Opinion

Article 370 abrogation triggered development, mindset change in J-K: Jitendra Singh

Jammu, May 25: Union minister Jitendra Singh said that the abrogation of Article 370 ushered in a new era of development in Jammu and Kashmir and brought about a significant change in the mindset of the people by making them equal citizens of India. Addressing a training camp under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Prashikshan Mahabhiyan-2026 at Lakhanpur in Kathua district on Sunday, Singh also highlighted the changes witnessed in the Union territory under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the past 12 years. The removal of Article 370 not only accelerated developmental activities but also instilled a renewed sense of self-confidence, self-esteem and aspirations among the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Singh, who represents the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency in J-K, said. On August 5, 2019, the government of India revoked the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution, bringing it fully under the constitutional framework of India. It also bifurcated it into two Union territories J-K and Ladakh. Over the last few years, young boys and girls from Jammu and Kashmir have overcome their fears and excelled in various fields across the country, Singh said. The minister also pointed out that while interviews for several Central government jobs were abolished across the country in 2016 to ensure transparency, the reform could not be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir due to Article 370. Referring to the Shahpur Kandi Barrage Project, the minister said it deserved special mention as it remained stalled for nearly four decades despite then-prime minister Indira Gandhi laying its foundation in 1984. Successive Congress governments left the project files untouched and failed to take it forward, he told reporters. Prime Minister Modi, at a public rally in Jammu in February 2019, announced the revival of the project, which had long been a demand of the people, he said. Today, the Shahpur Kandi Barrage Project has been completed. Very soon, another major multipurpose project, which had remained stalled for nearly a century, is also expected to become operational, he said. The revival of such projects would not only boost irrigation and agricultural productivity but also strengthen security by checking infiltration routes that had earlier been exploited from across the border, he added. Recalling the significance of Kathua, Singh said the district has remained an integral part of the ideological journey of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and later the Bharatiya Janata Party. He described the region as the Karmabhoomi of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and said the movement launched by him for democracy and nationalism had deep roots in the area. Kathua has remained the very soul of this journey. Remembering that legacy, we dedicate ourselves to the ideals and development vision pursued under Prime Minister Modis leadership, he said. Highlighting the development initiatives in the district, the minister said Kathua now has a medical college, an engineering college, and north Indias first homoeopathy college and industrial biotech park. A biodigester facility has also been established in the district, he added. Singh also said a statue of Syama Prasad Mookerjee had been installed for the first time in the area, while a gateway dedicated to Maharaja Gulab Singh has also been built. The establishment of a passport office and other institutions reflected the pace of development in the district, Singh said. He also claimed that Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed unprecedented infrastructure growth, with nearly 200 bridges constructed jointly by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), including landmark projects such as the Atal Setu and several cable-stayed bridges.

Muslim organisation urges community members to avoid slaughter of cows on Eid-ul-Adha

New Delhi, May 24: A Muslim organisation on Sunday urged community members to avoid slaughter of cows as sacrifice during Eid-ul-Azha, pointing out that in light of legal restrictions and apprehension of unrest, it is appropriate to offer another animal as a sacrifice. The All India Pasmanda Ulema Board (AIPUB) made the assertion in response to a query on offering sacrifice of animals. Undoubtedly, 'qurbani' (ritual of sacrifice) is an act of worship, and according to the Sharia, cow is indeed included among the animals permissible for sacrifice. However, in situations where there exists a legal prohibition imposed by the government, and where performing such a sacrifice carries the risk of inciting unrest, riots, threats to the lives and property of Muslims, or communal tension, then in compliance with the law, performing the sacrifice using other permissible animals is the course of action that aligns most closely with wisdom and prudence, AIPUB chief Ubaidullah Qasmi said. He said that in situations where legal restrictions exist or there is an apprehension of unrest, it is appropriate to refrain from offering a cow as a sacrifice. Muslims across the globe sacrifice animals as permitted by law in their respective countries as a symbol of the willingness and obedience to God that Prophet Ibrahim showed in offering his son Ismael as a sacrifice.

