills: Dianette, is a pill often prescribed to women with severe acne. However, it contains an anti-androgen called cyproterone acetate. 2 Switch to a different face wash: Some face wash products could dry your skin and land up over-compensating with the moisturiser and cause it to become greasy. 3 Try Silver Serum: It contains an anti-bacterial agent that is often used to treat infected skin ulcers. 4 Avoid touching your face: Throughout the day, your hand comes in contact with a lot of germs, which you transfer to you face with your fingertips. So keep your hands clean. 5 Ingredients in your make-up could be the cause: Some makeup products thick or solid could make you prone to acne. It is important to learn what goes into making it. 6 Cleanse your sebum: It is a substance that goes away when it is contaminated with external bacteria or dirt Presenting their research at the Society for Reproductive Investigation conference, the researchers said: We identified genetic variants in 20 genes that may play a role in transgender identity. They further added that the most promising of these included variants of genes involved in nurologic development and sex hormones. (Agencies) 7 ways to get rid of adult acne on the skin. This leads your pores to get blocked, puss, or even cause inflammation. 7 Consult with your doctor: If it persists, you should consult with a GP, as the acne could be something else like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which needs to be further investigated. (Agencies) consumed in the evening. Jakubowicz and her colleagues studied 11 women and 18 men who had obesity and type 2 diabetes, being treated with insulin and averaged 69 years of age. The patients were randomly assigned to consume one of two different weight-loss diets, which contained an equal number of daily calories, for three months. One group (Bdiet) ate three meals: a large breakfast, a medium-sized lunch and a small dinner. The second group (6Mdiet) ate the traditional diet for diabetes and weight loss: six small meals evenly spaced throughout the day, including three snacks. Overall glucose levels and glucose spikes were measured for 14 days at baseline, during the first two weeks on diet, and at the end of the study by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Glucose levels were tested every two weeks and insulin dosage was adjusted as needed. At three months, while the Bdiet group lost 5 kilograms (11 pounds) the 6Mdiet group gained 1.4 kg (3 lb). Being overweight or obese does pose a risk of heart disease, despite claims to the contrary, a study of nearly 300,000 British adults suggested Friday. While it is generally accepted that being overweight increases a person's disease risk, some researchers have recently suggested that carrying extra weight does not actually boost death rates for some, particularly the elderly. A number have even suggested that being overweight may protect against disease, a claim dubbed the "obesity paradox." But the latest study, published in the European Heart Journal, said there is no paradox. It looked at 296,535 people aged who enrolled in an ongoing health study in the United Kingdom between 2006 and For the latest analysis, data on the participants -- all of "white European descent" -- was available until All were healthy when they first enrolled. The researchers noted the participants' Body Mass Index (BMI) -- a ratio of weight-to-height squared used to determine whether a person falls in a healthy weight range. They then tracked who went on to develop CVD -- Fasting glucose levels decreased 54 mg/dl (from 161 to 107) in the Bdiet group but only 23 mg/dl (from 164 to 141) in the 6Mdiet group. Overall mean glucose levels dropped in the first 14 days by 29 mg/dl (from 167 to 138 mg/dl) and 38 mg/ dl (from 167 to 129 mg/dl) after three months in the Bdiet group. Overall mean glucose levels dropped only 9 mg/dl (from 171 to 162 mg/dl) in the first 14 days and only 17 mg/dl (from 171 to 154 mg/dl) in the 6Mdiet group. Mean glucose levels during which includes heart attack, stroke or high blood pressure. The World Health Organisation considers someone with a BMI of 25 kg/m2 as overweight, and 30 kg/m2 or higher as obese. The research team found that CVD risk increased beyond a BMI of kg/m2. "Furthermore, the risk also increases steadily the more fat a person carries around their waist," said a press statement summarising the findings. People with a BMI of kg/m2 had the lowest CVD risk, the study found. sleep dropped only in the Bdiet group, by 24 mg/dl (from 131 to 107), but not in the 6Mdiet group. The Bdiet group needed significantly less insulin (-20.5 units/day, from 54.7 to 34.8) while the 6Mdiet group needed more insulin (+2.2 units/day, from 67.8 to 70). Carbohydrate craving and hunger decreased significantly in Bdiet group but increased in the 6Mdiet group. Importantly, the researchers found a significant reduction of overall glycemia after as little as 14 days on Bdiet, when the participant "As BMI increased above 22kg/m2, the risk of CVD increased by 13 per cent for every 5.2 kg/m2 increase in women and 4.3 kg/m2 in men." The findings presented a direct challenge to the obesity paradox. "Any public misconception of a potential 'protective' effect of fat on heart and stroke risks should be challenged," said study co-author Stamatina Iliodromiti from the University of Glasgow. It is possible that the effect would be different for people had almost the same weight as at baseline. This finding suggests that even before weight loss, the change in the meal timing itself has a quick beneficial effect on glucose balance that is further improved by the important weight loss found in the 3M diet. A diet with adequate meal timing and frequency has a pivotal role in glucose control and weight loss, Jakubowicz observed. The study was presented at ENDO 2018, the 100th annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in Chicago, Ill. New study questions theory about being obese but healthy at the same time Survey reveals 31 is the most expensive age of your life Entering into your 30's is bidding goodbye to your youthful days by welcoming a whole lot of responsibilities and spending. Just when you started feeling that life couldn't get more expensive, we have some bad news for the millennial generation. According to a recent survey, there is one year in your life when you are like to spend the most money - when you turn 31. No longer really considered a young adult, 31 is typically considered a solidly adult age, which makes sense when you consider just how much money you'll have to spend. 31-year-olds don't just blow their savings for the fun of it. Their year is filled with expensive special occasions that require a significant expenditure. The biggest expense at this age is undoubtedly, getting married. According to survey conducted by ClearScore and quoted by The Independent, 27 per cent of those surveyed said that getting married was by far the most expensive event of your 31st year of life. Unfortunately, buying a house wasn't far behind - with 25 per cent considering this to be the biggest expense. with pre-existing disease, the authors said. But for healthy people, maintaining a BMI of kg/m2 appeared to minimise the risk of developing or dying from heart disease. "The less fat, especially around their abdomen, the lower the risk of future heart disease," the authors concluded. An American study published by the journal JAMA Cardiology last month, similarly found that overweight and obesity were associated with "significantly increased risk for CVD". (Agencies) Babies are also pretty expensive endeavours, a fact 20 per cent of those surveyed agreed with. Also, we all want to treat our loved one to a vacation after all the money pressure, 14 per cent said going on a honeymoon was the biggest expense of the year. The good news is you'll likely have your parents to lessen the burden, as 33 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds revealed they still receive financial help from their parents. (Agencies)

9 Business Tuesday Sensex Nifty Gold Silver J&K Bank HDFC Bank Crude Oil Dollar Euro Pound Saudi Riyal Kuwaiti Dinar 32, , `2,930 (22K) ` INR 1, INR (0.76%) (0.99%) 1 Gram Gold loses sheen on subdued global cues, muted demand NEW DELHI: Gold prices drifted lower by INR 110 to INR 31,180 per 10 grams at the bullion market, tracking a weak trend overseas amid slackened demand from local jewellers. Silver also fell below the INR 39,000- mark by falling INR 150 to INR 38,950 per kg due to reduced offtake by industrial units and coin makers. Traders said sentiment turned bearish after gold fell in global markets as the dollar remained firm, with investors expecting the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates at this week s policy meeting. Globally, gold fell by 0.33 per cent to USD at 1, an ounce and silver by 0.61 per cent to USD an ounce in Singapore. Besides, tepid demand from local jewellers and retailers in the domestic spot market due to off-wedding season too fuelled the downtrend. In the national capital, gold of 99.9 per cent and 99.5 per cent purity lost INR 110 each to INR 31,180 and INR 31,030 per 10 grams, respectively. The precious metal had gained INR 40 in Saturday s trade. Sovereign, however, remained unaltered at INR 24,800 per piece of eight grams. In sync with gold, silver ready fell by INR 150 to INR 38,950 per kg and weekly-based delivery by INR 145 to INR 38,225 per kg. Silver coins, however, remained flat at INR 73,000 for buying and INR 74,000 for selling of 100 pieces. PTI SUN KPS SUN ANS ANS NNNN Reliance Big TV ties up with 12,000 post offices for booking NEW DELHI: DTH service provider Reliance Big TV on Monday said it has tied up with 12,000 India Post offices across Maharashtra and Goa for consumers to do initial booking of HD HEVC set top boxes by paying Rs 500. The effectively free HD HEVC set top boxes... can now be booked through 12,000 India Post offices across Maharashtra and Goa, the company said in a release. Reliance Big TV recently offered access to up to 500 free-to-air channels for five years and pay channels for one year across the country, besides a free of cost HD HEVC set top box. India Post has an incredible reach, which is unrivalled by any other logistics partner and the same would help the customers to book this incredible offer, Reliance Big TV Director Vijender Singh said. While a pre-booking amount is Rs 499 will be charged by the company, on the receipt of set-top box and outdoor unit (ODU), buyers will have to pay the balance amount of Rs 1,500. Thereafter, subscribers need to recharge monthly