Tanvir Sadiq rolls out first Rs 3.45 Cr CDF installment for Zadibal

National Conference Chief Spokesperson and MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq on Sunday released the first instalment of constituency development funds (CDF) amounting to Rs 3.45 crore for various works across the Zadibal constituency after completing extensive all Halqa meetings throughout the constituency. The funds have been earmarked for development and upgradation of parks, sports facilities, Library, Bus stops, culverts, assistance to fire victims, transformers, roads, drains, beautification projects, and calligraphic landmark gates. Speaking in Rainawari Halqa on the occasion, Tanvir said that the purpose of conducting meetings at the grassroots level was to personally reach the doorsteps of the people, take direct feedback, and understand the priorities and pressing issues of every locality on the spot. He stated that this approach has helped in identifying genuine public concerns and ensuring that development works are carried out according to the actual needs of the people. Tanvir stressed that locals must actively monitor the quality of works being executed in their areas and immediately bring any shortcomings or irregularities to his notice so that corrective measures can be taken without delay. He reiterated that although Zadibal is areawise and population-wise is one of the biggest constituencies, he remains committed to transforming it into one of the best developed constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir. Highlighting ongoing landmark projects, Tanvir said that iconic calligraphic gates are under progress at several important locations including Bab-ul-Salam and Bab-ul-Noor at Hazratbal Dargah, Panjthan at Main Chowk Alamgiri Bazar, Bab-ul-Zahra at Gasiyar Chowk, Bab-ul-Sultan-ul-Arifeen at Rainawari Chowk, Khwaja Habibullah Nowshera (RA) at Nalbal, Mirza Kamil Sahib Chowk, and Bagh Ali Mardan Khan. He further stated that major sports infrastructure projects at GHSS Shri Bhat, Soura, and Boys School will be completed during the current year. He also announced that the long-awaited Public Health Engineering Centre at Zadibal is in its final stage, and the foundation stone will be laid very soon. Tanvir assured the people that sports grounds at Lal Bazar, Mir Behri, Waris Khan, Botachawni, and Anar Bagh will also be developed this year. Addressing the issue of space constraints in urban areas, he said that two community halls at Jogi Lanker and Bagwanpora are already under progress, while four new community halls are being initiated shortly at Gulshan Bagh and Kokerbagh areas. He also announced that the much-awaited road from Moti Mohalla to Kani Kachi will be started soon to ease public movement in the interior Dal areas. Referring to the recently completed Karam Shah Bridge, he said that the project has already provided major relief to the residents of interior Dal. He said that he is working tirelessly for the grant of a tourist village to Mir Behri Dal and will get that approved this year. Tanvir further stated that all Shikara ghats will be renovated and several major demands of houseboat owners are under active consideration. He added that drainage projects in Vicharnag and adjoining areas are being expedited, while major road widening projects at Nowshera, Soura, Akmal Bridge, Devi Angan, and Hawal are currently under process. He also said that the main chowk of Alamgiri Bazar will soon be decongested as the final stages of land acquisition have already been completed. In his concluding remarks, Tanvir thanked Omar Abdullah for his continued support towards the development of Srinagar and Zadibal. He also expressed gratitude to the people for their faith, patience, and support, and vowed to continue working tirelessly for the welfare and betterment of the people of Zadibal.

NTA defers May 28 CUET-UG 2026 exam; fresh dates soon

Srinagar, May 25: The National Testing Agency has postponed the CUET-UG 2026 examination scheduled for May 28, following a revised notification regarding the Eid Ul Azha holiday issued by the government. The decision affects candidates scheduled to appear on the said date, with revised examination dates to be announced shortly. The NTA has advised candidates to remain in contact with official channels for updates. Queries and clarifications can be directed to the NTA helpdesk at 011-40759000 or via email at [cuet-ug@nta.ac.in](mailto:cuet-ug@nta.ac.in).

Grand Majlis Hussaini held at Mughal Mark Zadibal, Aga Syed Hassan Mousavi Al-Safavi stresses on unity

A grand annual Majlis Hussaini was organised at Mughal Mark, Zadibal Srinagar, under the auspices of Anjuman-e-Sharie Shian Jammu & Kashmir to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (AS). Thousands of devotees and lovers of Ahlul Bayt (AS) from different parts of the Valley participated in the gathering and paid rich tributes to the noble grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), said a press release. Addressing the congregation, President of Anjuman-e-Sharie Shian, Hujjat-ul-Islam wal Muslimeen Aga Syed Hassan Mousavi Al-Safavi, highlighted the immense scholarly, intellectual, and religious contributions of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (AS). He stated that Imam al-Baqir (AS), during one of the most sensitive and turbulent periods in Islamic history, played a historic role in preserving and promoting the teachings of Ahlul Bayt (AS) and safeguarding the true spirit of Islam. Aga Syed Hassan said that Imam al-Baqir (AS) initiated a profound intellectual and educational movement in an atmosphere overshadowed by oppression and tyranny, ensuring that Islamic teachings remained protected from distortion and that the Muslim Ummah was introduced to the authentic interpretation of the Holy Quran and Sunnah. During his address, Aga Syed Hassan Mousavi Al-Safavi also paid glowing tributes to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah al-Uzma Syed Ali Khamenei, stating that the sacrifices of the martyrs continue to inspire the Muslim Ummah with the spirit of resistance, awakening, and steadfastness against oppression and global arrogance. He urged the younger generation to play a constructive role in promoting unity, brotherhood, and religious awareness within the Muslim Ummah.

Bilal Ahmad conferred with National Youth Icon Award in Telangana

A 26-year-old youth from Kashmir, Bilal Ahmad, has been conferred with the National Youth Icon Award by English House Academy in recognition of his inspirational journey from a daily labourer to an educator and motivator. The award was presented by internationally acclaimed motivational speaker and trainer Munawar Zama during the concluding ceremony of a summer camp held at Hidden Castle Resort in Telangana on May 22 of 2026. Bilals story is not merely a story of success but a story of resilience, sacrifice, determination and unstoppable passion. Bilal, who hails from a remote village in Kashmir, lost his father six years ago and reportedly worked as a daily wager to support his family while continuing his studies under difficult circumstances. While the world slept peacefully at night, Bilal spent his nights studying English grammar and phonetics under difficult circumstances. According to organisers, he spent his earnings on English grammar and phonetics books and pursued self-study despite financial hardships. In December 2021, Bilal joined a month-long residential Personality Development Workshop at English House Academy, where he emerged as one of the top performers among hundreds of participants. During the workshop, he secured several honours, including Star Performer of the Week, Star Speaker Award, Batch Topper Award and Gem of the Workshop Award. He was also presented Star Father and Star Mother awards in memory of his parents. Recognising his performance and dedication, the academy later appointed him as an Assistant English Trainer. He was subsequently elevated to the position of Chief Trainer owing to his contribution to teaching and mentoring students. Speaking on the occasion, Munawar Zama lauded Bilals remarkable dedication, exceptional commitment and contribution to nation-building through education and motivation. The event witnessed emotional scenes as participants and trainers described Bilal as an inspiration for youth. One of his colleagues, Tanveer Bhatt, said Bilals achievement had made Kashmir proud and hoped his story would inspire youngsters across the Valley. Bilals journey from hardship to national recognition was widely appreciated at the event, with speakers terming him a symbol of resilience and hope for the younger generation.

Mehbooba Mufti expresses shock over Budgam incident

Former Chief Minister and President of the Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party Mehbooba Mufti has expressed deep shock and anguish over the brutal murder of a minor girl in the Galwanpora area of Budgam, terming the incident heartbreaking and a grim reminder of the growing vulnerability of children and women in society. Taking to X, Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, Devastated to hear about the cold blooded murder of a 12 year old girl in Budgam. The allegations of rape just make it all the more shocking, disconcerting & unsettling. One shudders at the thought if our children are really safe. In a statement issued , Mehbooba Mufti said the horrific incident has shaken the conscience of every Kashmiri and demanded a swift, transparent and time-bound investigation to ensure exemplary punishment for those involved. The barbaric killing of an innocent child has left the entire society devastated. No words can ease the pain and trauma suffered by the family. Such incidents strike at the very moral fabric of our society and demand collective introspection alongside strict legal action, she said. Mehbooba urged the administration to conduct the investigation in a professional and impartial manner and ensure that justice is delivered without delay. She also called for stronger mechanisms to safeguard children and women, saying that rising incidents of violence and abuse cannot be allowed to become a disturbing new normal. Expressing solidarity with the bereaved family, she prayed for strength and patience for them during this difficult time and hoped that the perpetrators are brought to justice at the earliest.