amount of Rs 300 from second year onwards for all pay channels. On completion of subscription of pay channels continuously for next two years with Reliance Big TV, the subscribers will get back Rs 1,999 as a loyalty (the amounts paid during booking and receipt of the set top box) in form of recharge. (PTI0 1 Gram 0.10 (0.17%) 6.00 (0.32%) (-0.93%) CBEC to verify GST transitional credit claims of 50,000 taxpayers Press Trust Of India New Delhi: In order to check "frivolous and fraudulent" tax credit claims by businesses, the CBEC has decided to verify demands of top 50,000 tax payers claiming maximum GST transitional credit, starting with those where the quantum exceeds Rs 25 lakh. The verification of "unreasonable" transitional credit claims would be conducted in four phases, a source said, adding that credit verification will remain one of the focus areas in As part of transition to GST last July, taxpayers were allowed to file Form TRAN-1 and avail tax credit on the basis of closing balance of the credit declared in the last return under the pre-goods and Services Tax regime. In order to check "frivolous and fraudulent" transitional credit claims, the CBEC has shared with field offices the list of 50,000 taxpayers whose claims would be further scrutinised. It is suspected that some of these businesses might have obtained a registration under the GST only to claim transitional credit benefits, the source added. In the first phase, the tax officers will verify transitional credit claims where the growth is more than 25 per cent or the credit availed is in excess of Rs 25 lakh. This verification is to be completed by June and a status report has to be given to the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) by July 10. One-third of the remaining claims of 50,000 taxpayers will be verified in each of the three phases -- July- September, October-December and Private fuel retailers double petrol, diesel market share NEW DELHI: Private fuel retailers like Rosneft-owned Essar Oil and Reliance Industries have doubled their market share in last three years, capturing close to 7 per cent of petrol sales and over 8 per cent of diesel sales. Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in a written reply to a question put to him in the Lok Sabha, said private companies were allowed to sell petrol and diesel in March From April 2002, fuel pricing was also deregulated. Consequently, Reliance, Essar and Shell set up petrol pumps to directly compete with public sector giants like Indian Oil Corp (IOC). In the initial years, private firms were aggressive in setting up of petrol pumps. However, they slowed Stocks decline for 5th day on CAD, US rate hike worries MUMBAI: The benchmark BSE Sensex on Monday cracked below the 33,000-mark by falling nearly 253 points to extend its slide for the fifth straight session due to selling in metal, telecom and banking stocks amid worries over widening current account deficit and possible US Fed rate hike. The 30-share index closed down points or 0.76 per cent at 32, This is the weakest closing since December 6 last when it settled at 32, The index had lost points in the previous four sessions. The broader NSE Nifty too fell below the 10,100 level by dropping points to end at 10, due to foreign fund outflows amid rising bond yields on prospects of a 25 basis point hike in interest rate by the US Federal reserve this week. Overall market sentiment remained weak after the RBI data released after market hours on Friday showed current account deficit (CAD) rising to 2 per cent of the GDP at USD 13.5 billion in the December quarter, up from 1.4 per cent in the year-ago period, due to a higher trade deficit. The rupee also depreciated by 19 paise intra-day against the dollar at 65.13, which too had a negative influence. Global cues too were weak as investors moved cautiously before the US Federal Reserve meeting, that is likely to raise US interest rates. "Market continues to drag under global market volatility ahead of the FOMC meet tomorrow, where consensus hints at a 25bps rate hike. Bond yield remains at elevated levels and concern on trade tensions is influencing investors to book profit. Back home, rupee weakened due to widening current account deficit and led investors to remain cautious," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services Ltd said. "Widened fiscal deficit and fresh developments on the political front dampened the market sentiment", said Manoj Choraria, a Delhi-based NSE stock broker. Tata Steel was the biggest loser among Sensex components, plunging by 4.24 per cent, followed by Bharti Airtel at 4.16 per cent. Other laggards included Wipro, Yes Bank, Coal India, Infosys, Asian Paint, Bajaj Auto, Adani Ports, SBI, Tata Motors, Kotak Bank, Sun Pharma, ICICI Bank, Hero Moto- Corp, Dr Reddy's, HDFC Ltd, Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank, RIL, ITC Ltd, ONGC, HDFC Bank and M&M that lost up to 2.60 per cent. In contrast, counters like Power Grid, NTPC, L&T, Maruti Suzuki, Hindustan Unilever and TCS were the top performers in the Sensex pack, rising up to 1.12 per cent. Metal stocks bore the brunt after prices of base metals dropped in global markets. Chinese ore fell to its lowest level since November on high inventories. In the metal segment, counters such as NMDC, SAIL, Hindalco, JSW Steel, Jindal Steel and Power, Hindustan Zinc and Vedanta fell up to 6.47 per cent. State-run oil marketing companies such as IOC and BPCL fell on reports that refiners may buy stake in GAIL. BPCL, HPCL and IOC declined up to 4.01 per cent. Among sectoral indices, the BSE telecom index emerged the worst performer by falling 3.40 per cent, followed by realty, (3.01 per cent, metal (2.65 per cent), teck (2.08 per cent), IT (1.98 per cent), PSU (1.84 per cent), oil & gas (1.70 per cent), consumer durables (1.46 per cent), banking (1.09 per cent), healthcare (0.90 per cent) and infrastructure (0.86 per cent). A similar trend was also extended to the broader markets as investors indulged in cutting down their portfolios, pulling down the small-cap index by 1.98 per cent, while mid- cap index declined 1.58 per cent. In the Asian region, Japan's Nikkei was down 0.90 per cent, Singapore fell 0.39 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.04 per cent. Shanghai Composite Index edged higher by 0.29 per cent. In the Eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX was lower by 1.05 per cent, while Paris CAC 40 fell 0.82 per cent in their early deals. London's FTSE too was down 1.09 per cent. (PTI) down once government control over pricing came back in vogue in , and they couldn't compete with subsidised fuel sold by PSUs. The government freed petrol price from its control in June 2010 and the same for diesel was done in October 2014, giving fillip to fuel retailing by private firms. Pradhan said private players had a market share of 3.5 per cent in petrol sales and 3.1 per cent in diesel in This rose to 5.3 per cent in petrol and 6 per cent in diesel in the following year. In , private retailers commanded 6.8 per cent market share in petrol sales and 8.2 per cent in diesel, he said. Private retailers sold 5.18 million tonnes of diesel in , up from 1.19 million tonnes in , he said. Public sector oil marketing companies - IOC, Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL), saw diesel sales drop from million tonnes in to million tonnes in During this period, India's fuel consumption grew by an average of 3-4 per cent annually. Pradhan said, in petrol, PSU sales rose from million tonnes in to million tonnes in the following year before dropping to million tonnes in Private retailers, on the other hand, saw petrol sales double - from 767,900 tonnes in to 1.59 million tonnes in India had 61,678 petrol pumps as of January. IOC operates the maximum 26,752 pumps, HPCL has 14,853 and BPCL 14,293 pumps. In the private sector, Essar had 4,275 petrol pumps while Reliance had 1,400 retail outlets. Shell operates 100 petrol pumps. In , India's fuel consumption rose 5.4 per cent to million tonnes. Diesel at 76 million tonnes is the most consumed fuel, accounting for close to 40 per cent of all petrol products used in the country. (PTI) January-March (2019). Taxpayers who have claimed transitional tax credit of more than Rs 25 lakh and have reported 25 per cent increase in such claims are also likely to be asked to submit a detailed statement of purchases during October 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017, the source said. According to revenue department data, as much as Rs 65,000 crore of transitional input tax credit was claimed by businesses as on September Concerned over large claims for which there was no "bona-fide explanation", the revenue department had asked taxpayers to revise their claim forms by December 27, 2017, or face enforcement action. Worried over huge claims, the CBEC conducted a "preliminary scrutiny" following which it has now decided to further verify the "correctness of the transitional credit in a more focused and concerted manner", the source said. However, in a communication to the field formation, the CBEC said that efforts should be made on the basis of data already available with the department without contacting the taxpayer. It further said wherever contact with taxpayers is absolutely essential, it should be done with due caution. "Summon should be issued only where the taxpayer is not sharing information even after repeated requests and lapse of an unreasonable period of time," it said. AMRG & Associated Partner Rajat Mohan said the move comes amid disappointing tax collections. "A detailed verification of transitional credit for pre-decided 50,000 GSTIN on all India basis comes as a no surprise. Credit verification would be a focus area in the new financial year, and big data analytics would be of great aid," Mohan said. As per a finance ministry reply to the Lok Sabha, GST mop up was Rs 93,590 crore in July, Rs 93,029 crore in August, Rs 95,132 crore in September and Rs 85,931 crore in October. The collections in November stood at Rs 83,716 crore, December (Rs 88,929 crore) and January (Rs 88,047 crore). Kashmiri youngsters use social media for realising entrepreneurial dreams Sheikh Suhail SRINAGAR: Social media is often blamed for recurrent unrest and violence in Kashmir, but many youngsters in the valley are using various online platforms to realise their entrepreneurial dreams fashioning inspirational success stories. In a place where generation of employment for a growing number educated youths is one of the biggest challenges in view of limited opportunities in both government and private sectors, the