NIA conducts multiple raids across Kashmir in terror crackdown

Srinagar, May 25: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday conducted raids at multiple locations across the Kashmir Valley in connection with an ongoing terror-related investigation. Sources said, that the searches were carried out simultaneously in several areas of Srinagar and other districts of the Valley as part of a crackdown on terror networks, overground workers and suspected terror-funding activities. NIA raids are underway at the banned JeI-linked Siraj-ul-Uloom in the Imam Sahib area of Shopian, as well as in Srinagar, sources said. They said NIA teams, assisted by the J&K Police and paramilitary forces, were searching residential premises linked to suspected individuals.(KNO)

Artisans join hands to revive Srinagars fading crafts

The fading crafts of Srinagar have got a new lease through Pyala initiative by Chaai Jai. Traditional crafts of Srinagar have long been seen as the soul of the Valleys cultural identity. From papier-mch and pashmina to wood carving and embroidery, these art forms once flourished inside homes, workshops, and local markets. But over the years, many of these crafts have slowly begun losing both visibility and value. Machine-made products, changing consumer preferences, low wages, and a growing disconnect among younger generations have pushed several artisans to the margins. This has forced many to leave behind skills that had been carried through generations. Despite the decline, efforts are to restore the crafts. In the narrow lanes of Downtown Srinagar, many women continue spending hours painting delicate naqashi patterns, stitching embroidery, and working on traditional handicrafts from their homes to support their families. For them, craft is not branding or aesthetics , it is livelihood, inheritance, and survival. The work is detailed and time-consuming, but often underpaid and overlooked. Initiatives like Pyala by Chai Jaai are trying to restore the diminishing crafts. Founded by Roohi Nazki, Pyala by Chai Jaai is trying to reintroduce traditional Kashmiri craftsmanship to the younger generation in a way that feels modern, functional, and personal. Instead of limiting the craft to decorative items, the initiative brings naqashi work onto cups, bowls, trays, handkerchiefs, and other everyday objects blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. But for Roohi, the idea was never simply about rebranding or reselling Kashmiri craft. We wanted to add value to what is already our legacy, she said. The idea was to innovate without losing the essence of the craft. Part of that innovation came through changing the medium itself. While traditional papier mch work was usually done on wood or paper pulp, Pyala introduced naqashi onto ceramics and trained local craftspeople in ceramic painting, creating products that are functional rather than only decorative, she said. Elaborating Roohi said inside the space, Kashmiri art no longer feels distant or museum-like. Hand-painted cups carry kahwa, bowls sit on caf tables, and Kashmiri art becomes something people interact with in daily life rather than simply admire from a distance. What we wanted was for people to actually use the craft, Roohi said. Not just see it as something old or decorative, but something that can still belong in modern spaces and modern lives. She says that the idea emerged from noticing how younger people appreciated handmade and cultural products but often felt disconnected from traditional Kashmiri crafts in their older forms. The goal was not to change the essence of papier-mch, but to present it differently so the craft could survive beyond nostalgia. The initiative also works with local artisans, many of whom have inherited these skills over generations. While the designs are being adapted for modern audiences, the handwork itself remains rooted in traditional techniques. There is global appreciation for handmade work today, Roohi said. The challenge is making sure our own crafts evolve without losing their soul. Social media and digital platforms have further helped Pyala expand beyond the Valley, introducing Kashmiri craftsmanship to audiences outside Kashmir and even internationally. But beyond business, the initiative reflects a deeper concern preserving a cultural identity that many fear is slowly fading. For many younger visitors, it becomes a reminder that tradition does not always survive by remaining untouched. Sometimes, it survives by finding space in modern life. And somewhere between steaming cups of chai, hand painted patterns, and conversations around Kashmiri culture, an old craft is quietly finding its way back into peoples homes and into a new generations memory.

J&K Sports Council to organise Cyclothon 2026 in Srinagar on World Bicycle Day

The Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council is set to organise Cyclothon 2026 in Srinagar on June 3, 2026, to mark World Bicycle Day, with the theme Ride for the Next Generation.' The event, as per an official statement, is being organised under the FIT India movement with the objective of promoting fitness, healthy living, and awareness about the benefits of cycling among youth and the general public. The cyclothon aims to encourage people to adopt cycling as a healthy lifestyle activity while spreading awareness about its role in fighting obesity, improving heart health, boosting fitness, and building immunity. The J&K Sports Council has invited cyclists, sports enthusiasts, fitness lovers to participate in the event in large numbers and make it a mass movement for health and wellness. Registration for the event has been opened, and participants can register through the QR code provided in the official promotional poster available on the J&K Sports Council's social media Facebook handle.

Govt committed to promoting sports culture, creating opportunities for young athletes: Satish Sharma

Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Information Technology, Science & Technology, Youth Services & Sports and Transport, Satish Sharma, on Sunday attended the closing ceremony of the BSF Jammu Region Lawn Tennis Spandan League 2026 held at the Tennis Court, SHQ BSF, Indreshwar Nagar, Miran Sahib, Jammu. Organised under the banner of BSFs Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the event marked an important milestone commemorating 60 years of dedicated and selfless service by the Border Security Force to the nation. The closing ceremony witnessed the participation of senior BSF officers, jawans, sports officials, athletes and distinguished guests. The tournament, which brought together the talented players and sports enthusiasts, reflected the values of discipline, endurance, commitment and healthy competition, qualities that resonate deeply with the ethos of the Border Security Force. Addressing the gathering, Satish Sharma, as per an official statement, expressed his gratitude for being part of the occasion and lauded the BSF for organising an event that combines sports with a larger social and national purpose. He said that sports are not merely about competition and winning medals but are a powerful medium for character building, social transformation and nation building. The Minister said that institutions like the BSF continue to inspire society through their dedication and discipline, both on and off duty. He observed that events like the Spandan League create opportunities for youth engagement and encourage values that are essential for building a healthy and progressive society. Speaking about his personal connection with the armed forces, Satish Sharma said that he has always carried immense respect for the sacrifices and unwavering commitment of soldiers who dedicate their lives to protect the nation. He stated that the values of discipline, service and duty exhibited by the men and women in uniform inspire generations and strengthen the nations social fabric. Emphasising the significance of sports in shaping the future of young people, the Minister said that sports provide a sense of purpose, confidence and direction. He observed that the playing field teaches discipline, teamwork and resilience while instilling a spirit of determination and healthy competition among youth. Satish Sharma expressed concern over the increasing challenge posed by drug abuse in Jammu and Kashmir and termed it a serious threat to society, particularly to the younger generation. He said that narcotics are targeting vulnerable youth and creating social and emotional distress across communities. Highlighting sports as one of the most effective deterrents against substance abuse, the Minister said that active participation in sports keeps young minds positively engaged and channels their energy towards productive and meaningful pursuits. Every young individual who chooses sports chooses discipline over addiction and determination over distraction. Sports create a sense of belonging and purpose, helping youth stay away from destructive influences, the Minister said. The Minister also underlined the importance of healthy lifestyle choices and balanced nutrition, especially for athletes and young people. He emphasised that fitness begins with proper dietary habits and urged youth to move towards healthier and natural food choices. Satish Sharma further observed that investing in sports infrastructure and youth development is an investment in the future of society. He reiterated the commitment of the government towards promoting sports culture, creating opportunities for young athletes and ensuring an enabling ecosystem for youth empowerment. Appreciating the efforts of the organisers, the Minister congratulated the organising committee, BSF officials and all stakeholders associated with the successful conduct of the tournament. He also acknowledged the support extended by the Sports Authority of India and Khelo India in encouraging sports excellence and creating pathways for emerging talent. Congratulating the winners and participants, Satish Sharma said that every athlete who stepped onto the court had already emerged victorious by embracing discipline, dedication and the spirit of sportsmanship. He encouraged youth to continue pursuing excellence and contribute positively to society. The Minister further reaffirmed that strong institutions, active youth participation and a vibrant sports culture together hold the key to building a healthier, stronger and drug-free Jammu and Kashmir. The ceremony concluded with prize distribution among the winners and participants amid enthusiasm and a renewed resolve to further strengthen sports culture and youth engagement in the region.