youth are carving out a niche for themselves by taking the entrepreneurship route and realising their dreams. The trend is increasing by the day and several youngsters are shaping their destinies by honing their creative skills and turning ideas into actions. While many of them take to conventional entrepreneurship, the new-age entrepreneurship using new technologies and social media is fast picking up among the young in Kashmir. Several youths here have taken to social media to give wings to their dreams and started online marketing of their produce, brands, fashion labels and other stuff using business to consumers sales model. Hundreds of online stores have come into existence in the valley in the past few years, most of which primarily deal with fashion, clothing and accessories. Tul Palav is one such store. Started in 2015 by 26-year-old Iqra Ahmad, a resident of uptown Sanat Nagar locality of the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, it is one of the first online fashion stores of Kashmir. Iqra says she always wanted to follow her passion and was not made for a government job. I wanted to do fashion designing, but there was no institute in Kashmir where I could opt for such a course and I did not want to go outside the valley as I was too attached to Kashmir. So, I took Linguistics. Then, like others, I too was compelled to go job hunting, even as a job was never my target. This idea came to me then. I knew what I had to do. So, that is how I started, she told PTI. Iqra said when she thought of the business, a shop in the city was unaffordable for her, so she took the social media route. I could not think of (opening) a shop as one needs a large amount of money for it and I did not want (to take) a loan and also, I could not sustain the rent because most of the times the shops remain closed due to the situation (in the valley). I had a personal page on Instagram, so I started by uploading pictures there and I received a huge response within one hour, which boosted my morale. Now, whenever I upload my collections online, I sell them off within an hour, an ecstatic Iqra said. She puts up pictures of suits, Kashmir to host mega tourism event from March dresses and accessories on her page, her 21.2 thousand followers go through the collection and she receives orders, after which she starts working on those. I work right from the scratch from procuring material to designing and embroidery everything is done by me here, she said. When I started, I was the only one (online fashion store). Now, if you open Instagram, you will find many such pages. So, it feels proud that people are learning and that I was the one who started this, she added. However, while she was supported by her family all the way and business has been good, it is not a smooth ride often. I always got full support from parents and everything went smoothly. The biggest challenge is the strikes and disruption in Internet services. Whenever Internet is banned in the valley, uploading pictures and accessing Instagram is affected, which also impacts customer orders and thereby my business, Iqra said. Another success story is of two teacher-friends who turned their skills into a thriving business model. Omaira Qayoom and Binish Bashir, who met each other while studying at a college here, took teaching jobs at a private school and started an online venture together - Craft World Kashmir. With over 14 thousand followers on Instagram, the duo make and sell hand-made crochet items. SRINAGAR: Seeking to reinforce Jammu and Kashmir's position on the tourism map and dispel any notion of fear among travellers, a national-level travel body is organising a mega event in Srinagar later this month. The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) is holding its 64th annual convention in the heart of the Valley, after a gap of over thirty years, officials said Monday. "The primary focus of this cultural extravaganza is to promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir and reinforce its position on the tourism map as a major draw for travellers," President of TAAI Sunil Kumar said. The event to be inaugurated at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), located along the banks of picturesque Dal Lake, is being supported by the department of tourism of the state government. "It's a three-day programme. On the first day (March 27), a mini golf tournament will be held in the morning at the Royal Springs Golf Course, followed by the inaugural event at the SKICC. On the second day a businessto-business knowledge session would be held," Kumar told PTI. "The Tulip Festival opens on March 25. And, on the last day of the convention (March 29), there would be a special luncheon hosted for delegates to promote out floral heritage at par with those in the Netherlands," he said. The TAAI was established in 1951 and has about 2,500 travel and touring companies as its members, Kumar said. "We have been doing our annual conventions outside India for quiet some time. Then for the last couple of years we have had it in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru. This year, we decided to do it in Srinagar. The state government is very keen on lending greater visibility to the tourism potential of the state and so we are all for that. Also, the purpose is to send out messages to potential travellers that there is nothing to worry about here," he added. "Places like Pahalgam and Gulmarg, where a large number of tourists go to, are all peaceful. Stray incidents happen but then they happen everywhere," Kumar said, adding that Delhi was also suggested as one of the cities to host the event, but Srinagar was chosen." A senior official of the TAAI said, "We had held our last annual convention in Kashmir over three decades ago and now again, we are excited to venture there." "About 400 delegates from the field of travel and hospitality from across the India will converge at Srinagar for the event. We have also invited a few foreign delegates, including travel writers," he added. "There would also be a post-event tour for delegates to Gulmarg and Pahalgam to showcase the natural beauty and heritage of Kashmir," the official said. (PTI) They attracted fame and the orders started pouring in. People were interested in our work and we started getting orders. We had to quit our teaching jobs to focus on the business, one of them said. It is not just fashion products that are selling like hot cakes in the valley through social media. There are other businesses as well like crockery and other kitchen appliances, ornaments, products of art and even services such as bridal makeup which use social media to project their ventures. Haris Rehman (26) has a Masters in Computer Networking, but he never wanted to go with the crowd. Immediately after his studies, and while others kept looking for a job, Haris and his brother Burhan struck an idea of transforming their family's small-time crockery shop into a booming online venture. If we see Monday, everyone accesses social media - children and adults alike. Social media is a new tool for us. It has transformed everything..., Haris said. However, like others, Haris also believes Internet shutdowns and gags on social media are challenges one has to keep in mind. There are challenges. While my whole focus is on my business using social media, frequent Internet gags or social media bans affect it. That is a huge drawback and one has to be wary of it, he said. (PTI)

10 News 10 Tuesday Nutritionist reveals foods to eat for your body type A trip to India, led Sydney-based nutritionist Lee Holmes on a journey to discover the Ayurvedic lifestyle. She learned Ayurveda encourages people to eat according to seasonal changes and our Dosha (body type). When she returned to Australia she had lost a dress size and felt a whole lot better. "I truly believe that eating seasonally is one of the best things you can do for your body, and I'm not the only one who believes so," she told the Daily Mail. Now in her new book, Eat Right For Your Shape she shares what the types of doshas are and the benefits about eating according to it. She recommends people adapt their diet based on these simple key principles for a more healthier you. "In Ayurveda, everyone has a pre-dominant Dosha, which is the specific energy that circulates the body and governs both our appearance and emotional state. Only once you're aware of your dominant Dosha or Doshas (there could be more than one) can you start to maintain balance and harmony within your life, " she explained in the report. Here are the three types of body types: 1. Vata: This is for people who are slender. They often suffer dry skin and hair. Foods to eat: Consume good fats, oils, warming foods and cooked vegetables. 2. Pitta: Medium-sized athletic builds that gain weight easily but can also lose it just as fast. They often have combination skin and fine hair. Foods to eat: Eat cooling foods like vegetables and fruits and dark leafy greens. 3. Kapha: Usually big, heavy and slow and find losing weight challenging. They tend to have oily skin. Food to eat: Consume dry foods like vegetables, fruits, salads and spicy and warm foods. (Agencies) FROM FRONT PAGE India Summons Pak The Pakistan side was also asked to end the support being given to cross-border infiltration of terrorists, including through covering fire, it added. Low Intensity Indo-Pak War Can A meeting of Hurriyat Conference s executive and general council was held under the chairmanship of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at the amalgam s headquarters at Rajbagh. The representatives of all the constituents of the amalgam participated in the meeting called to discuss the situation prevailing on ground. The participants expressed serious concern over the growing escalation between India and Pakistan on the borders and stressed upon the two nations to shun the confrontational approach and instead start a sustained dialogue to resolve the root cause of the tension which is the Kashmir dispute, a spokesman of the amalgam said. The participants expressed great distress at the killing of five members of a family in the cross border shelling in Mendhar area of Jammu region stating that military approach adopted by India and Pakistan is going to yield nothing as neither can prove their superiority or settle the dispute militarily as both are nuclear powers. All that is being achieved by repeated ceasefire violations is death and destruction and great suffering for the people of the region since last 30 years. This low intensity war among them can anytime take an ugly turn and bring the region on the brink of