Choose Life, Not Drugs | Exhibition Cricket Match organised in Poonch

As part of the ongoing 100 Day Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan campaign, an Exhibition Cricket Match was organised here on Sunday at the sports stadium between teams of the district administration Poonch. The event, as per an official statement, was aimed at spreading awareness against drug abuse and encouraging youth to adopt a healthy, disciplined and positive lifestyle through sports and recreational activities. The match witnessed enthusiastic participation from officers and officials of the administration. The team of DC Office, led by ADC Tahir Mustafa Malik, emerged victorious after an exciting contest played in a spirited atmosphere.

New Mir Motors opens in Srinagar

A new Honda Sales, Service and Spares showroom, New Mir Motors, was inaugurated at Batmaloo in Srinagar. The inauguration ceremony welcomed residents, members of the business community, youth, and well-wishers as the new automobile outlet opened in the heart of the city. Speaking on the occasion, BJP State Executive Member and Co-Incharge Minority Morcha, J&K UT, Er. Aijaz Hussain Rather congratulated the management of New Mir Motors for bringing a reputed automobile brand like Honda closer to the people of Srinagar. He said such business ventures contribute to strengthening the local economy and generating employment opportunities for the youth of Jammu & Kashmir. He also appreciated the efforts of the promoters for introducing customer-oriented services and expressed hope that the showroom would emerge as a trusted destination for Honda customers across the Valley. The management of New Mir Motors thanked the dignitaries and guests for attending the inauguration and assured customers of quality sales, servicing and genuine spare parts facilities under one roof.

Pampore Traders Federation joins KTMF, new leadership pledges stronger trader unity

In a move aimed at strengthening grassroots trader representation, the Pampore Traders Federation on Thursday formally joined the Kashmir Traders & Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) during an oath-taking ceremony held in Pampore. The event witnessed participation from traders, office-bearers and representatives of various trade bodies, reflecting a spirit of unity and collective commitment toward safeguarding the interests of the business community. Abdul Majeed, recently elected as President of the Pampore Traders Federation, formally took oath along with members of the newly elected body. The oath-taking ceremony was attended by traders and office-bearers who reiterated their commitment to the welfare and upliftment of the trader fraternity. A KTMF delegation attended the event as special invitees. Acting on the directions of KTMF President Mohammad Yaseen Khan, federation representatives visited Pampore to participate in the ceremony and extend support to the newly elected leadership. The delegation included Bashir Ahmad Rather, Qazi Tauseef, Lateef Ahmad Sofi, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, Muzaffar Ahmad Jan, Rouf Ahmad Reshi (General Secretary, Traders Federation Pulwama), Haji Wali Mohammad Mir (Chief Patron, Traders Federation Pulwama), Bashir Ahmad Chat (Senior Member, Traders Federation Pulwama) and Riyaz Ahmad Bhat (Senior Member, Traders Federation Pulwama). Addressing the gathering, senior KTMF leader Bashir Ahmad Rather stressed the importance of trader unity, stating that strong federations play a key role in protecting the interests of the business community. He congratulated the newly elected body and expressed hope for its successful tenure. Speaking on the occasion, Rouf Ahmad Reshi, General Secretary of Traders Federation Pulwama, highlighted KTMFs role in consistently raising issues concerning traders before the government, financial institutions and other agencies. He said the federation has remained at the forefront of advocating policies and interventions aimed at strengthening trade and commerce. Meanwhile, Abdul Majeed thanked the KTMF leadership for attending the ceremony and said their presence would help further strengthen coordination between local trade bodies and the apex traders federation.