disaster. The meeting urged the leadership of both, India and Pakistan to mitigate the sufferings of people of Kashmir and put an end to this senseless violence by showing maturity and pragmatism and take steps to resolve the Kashmir issue as per the wishes and aspirations of people of Kashmir by pursuing a sustained and meaningful dialogue with all the stakeholders on board so that peace prevails in the South Asia. The meeting expressed serious concern over the efforts that India has entered into the race of buying weaponry on a large scale, stating that enhancing the defence capabilities won t resolve the issue but instead complicate and worsen the already complex dispute of Kashmir which has consumed lakhs of people over the past 70 years. The meeting stated that while India and Pakistan are trying to outdo each other in the arms race the fact remains that both countries have lakhs of people living below the poverty line in squalor. Basic facilities of healthcare and education elude them. There is so much that they need to do to lift the standard of living of their huge masses that it is so senseless that instead resources are being expended on military upkeep. The spokesman added: The participants of the meeting strongly castigated the ruling regime for conducting frequent Cordon and Search Operations (CASO)across South, north and Central Kashmir, leading to harassment of people including children and blowing up of residential homes of people. The participants condemned the ruling dispensation for giving the forces a free hand and leaving the entire population of Kashmir at the mercy of forces. Mehbooba Implores Modi Addressing the people here after visiting the family which lost five of its members in yesterday s cross LoC shelling, the Chief Minister said it is unfortunate that the people of border areas in the State like Poonch, R S Pura, Nowshehra, Uri, Karnah etc. are paying a heavy price in terms of continued shelling across the borders in the State. She appealed Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to take lead in getting Jammu & Kashmir out of this bloodbath and help these people in leading peaceful and normal life. She also appealed the leadership of Pakistan to see the logic of peaceful engagement and dialogue with India as wars in the past have yielded nothing except devastation, death and destruction. Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh; Minister for Relief, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction & Disaster Management, Javed Mustafa Mir; legislators, Shah Muhammad Tantray, Choudhary Qamar and Yashpal Sharma were present on the occasion. The Chief Minister recalled the decade long peace along the borders and an atmosphere of reconciliation within the State which followed after the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee s initiatives of reconciliation and dialogue in the State. Similarly, she said, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi also took the bold step of visiting Lahore but unfortunately incidents like Pathankote almost stalled the process. Better late than never, she said adding that when she last met the Prime Minister she appealed him to act like an elder brother and persuade Pakistan for a peaceful engagement and work jointly against poverty, unemployment and deprivation. Mehbooba Mufti assured the audience that she would continue to advocate cessation of hostilities along the borders and between the two countries as was pursued by late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed which gave the people of the State, particularly those of Poonch, a major relief and a sense of a peaceful life. Terming the partition of the country as unfortunate, the Chief Minister said the people of the State never ever had wanted that but unfortunately are paying a heavy price of the same. What was the fault of these five persons or this elderly mother, she asked while referring to yesterday s victims of cross border shelling. She said it is very unfortunate when people elsewhere are demanding better facilities, residents of border areas in the State are asking for bunkers, which is no less than a grave because incentives of development and progress are only meaningful when one is alive to enjoy them. Describing the residents of border areas as country s first line of defence, Mehbooba Mufti said these are the people who have guarded the territorial integrity of the State and the country. She said her Government has created two battalions of IRP comprising people of the border areas. She assured the people that whatever due would be done for them including creating avenues of employment, strengthening of health facilities and road connectivity. Earlier on her arrival, the Chief Minister met the mother and other kin of the family whose members were killed in yesterday s shelling. She assured them all help in their rehabilitation and on spot handed over ex gratia and other relief in their favour. Chief Secretary, B B Vyas; Principal Secretary, Home, R K Goyal; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Hemant Sharma; IGP, Jammu zone, Dr. SDS Jamwal; senior officers of Army and Poonch district administration also accompanied the Chief Minister during her visit. Govt Sets Up Probe The committee shall be serviced by the Industries & Commerce Department and shall submit its final report within one month, the order says. Mehbooba had announced a probe days after the ruling PDP come under a barrage of criticism over the appointment of the son of its vice-president (Sartaj Madini) as an executive officer in the KVIB. The nephew of PDP general secretary and KVIB vice-chairman Peerzada Mansoor Hussain had figured in the waiting list for the post of assistant executive officer. Sehrai Replaces at its office in Srinagar and elected senior member Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai as the party chairman, said a spokesman. Geelani and Sehrai were among the founding members of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat when it was formed in 2005 after Geelani had a rift with Jamat-e-Islami, it s parent organisation. Sehrai, then a member of Jamat, was instrumental in the formation of the new organization, say sources. Sehrai parted ways with the Jamat more than a decade ago. Sehrai, who was until now the general secretary of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, was tipped to be the first choice to replace Geelani. In fact, three years ago, Geelani had decided to nominate him as his successor in the Hurriyat but the announcement was halted at the last moment after some members questioned Geelani making a nomination when organisation had an election system. Plea In High Court For and the state, the petitioner says. The majorities of the citizens in the state of Jammu and Kashmir are Muslims by faith and thus have a constitutional right to enjoy all avenues of development provided the same do not contravene the article of their faith, the petitioner says, adding that it was common knowledge that receiving and giving of Interest (Riba) in Quranic parlance is prohibited (Haram) and was widely disliked by other faiths as well. He has referred to various verses Quran to substantiate the assertions. The petitioner has sought direction from the Court to the Reserve Bank of India to take immediate steps in this constituent banks including the Jammu and Kashmir Bank limited so as to facilitate Shariah Compliant Windows (Islamic banking) was introduced. Besides, the petitioner has also sought directions to Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited to place toentire details before the court regarding Non Performing Accounts (NPAs) and the steps taken for recovery of the outstanding amount in NPAs as the same is public money which cannot be allowed to b misappropriated either by the account holders or by the management of the bank. The petitioner has also sought directions chairman of the J&K Bank to take immediate steps for opening of Shariah Compliant windows to accomplish the object of mass level participation in Shariah Banking by the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in particular and other people of the areas whereever the J&K Bank has established in its branches. Shuja said that the chairman J&K Bank, after taking over as the chairman publically made announcements one after the other setting agenda for the bank to introduce Islamic Banking. Hindu Mahasabha Refers and the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya as "Ram Janam Bhoomi", said the report. "We have organised 'hawan' rituals on the auspicious New year of the Hindu calendar and resolved to make this country a Hindu Rashtra," report quoted Hindu Mahasabha national secretary Pooja Shakun Pandey as having said. Pandey said that she hoped that the government will accept their demand and declare India a Hindu nation, while Muslims had plundered Hindu religious heritage sites and had turned them to mosques by changing their names accordingly, said the report. "They should now have to give these back to Hindus and we will restore their original names, as mentioned in the new calendar," the report quoted Pandey as having said. She as per the report also claimed that all names mentioned in the calendar have been verified by historian BP Saxena, a retired professor from the history department of Varshney College, Aligarh. Saxena claimed that facts can prove beyond doubt that these seven religious heritage sites belong to Hindus, mentioned the report. He said according the report that if there is any controversy, excavations should be conducted, just like in the Ram temple case, and evidence will be there for all to see. APology A Hit: Kejriwal and BJP leader Shazia Ilmi will, however, continue in the defamation case lodged by Amit Sibal. Kejriwal, in his two separate apology letters, said he regretted making the remarks without any verification and accepted that they were based on "unfounded allegations". In the 2013 case lodged by Amit Sibal it was alleged that Kejriwal, Sisodia, Bhushan and Ilmi, who was then an AAP member, had targeted him and his father Kapil Sibal over the Vodafone tax revision case. In the defamation case filed by Gadkari, it was alleged that Kejriwal had called him "India's most corrupt". Kashmir Can be India s Integral On RSS chief Mohan Baghwat's recent statement on Kashmir, he said, "We tell Mohan Bhagwat that Kashmiris will prefer to die, but won't be cowed by his threats. We accept that gun is not a solution, but let me make it clear to Baghwat that Kashmiris can't be treated like cattle," he said. NC, CPI (M) Hit Out in the health department is arbitrary. From