Dont rush into deal, there can be no mistakes: Trump

Washington, May 24: The US and Iran have largely negotiated a peace pact to end the nearly three-month war, US President Donald Trump said, asserting that he has told the negotiators not to rush into a deal and that both sides must take their time and get it right. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump said negotiations between the US and Iran were proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, but he told representatives ot to rush into a deal and hat time is on our side. Trump said the US blockade of ships in the Strait of Hormuz will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified and signed. Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes, Trump said. He also invited Iran to join the Abraham Accords, which deal with establishing diplomatic, economic and security ties between Israel and Arab nations. The Sunday morning remarks came a day after he announced on social media that the deal was largely negotiated, and that final aspects and details were being discussed and would be announced shortly. Trump said on Saturday that he had spoken with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, and Israel. The US President was in the Oval Office late Saturday night and had even skipped his son Don Jr.'s wedding in the Bahamas. Our relationship with Iran is becoming a much more professional and productive one. They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb, he said on Sunday. Trump also hit out at former President Barack Obama's 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and suggested that Iran could join the Abraham Accords. I would like to thank, thus far, all of the countries of the Middle East for their support and cooperation, which will be further enhanced and strengthened by their joining the Nations of the historic Abraham Accords and, who knows, perhaps the Islamic Republic of Iran would like to join, as well, Trump said. The US and Iran have agreed in principle to a deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz with a commitment from Iran to dispose of its highly enriched uranium, The New York Times reported quoting a US official. The official said on Sunday that a deal has not yet been signed and is still subject to final approval from President Trump and Irans Supreme Leader, which could take days. The mechanism by which Iran will dispose of its highly enriched uranium is still being negotiated, the official said. The deal does not address Irans missile stockpile, nor does it stipulate a moratorium on enrichment. The US official said those issues would be addressed in future negotiations. In previous rounds of negotiations, the US sought at least a 20-year commitment. The reports of the possible deal with Iran received mixed responses from leaders across the political aisle. Congressman Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, said on Sunday that he would support a short-term deal with Iran, but lamented that it had not happened already with a war powers measure to end the war. We would have avoided this war, food prices wouldnt have gone up, gas prices wouldnt have gone up, Khanna said on NBCs Meet the Press. Even when we dont get a vote through, we do put pressure on the president. Ive always said I would support a negotiated end to the war, Khanna said. Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, criticised the Trump administrations reported attempts to negotiate a 60-day extension to the ceasefire with Iran. He told CNN that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had assured members of Congress 11 weeks ago that they had obliterated Irans defences. Now were talking about a posture where we may accept the nuclear material remaining in Iran? How does that make sense at all? Tillis asked. He also said it was questionable that Iran would end its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz before the terms of the deal were established. There are a lot of things that need to be explained, he said. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said if, in fact, Arab and Muslim allies in the region agreed to join the Abraham Accords as a result of these negotiations to end the Iranian conflict, it would make this agreement one of the most consequential in the history of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan joining the Abraham Accords would be beyond transformative for the region and world. It is a brilliant move by President Trump, Graham said.

I am a big, big fan of PM Modi; India can count on me 100 pc: President Trump

New Delhi, May 24: India can count on me 100 per cent, US President Donald Trump said on Sunday night, calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a great friend during an event celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence. The event at the Bharat Mandapam here was graced by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Ambassador Sergio Gor. The highlight of the event was a performance by A R Rahman. I just want to say hello to everybody. I love the Prime Minister, (Narendra) Modi is great, he is my friend and I just want to say a very good evening to everybody, Trump said in a phone conversation with Gor. I am a big, big fan of Prime Minister Modi, he said. The US ambassador held his phone to a microphone for the audience to hear Trump's remarks. We've never been closer to India and India can count on me 100 per cent and our country, the US president said. If they ever need help, they know where to call -- they call right here. Trump also claimed that the US economy was doing well. We're doing well, were setting records. We've a record economy, a record stock market, he said. The highlight of the evening was Rahman's performance as he sang hits such as Dil Se, Maa Tujhe Salaam and Tere Bina. In his remarks, Trump also described Rubio as the greatest secretary of state in the history of the US and concluded by saying: Say hello to Prime Minister Modi and let him know I'm a big fan. In his brief address, Rubio described India as a key partner of the US. Jaishankar said the US declaration of independence articulated ideas that shaped the modern world such as individual liberty, rule of law, free speech and accountable governance, and their resonance in India was natural given the country's history as a pluralistic society with a consultative ethos. The experiences of the US independence movement were taken into account by the makers of India's Constitution and the affinities between the two sides have grown with deeper economic and technology ties, Jaishankar said. The shared traits of being political democracies, market economies and open societies have been strengthened by a convergence of national interests and this has enabled the two sides to overcome the hesitations of history, the external affairs minister said. The Indian diaspora in the US has helped build political understanding between the two countries, he noted. Jaishankar argues that the world is going through an era of transition and it makes a good case for the India-US relationship to grow stronger. Both nations gave a common interest in de-risking the global economy and providing the world with more choices, he said. There was also a celebration of Rubio's birthday and the evening was capped by a performance by the American band Village People.