day one since this Government issued social media diktat under SRO-525, we have been saying it is insult to employees and depicts the regressive mindset of the government. An employee enjoys freedom and speech and expression like any other citizen, he added. He demanded that the medico should be reinstated immediately. HoD Orthodontics Kashmir till further orders, reads an order by Under Secretary to government Health and Medical Education Department. The Postgraduate students of Government Dental College and Hospital, Srinagar are continuously protesting from past several days and boycotted classes, seeking action against the HOD for forcing them to do his personal works. The students have been protesting almost on daily basis and during visit of Health Commissioner Pawan Kotwal recently, they carried placards, reading: We heal, should we suffer? Stop physical abuse. They also wore black bands during the protest against the inaction of the authorities over the allegations against the Professor. The postgraduate students of the orthodontics department of the hospital said that head of department Dr Muhammad Mushtaq has been harassing and forcing them to do his personal work, including car wash, ferrying family members to airport and kids to school. The students earlier protested against the behaviour of the professor for over a month from January 4 and sought his removal as a guide. They called off the protest after the college principal assured action. However, when no action was taken by the principal, they resumed protests. Doctors Association Kashmir termed the professor s action as the injustice to the Master of Dental Surgery (MDS), Orthodontic students of Government Dental College (GDC), Srinagar and supported students call for action against him. KAS (Mains) Kashmir Combined Competitive Examination 2016, the Mains shall be held in early July and the detailed scheduled shall be notified in due course of time. Lalu Guilty In 4th The fodder scam involves the embezzlement of government funds in Bihar in the name of cattle fodder. The multi-millionrupee scam surfaced in the 1990s when Lalu Prasad Yadav was the Chief Minister of undivided Bihar. The court is hearing one case related to Rs 3.13 crore from the treasury of a place called Dumka, which is now in Jharkhand, between December 1995 and January Besides Lalu Prasad and Jagannath Mishra, 30 others are accused in this case. Prasad is already serving a jail term of 13.5 years in three fodder cases and is lodged in the Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi. Lalu Prasad was convicted in the first fodder scam case in 2013 and sentenced to jail for five years. The RJD chief was convicted by a special CBI court in a second case on December 23, 2017, and sentenced to three-and-half years in jail. Lalu Yadav was sentenced to jail for five years after being held guilty in a third case in January, related to money swindled from the Chaibasa treasury. He faces two more cases -- one in Ranchi and one in Patna. The fodder scam probe was handed over to the CBI on the Patna High Court's order. The bulk of the cases were transferred to Ranchi after Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in Panel For 30- pc A statement from the commission said the judicial officers working in the Delhi State Judicial Services would not be entitled to draw the proposed interim relief as they were already drawing salaries as per the scales recommended by the 7th Pay Commission. The Commission was set up following a Supreme Court order and its recommendation may come up before an Apex Court bench in the coming days Par: No Confidence Today was the 11th consecutive day that the proceedings were washed out and the second day that Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan could not take up the notices for no- confidence motion. While the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day within about ten minutes after it had assembled in the morning, the Lok Sabha was first adjourned till noon and then for the day after the listed papers were laid. The Lower House was adjourned for the day amid noisy protests by members from various parties, with Mahajan saying since the House is not in order, I will not be able to bring it I am sorry and then adjourning the proceedings. Amid the din, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government was ready for discussion on any issue, including on the no-confidence motion. The notices for the motion have been given by YSR Congress member Y V Subba Reddy and two members of the TDP Thota Narasimham and Jayadev Galla. Both parties have been demanding special package for Andhra Pradesh, an issue on which the TDP quit the ruling NDA alliance last week. As soon as the House met for Zero Hour after the Question Hour was washed out, members from TRS and AIADMK trooped into the Well carrying placards. While the TRS was demanding a rise in quota, the AIADMK was pressing for immediate setting up of the Cauvery river management board. Soon after papers were laid on the table amid unrelented slogan-shouting by members, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government was ready to discuss any issue. Some members have given notices for no-confidence motion and the government is ready for discussion on that as well, Singh said and requested all parties to cooperate so that the discussion can be taken up. The Speaker also repeatedly asked the more than 25 members from the AIADMK and TRS, who were protesting inside the Well, to return to their seats. As the uproar continued, Mahajan said she was duty-bound to take up the notices for no-confidence motion but could not do so as the House was not in order. Earlier during Question Hour, members from the TDP, YSR Congress, TRS and AIAD- MK protested over various issues, including the banking scam, leading to adjournment of the House till noon. Since March 5, when Parliament had reassembled for the budget session after recess, both Houses have been witnessing disruptions every day. Last week, the Lok Sabha had passed the Finance Bill and the appropriation bills without any discussion amid similar protests. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day without transacting any business after parties from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh disrupted proceedings over their state-specific demands. No sooner were the listed papers laid on the table, Andhra parties led by the TDP and KVP Ramachandra Rao of the Congress trooped into the Well shouting slogans for special status for the state, while Tamil Nadu parties DMK and AIADMK raised the Cauvery water issue.

11 SPORTS 11 Tuesday Sopore Super League Cricketers hail organisers for introducing longer format in times of T-20 fest MOHSIN KAMAL SRINAGAR: At a time when T-20 cricket is ruling the roost, cricket fraternity in North Kashmir s Sopore has decided to hold a tourney of relatively longer format. Kashmir is abuzz with T-20 tournaments with huge attraction, but cricket lovers in Sopore have come up with something different to make cricketers have a feel of matches with longer durations. Doing away with the most popular format of the sport, cricket fraternity will organise a tournament which will league matches spanning 35 overs per innings while knockout stages will have 40-overa-side matches. One of its kind, the organisers say Sopore Super League will be one of the massive tournaments North Kashmir has ever witness. They say it will feature as many as 45 teams across the valley with cricket fans getting a chance to see some of Kashmir s biggest stars in action. It will be played at four different venues comprising Sopore, Baramulla, Bandipora and Handwara. "The tournament will be played on robin-round cum knockout basis. League stage will comprise 35-over-a-side games while knockout games will be 40-over-a side fixtures, one of the organisers New Zealand Cricket invites Obama for England Test AUCKLAND: New Zealand s upcoming opening Test against England at Eden Park in Auckland could feature a former head of state. Black Caps Twitter account dished out a humble invite to former United States President Barack Obama to attend the opening Test that begins on Thursday at Eden Park. Ofcourse, they wish that should Obama attend, he wear a New Zealand jersey. In the tweet, the Black Caps wrote,.@barackobama we hear you re coming to NZ! Want to see something better than Baseball? Our NZ cricket team is englandcricket in a Test match from Thursday and we d you to come have a seat and a shirt all set up for you. The series comprising two Tests begins at Eden Park in a pink ball setting, under the lights, before moving to Hagley Oval in Christchurch on March 30. Obama, a popular figure across the world, will be making his first trip to New Zealand and lands Down Under on March 21. As per his itinerary, Obama is slated to meet New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, as well as past counterpart John Key before departing for Australia on March 23. Obama s relationship with the sport is sparse. Back in 2009, Obama met Brian Lara while in Trinidad for the Fifth Summit of the Americas where an invitation was extended to the former West Indies great from the White House. Obama was reported to have learnt about stance, forward defensive stroke as well as the cover-drive. He was then gifted a bat from Lara which read, To the President of the United States, Barack Obama, in appreciation of your visit to T&T. Best Wishes. Prior to the Test matches, New Zealand and England played a five-match ODI series which went down to the wire before England triumphed 3-2. (AGENCIES) told Kashmir Observer. The organisers reckon there is need of exposing youngsters to longer formats at a time when T-20 is making big strides. There are too many T-20 tournaments going around, but aspiring cricketers are being deprived of having a feel of longer formats. We are trying our level best to give cricketers opportunity to make their case in longer formats. We have started with over games. In future, we will try to expand tournament to long duration games, said another organiser. An curtain raiser event was held recently with big names of J&K cricket in attendance. Star fast bowler Abid Nabi, young batting sensation Haziq Bhat, all-rounder Auqib Nabi, Imran Haroon, former J&K fast bowler and current senior team coach Abdul Qayoom Bagow and current chief selector Parvez Qaiser was part of the opening ceremony. Cricketers were all praise for organisers to give young cricketers from the area chance to play relatively a longer format. "This league is something out of the box and I'll say a brilliant initiative to provide players some longer format cricket, Abid Nabi told Kashmir Observer. Imran Haroon echoed Abid Nabi s assertion. "We are here restricted to T-20 cricket and this league is surely something that really should be appreciated. The organisers are doing a great job by coming up these types of events," he said. FA Cup semis: United face Spurs, Chelsea take on Saints LONDON: A goal by substitute Pedro put Chelsea into the FA Cup semi-final with a 2-1 win away to Leicester City after extra time on Sunday. Earlier the home team s England international Jamie Vardy had equalised following Alvaro Morata s first goal of With no replays from the quarter-finals onwards, 30 extra minutes were required, in which Pedro headed in a cross by former Leicester midfielder N Golo Kante. Manager Antonio Conte, knowing this is his last chance of a trophy this season, must hope the victory is an omen. The previous three times Chelsea have knocked Leicester out, in 1997, 2000 and 2012, they won the competition. In the semi-final at Wembley they will face Southampton, the lowest placed of the four teams left. Morata finished well to open the scoring just before halftime after Riyad Mahrez lost possession and Willian instigated a swift counterattack and played the striker in with a perfect through pass. Left out of Spain s squad for two forthcoming friendlies after a run of poor form, the 58 million pound ($81 million) signing from Real Madrid had not been on the scoresheet since 26 Dec. In contrast it was Vardy s seventh goal in nine games in all competitions. After a spell of pressure, Mahrez put in a low cross and although Vicente Iborra was twice denied by blocks, Vardy clipped home the loose ball. Chelsea could have repeated their goal when Willian put Morata through again, Kasper Schmeichel bringing off a double save. In extra time, substitute Pedro missed for Chelsea but made amends when the Leicester goalkeeper was caught in no-man s land. Leicester caused us lots of problems but I think we did very well, said man-of-the-match Kante. Manager Conte was delighted with his team s performance after being knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona in midweek. A tough game but we knew this, he said. We must be pleased today. I saw a good performance and great character from my team. The win ended a run of five away matches without success and Chelsea will now be favourites to reach another FA Cup final. Losing the final to London rivals Arsenal last season cost them a Premier League and FA Cup double but they have won the trophy seven times, the last four of them between 2007 and Leicester manager Claude Puel felt his team deserved better and declined to blame Schmeichel. I can t say anything wrong about him he s a fantastic keeper, he told the BBC. Manchester United will play Tottenham in the FA Cup semifinals at Spurs temporary Wembley Stadium home. The draw Sunday saw last year s finalist Chelsea face Southampton in the other semifinal. Both matches will be played at Wembley over the weekend of April Wembley is the designated neutral ground for the semifinals and final but Tottenham is well accustomed to it after taking up temporary residence at the national stadium this season while its home at White Hart Lane is being redeveloped. The draw followed Sunday s quarterfinals where Chelsea beat Leicester 2-1 thanks to Pedro s extra time winner, and Southampton beat third-tier Wigan 2-0 in Mark Hughes first game in charge of the Saints. Twelve-time FA Cup champion Manchester United and Tottenham secured their passages to the semifinals on Saturday. United beat Brighton 2-0, and Tottenham defeated Swansea 3-0. (AGENCIES) Budgam Super League 2018 All-round Sajid Ali fashions LCC Labertal s easy win KO SPORTS DESK SRINAGAR: Sajid Ali starred with both bat and ball to power his side LCC Labertal to an easy win against Master- XI Ompora in their Budgam Super League 2018 fixture played at Sports Stadium Budgam on Monday. Thanks to half centuries from Sajid and Shabir, LCC Labertal managed to post a score of 176 for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Sajid made 53 while Shabir contributed a solid 51 to the total. Zahid Rasool, Aqib and Amir took a brace of wickets each for Master XI Ompora. Master XI Ompora s chase never got going Sajid Ali scything their batting lineup to have them bundled out for 121. Sajid after shining with the bat played a crucial role in defending the target taking four wickets for LCC Labertal. Zahid Rasool played a fighting knock of 55 but ended up in a losing side as none his teammates provided him any support. Sajid Ali for his all round performance was adjudged man of the match. Don t cross the line : Brett Lee backs aggression in cricket COLOMBO: Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee says emotion and aggression are part of the game and doesn t want to see robots on the field, but he warned against behaviour crossing the line. The ongoing Australia tour of South Africa has been marred by on-field altercations with South African speedster Kagiso Rabada appealing against a two-test ban for a shoulder barge on Aussie skipper Steve Smith in the second Test. The 41-year-old Lee, a fearsome fast bowler during a sparkling career for Australia from 1999 to 2012, told AFP that controlled aggression is good for the sport. The thing that I will say about that, in all honesty, is we don t want robots on the field, he told AFP ahead of the T20 tri-series final between India and Bangladesh in Colombo on Sunday. Of course, there is a line that the players should not cross, Lee added, without offering any judgement on the incident involving Rabada, whose appeal is due to be heard by the International Cricket Council later on Monday. You don t racially vilify someone. You don t use excessive swearing or stuff that can upset children who are listening in. Other than that you ve got to play hard cricket. He added: Now I am not saying I agree with what happened and I am not saying that I don t agree with what happened, but what I can say is that we don t want to get into a stage where players can t even look at a batsman, batsman can t even look at a bowler without getting into trouble. Rabada returned match figures of 11 for 150 at Port Elizabeth, an effort that was praised even by his opponents, but he stands to miss the final two Tests of the series, which is locked at 1-1, should his appeal fail. Lee, who would regularly bowl at speeds of over 87 miles an hour (140 kmph) during his peak, was full of praise for young Rabada s ability to bowl consistent lengths. He s good, I like him. Gets good shape on the ball, Lee said of the 22-year-old paceman who has already claimed 135 wickets in 28 Tests at an average of He comes around the wicket a fair bit to the left-handers, which I like and has got good pace and aggression and that s what you need, Lee said. (AGENCIES) Mohammed Shami's Pak friend Alishba denies money transaction NEW DELHI: After days of speculations, Alishba, a Pakistani citizen, has now admitted meeting Mohammed Shami in Dubai when he was returning from South Africa. Alishba also claimed that she has been in touch with Shami ever since India's defeat to Pakistan in ICC Champions Trophy final. One of the many allegations Hasin Jahan has made against her husband Shami was the involvement of the India cricketer in match-fixing. Hasin alleged that Shami met a woman in Dubai who was supposed to give him money sent by another person from Britain. "Alishba is a Pakistani citizen and Shami claimed that she gave him money. I have never been told by Shami for what purpose that money was given. I don't know but if he can fraud me he can fraud the country too," Hasin had said in an interaction with ABP News. "Yes, I met him," Alishba told ABP News. "I am a frequent flyer to Dubai because my sister stays in Sharjah. As a person, I really like Shami. As any fan that has idolised a celebrity, they always dream of meeting their idol. I had the desire to meet him (Shami) like any other fan would want to, which I don't think is a big deal," she added. "I respect him a lot as a person and we just became good friends...i came to know that he (Shami) was flying back home from South Africa via Dubai coincidentally I was also travelling there going to my sisters' place," Alishba continued. "I am one of his followers, which is how I became Shami's friend. Just like he has lakhs of followers, I am one among those normal fans. I have sent him messages..." Alishba said. Alishba though denied knowing any Mohammad Bhai, the alleged person from Britain. "I visited the hotel next morning at around 9 a.m. and had a breakfast with him [Shami]," she said. "I personally don't know Mohammed Bhai and have nothing to do with him and there was no involvement of money transaction between us. The person who does not even lie to anyone, how he can be disloyal to his country," Alishba said about Shami. Shami is currently the focus of an investigation of the Kolkata Police after Hasin accused the pacer and his family of domestic violence, attempt to murder and extra-marital affairs. She has also released an alleged recording of her telephonic conversation with the pacer during which Shami rejected the accusations of adultery and claimed that he met a woman named Alishba in Dubai who was supposed to give him money sent by a certain Mohammed Bhai from Britain. (Agenceis) From thoughts of retiring to winning maiden ATP Masters 1000 title, Juan Martin del Potro returns to top INDIAN WELLS: An emotional Juan Martin del Potro could barely believe he had finally won a Masters 1000 series title at the 51st attempt at Indian Wells but is determined to keep the trophies coming in his late career renaissance. The tall Argentine with a rocket of a forehand has endured years of injuryinduced heartbreak but on Sunday was back at the very top of the game, beating no less than Roger Federer in an enthralling Indian Wells final. It s so big, Del Potro said. I cannot believe I won this tournament, beating Roger in a great final and level of tennis. I m number six in the world, I think? Which is so good to me. And I m excited to keep working I just want to keep winning titles like this if I can. Del Potro was tipped as a future world number one in 2009 after the then 20-year-old reached the French Open semi-finals, the Australian Open quarter-finals before capturing his maiden grand slam at Flushing Meadows. He failed to break the dominance of Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray in the years following, though, and a string of career-threatening wrist injuries hampered his game and almost forced him to give up on tennis. I was close to quitting tennis because I had three surgeries on my wrist and I couldn t fix the problem, the 29-year-old recalled earlier this week at the BNP Paribas Open. I got depressed at home for a long while, and I wasn t happy doing the effort to recover my wrist. That s what I was thinking about, quitting tennis. But thank God I m here and healthy, and I m playing tennis again. I m doing this because I love it. The Argentine has regained form over the last two seasons but although he entered Sunday s final on a 10-match winning streak, he was still inevitably playing underdog to Swiss world number one Federer. Never short of fighting spirit even when his joints were unable to back it up, del Potro saved three match points and blew one of his own on the way to a victory that snapped Federer s 17-match winning streak this year. It was an unbelievable match in all ways. We played a great level of tennis. The people were excited on every single point, Del Potro said. Unfortunately, I couldn t stay calm in the tie-break of the second set, but then the calmness came again in the end of the match and I played good in the tie-break. Del Potro, who had already won his first title of the season at Acapulco earlier in March, will be looking for the 23rd of his career at next week s Miami Open. (AGENCIES)

12 12 TUESDAY Kashmir Observer India denies visa to Pak pilgrims for Ajmer Sharif, Islamabad disappointed New Delhi/Islamabad: Pakistan on Monday expressed disappointment at India for not issuing visas to more than 500 Pakistani pilgrims for visiting the famed shrine of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, which New Delhi said could not take place in view of the prevailing circumstances and absence of requisite security clearances. The visit was to take place under the 1974 Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines and is a regular annual feature, Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement. "Pakistan notes with deep disappointment the nonissuance of visas by India for the visit of the 503 Pakistani Zaireen (pilgrims) to participate in the Urs of Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti (RA) at Ajmer Sharif, India from March 2018," the statement said. Due to India's decision, the Pakistani pilgrims have been deprived of the opportunity to participate in the Urs, which is of special significance, it said. In New Delhi, sources said such visits are facilitated and promoted and visas granted after following due processes. However, from time to time, such visits cannot take place in view of the prevailing circumstances and absence of requisite security clearances. There have been instances in the past when such visits did not take place from both sides, they said. Earlier 192 Pakistani pilgrims could not participate in the Urs of Hazrat Khawaja Nizamuddin Aulia in Delhi from 1-8 January due to the non-issuance of visas by India, the FO said. It said that during 2017, despite Pakistan's offer to send a special train, Indian delays had resulted in Sikh yatrees (pilgrims) from India being unable to participate in the Martyrdom Anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev and the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In February, Pakistan had made all the arrangements for the visit of 173 Katas Raj Kangana Ranaut speaks about ban on Pakistani artists in India Actor Kangana Ranaut recently revealed she is a nationalist and feels that her progress as an individual is linked to her country s growth. Speaking at the News18 Rising India Summit, the Queen star also shared her take on the ban on Pakistani artists. And, it s certainly not something that most of her Pakistanis fans would want to hear. The actor weighed in on the controversy surrounding Pakistani artists working in India, stating the artistic world is different from the physical world. Artistic realm is different from physical realm. When you are talking about physical boundaries and you are talking about borders, why be esoteric. You should know about a place where people are losing lives, she said. At the time of ban on Pakistani artists, the country is vulnerable where people are struggling and trying to cope with emotions. The common sentiment is Humko kya Lena dena, hum toh artist hai. This is not going to work. Above everything, you are Indians as well, and when you are talking about boundaries, you can t go into an esoteric world and say I am an artist, Kangana added. The Simran actor said she does not believe in religion and has come to the conclusion that her only identity is that she is an Indian. As a youth, I want to see growth in my life. I have come to this conclusion that if India does not grow then I won t grow. I am an Indian and born an Indian. I have no other identity, she said. I said in some interview that I am a nationalist. People said oh you are that type of a person. I was like what do you mean by that kind? I personally feel that there is a confusion between these words. Before all of this, I hadn t even heard of the term nationalism. The good thing is that at least the word has got out. That there is a word like nationalism. You can have a choice whether you want to believe in it or not, Kangana said. Citing the example of Americans, she questioned why people in India have a problem with standing up for the national anthem. The Americans stand for their national anthem. Why do we feel ashamed of standing? If you want to learn something from Americans, then learn good things from them. Criticising those who whine about lack of infrastructure and cleanliness in the country, Kangana feels they should try and do something about it. I meet people and it has become a cool thing to say bad things about your country. I hear the youths always complaining and whining that the country does not have infrastructure and it is so dirty This attitude is not okay. If the country is dirty, then are you the guests? Why don t you clean it? pilgrims, who were "forced" to withdraw their applications from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi due to non-issuance of necessary clearance by the Ministry of External Affairs of India, the statement said. "Besides being violative of the bilateral Protocol of 1974 and the basic human right to religious freedom, such measures also undermine the efforts aimed at improving the environment, increasing people-to-people contacts and normalising relations between the two countries," the FO said. It was again "ironic" that India failed to issue visas on the occasion of Urs of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti who for centuries has been the symbol of bringing communities closer to each other, the statement added. Your iphone passcode can be easily unlocked with a little machine A company has manufactured a new gadget that can easily bypass Apple s secure iphone security systems. This also includes Apple s iphone X. The company is retailing the unit for just $15,000 each. Grayshift, a company who is manufacturing the device, is said to be selling the devices only to law enforcement firms. The device is known as GrayKey, and the unit has been in the news, reported by Malwarebytes. The device is a simple gray box with two Lightning cables at one end. Last year, this device started making news about how it could break into the iphone s security and bypass passcodes. The company based in Atlanta, Georgia, was founded in 2016 and is a private firm with less than 50 employees. Malwarebytes gained access to a photo of the device, and how it works, from an unknown source. The device is a gray box four by four by two inches in dimension and has two lightning cables sticking out from the front end. Two iphones can be connected simultaneously and are left connected for around two minutes. The iphones don t immediately open up, but after some time, the phones displays go black with the passcode and some more information displayed on it. The source said that the iphone cracking procedure takes around two hours each, and depends on the length of the passcode. He also mentioned that sometimes it can take up to three days or longer for 6-digit code-locked iphones. The company also states that disables iphones can also be cracked open with this gray box. Once the iphone is broken into, all the data/contents of the phone are then downloaded to the device itself. The data can then be accessed through a web-based interface, connected to a computer system. This data also contains fully unencrypted contents of the keychain. The device is said to work on the latest iphones and up to ios The $15,000 device requires an internet connection and is strictly locked on to the network it is authenticated to. This means that the device cannot operate on any other internet connection apart from the one it is registered to. The device has another variant which is retailing at double the cost ($30,000), which does not need an internet connection to operate and has no limitations to the number of iphones it can crack. The devices will operate till Apple takes charge and fixes the vulnerabilities this device takes advantage of. Observers OUT POST Google makes push to turn product searches into cash The US technology company is teaming up with retailers including Target Corp, Walmart, Home Depot, Costco Wholesale Corp and others. Google routinely fields product queries from millions of shoppers. Now it wants to take a cut of their purchases, too. The US technology company is teaming up with retailers including Target Corp, Walmart, Home Depot, Costco Wholesale Corp and Ulta Beauty. Under a new program, retailers can list their products on Google Search, as well as on the Google Express shopping service, and Google Assistant on mobile phones and voice devices. In exchange for Google listings and linking to retailer loyalty programs, the retailers pay Google a piece of each purchase, which is different from payments that retailers make to place ads on Google platforms. Google s pitch to retailers is a better chance to influence shoppers purchasing decisions, a move that is likely to help them compete with rival Amazon.com. Google hopes the program helps retailers capture more purchases on the desktop, cell phones and smart home devices with voice search the next frontier for e-commerce. The previously unreported initiative sprang from Google s observation that tens of millions of consumers were sending image searches of products, asking Where can I buy this? Where can I find it? How can I buy it? How do I transact? Daniel Alegre, Google s president for retail and shopping, told Reuters exclusively. Over the past two years, mobile searches asking where to buy products soared by 85 percent, Alegre said. But the current default choice for many consumers is a Google search that ends with an Amazon purchase, analysts said. The new Google program, Shopping Actions, will be available in the United States to retailers of all sizes and could help retail chains keep those customers. We have taken a fundamentally different approach from the likes of Amazon because we see ourselves as an enabler of retail, Alegre said. We see ourselves as part of a solution for retailers to be able to drive better transactions... and get closer to the consumer. For consumers faced with a surfeit of choices, the idea is to make online buying easier by giving them a single shopping cart and instant checkout a core feature of Amazon s retail dominance. Retail chains can also offer products through the Google Home voice shopping device, holding on to those who may be headed to Amazon for better deals and giving them personalized recommendations based on previous purchase history. For example, a shopper looking for sneakers on Google on his phone can see a retailer s listing and add that to his Google Express cart. Later, the customer can stand in the kitchen, and use the Google Home voice device to add paper towels to the same cart and buy everything at once. Retail partners saw the average size of a customer s shopping basket increase by 30 per cent, Alegre said, pointing to early results from the Shopping Actions program. Ulta Beauty s average order value has jumped 35 percent since partnering with Google, Chief Executive Officer Mary Dillon said. Ulta sells makeup and skin care products from brands such as MAC, Estee Lauder and Clinique. Over the past six months, Target said the number of items in shoppers Google Express baskets has increased by nearly 20 per cent, on average, as a result of its tie-up with the internet company. Enemy of my enemy is my friend The retailers are also eager to get in on the rapidly growing voice shopping market dominated by Amazon s popular Echo home device, analysts and consultants said. Both Walmart and Target last year struck deals to appear in search results via Google Home. Smart voice devices like Amazon Echo and Google Home will be installed in 55 per cent of US households by 2022, according to Juniper Research. Amazon s Alexa platform could generate $10 billion in revenues by 2020, a separate report from RBC Capital Markets estimated. Brands are looking at Google as the enemy of the enemy and that makes Google their friend, said Guru Hariharan, CEO of retail technology firm Boomerang Commerce, referring to the competition between Amazon and chains like Walmart and Target. Target shoppers love the ease and convenience of making their Target run without lifting a finger by using a voice interface, Chief Information and Digital Officer Mike McNamara said. This is just the beginning for Target and Google, he added. Target shoppers will soon be able to link their online account and loyalty card with their Google accounts and get 5 per cent off on purchases and free shipping, Mc- Namara said. Aamir Liaquat joins PTI at news conference in Karachi TV personality and politician Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain has joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at a joint press conference with the party chief, Imran Khan, in Karachi on Monday. The announcement was made after PTI leader Imran Ismail confirmed on Saturday that Hussain will join the party. The latter will announce his membership at a news conference with Imran Khan, he had said while speaking to a private TV channel. Addressing today s press conference flanked by Khan, Hussain claimed that the PTI will clean sweep the forthcoming general elections from Karachi. It feels as if I was already a part of the PTI this party is my final destination, said the former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader. I have not joined [Imran] Khan but I have joined Pakistan our joint fight will be against corruption, he added. Speaking earlier, the PTI chief said that Aamir Liaquat represented the youth of Karachi. We want to take people on board to bring the change Pakistan will not prosper until Karachi is developed, said Khan, adding that politicians learn from their past [and make the right decisions]. In October last year, the televangelist did not turn up at PTI leader Imran Ismail s residence to announce joining the party contrary to its claim a day earlier. Famous TV actor Abid Ali also announced joining the Imran Khan s party on the occasion. Hussain had parted ways with the MQM after a brief detention at Rangers headquarters in August He was detained along with nine other MQM leaders after party workers attacked media houses following the party s supremo Almond Blooms- The Crowning Glory Of Spring in Kashmir NAJWA SHABIR Srinagar:Ever wondered why spring is known as the season of rejuvenation? In spring especially in the month of March, the moist earth gives birth to new life. Flowers, grassand trees, everything is in full bloom. Everywhere one looks, signs of new life are clearly visible. The most pleasing of all are probably the pink and white almond blooms. During spring the whole valley of Kashmir gets decorated by the little pink and white flowers of the almond trees. After months of bonechilling cold, when locals are hurdled under blankets inside their houses, the arrival of spring gives them a reason to celebrate life. Outings are planned, songs are sung, sweets are distributed to welcome this season. The whole valley makes merry. In my childhood, we used to visit the famous spring festival held in the old Badamwari Park. There was singing and dancing. People would compete with each other as to who could eat more singhade (water caltrop), says Noor ul Islam, a local resident from Kashmir. The old Badamwari he refers to is the one which lost its sheen like many other culturally important places of the valley, due to the government s negligence. However thanks to the efforts of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, who restored it, people of Kashmir especially our younger generation still get to visit the Park and enjoy the almond blooms. Locals as well as tourists throng this place in spring to see these blooms, which are a sight to behold. Spring attracts a lot of tourists and most of them are very excited to see the almond trees full of flowers, says Imtiyaz Ahmad, a tour operator. A tourist from Mumbai, Sharmista Patil says, "We are taking back beautiful memories of the white and pink almond flowers with us. This place deserves to be called Paradise on Earth. I want to keep coming back here again and again, she said. Kashmir is known as the fruit Bowl of India. Around 60% of its total area is under fruit cultivation. Kashmiri almond is known for its taste and sweetness all over the world. The estimated area under Almond production is (ha) and produces about 10,000 (MTS) of almonds per year. However these trees which in spring bring glory to Kashmir and after ripening provide sweet delicious dryfruit are under serious threat. With the prize fluctuations and reduced produce, more and more people are converting their almond orchids into apple orchids. Earlier in spring we just had to climb our little hill and we would be surrounded by almond trees. Our kids would plan outings there and click photographs. But today we have to visit Badamwari in Srinagar to see any almond blooms. All the almond orchids have been replaced by apple orchids, says Tasleem Andrabi, a villager from Pulwama. It is imperative to take steps to save the almond trees because spring without almond blooms is simply unimaginable. Spring is spring, the season of joy, only because of these mesmerising blooms. Altaf Hussain s anti-pakistan speech. Speaking to the media the following day, Aamir said he was fed up with the party and the way it functioned and also announced that he was leaving politics for good. Since then, he has been hosting shows on private TV channels. He came to fore once again when the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) banned him from appearing on national television for preaching hate, a decision that was challenged by the Sindh High Court (SHC) but later upheld by the apex court of the country. Aamir has also served as minister of state for religious affairs in Shaukat Aziz s Cabinet between 2004 and Imran lambasts PPP, PML- N in Karachi Earlier today, PTI chief Imran Khan had blamed Sindh and Punjab police for completely destroying their respective provinces, Express News reported. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has been ruling since twenty years, the PTI chief stated while addressing an event in Karachi. He said that Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif were all corrupt leaders and that corruption ultimately meets its fate. Khan is currently in Karachi on a two-day visit. Salman Khan reveals first look for 'Race 3' MUMBAI: Superstar Salman Khan on Monday treated his fans to the first look from his much-anticipated film Race 3. He will be seen as racer Sikander, who is smart, emotional but also mysterious. With a serious look on his face, the actor is seen wearing a smart suit with stylish glares, holding a gun. I will introduce my Race 3 family to you this week. My name is Sikander. Selfless over selfish. Race 3 this Eid, Salman posted on Twitter while sharing the image. Directed by Remo D souza, Race 3 also stars Bobby Deol, Jacqueline Fernandez, Daisy Shah, Saqib Saleem and Anil Kapoor. Introducing our first racer, Sikander.. for him family isn t a word, it's a sentence! @tipsofficial Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) March 19, 2018 His co-stars got together to post different facets of Sikander s personality. Anil shared, Introducing our first racer, Sikander. For him, family isn t a word, it s a sentence. Jacqueline gave a hint of the storyline saying, Meet Sikander the mystery you can t solve. Meet Sikander, the mystery you can't solve..!! Is hafte milata hoon #Race3 ki family se mera naam hai Sikander. Selfless over Ax4 pic.twitter.com/gxu7vnhzsp Jacqueline Fernandez (@Asli_Jacqueline) March 19, 2018 Bobby defined his character as the perfect friend and perfect partner while Saqib Saleem wrote, He is faster than the head and the heart. Sikander.. the perfect friend, the perfect partner.#race- 3ThisEid MMhWYy Bobby Deol (@ thedeol) March 19, 2018 Co-presented by Tips Films and Salman Khan Films, Race 3 is produced by Ramesh S Taurani. Shot in Bangkok and Mumbai along with Abu Dhabi, the third installment of the Race franchise is slated to release in June around Eid this year.