Club rules need not apply: Reclaiming 'commons' on which Delhi Gymkhana Club stands must be a start for other such returns

The government has taken control of Delhi Gymkhana Club. This action highlights issues of nepotism and valuable land in other elite clubs across India. Many of these clubs, established during the British Raj, now operate on hereditary membership. This practice grants automatic membership to descendants, limiting access for others. The government's move challenges this system of inherited privilege.

Hantavirus scare a wake-up call: Why India must build its disease X defences

A recent hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship echoes past pandemic scares. Experts warn Disease X, a future unknown pathogen, is a near certainty. This virus jumps from animals to humans. India faces challenges due to high human-animal contact. Prevention, not just response, is crucial. Better sanitation and consistent surveillance are needed to prepare for future threats.

11 test pilots, 6 flight engineers pass out from Air Force Test Pilots School in Bengaluru

France bans Israel's Ben-Gvir from entry

New Delhi, May 24: Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has been placed under travel ban by France. It banned Ben-Gvir following global outrage over his posting of a video mocking detained activists on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. French Foreign Minister Jean-Nol Barrot announced that Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from entering the French territory. This decision was driven by anger over Ben-Gvir posting a video of himself taunting bound and kneeling European and French citizens who were part of the Global Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla, As of this day, Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from accessing French territory, Barrot said in a statement. Barrot also called on the European Union to impose sanctions on Ben-Gvir, echoing a similar appeal made by his Italian counterpart. Ben-Gvir, a far-right member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition government, has previously drawn international criticism over comments about Palestinians and the war in Gaza among other things. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom have also enacted travel bans and assets freezes t on Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. These actions were implemented in response to the ministers' incitement of violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

LoP should take care of his constituency first before making remarks on CM: Tanvir Sadiq

CM Omar visits Mawar to offer condolences to MP Er Rashid, MLA Sheikh Khursheed

Search for terrorists intensifies in JK's Rajouri after encounter, more troops deployed

Feared Ladakh Would Become Another Manipur, But Recent MHA Talks A Positive Shift: Wangchuk

New Delhi, May 24: The recent talks between Ladakh representatives and the Centre marked a positive step, activist Sonam Wangchuk said, though he cautioned that trust-building in the region remained incomplete, citing unresolved cases from last years protests, seizure of personal devices and action against institutions linked to the movement. In an interview with news agency on Saturday following the latest round of discussions with a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sub-committee, Wangchuk said he noted a shift in his [] The post Feared Ladakh Would Become Another Manipur, But Recent MHA Talks A Positive Shift: Wangchuk appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Minor girls death prima facie case of rape, murder: SSP Budgam

WHS Sports Hub Successfully Hosts Prestigious 2-Day Golf Cup in Srinagar

CM Omar Abdullah Visits Residence Of MP Er Rashid, Expresses Condolences

LANGATE (HANDWARA), May 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today visited the residence of Member of Parliament Er Rashid and MLA Langate Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh to offer his heartfelt condolences on the demise of their father, Khizar Mohammad Sheikh, who passed away last week after a prolonged illness. Khizar Mohammad Sheikh, 85, breathed his last at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi where he had been undergoing treatment. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Minister Javid Ahmed Dar, Member [] The post CM Omar Abdullah Visits Residence Of MP Er Rashid, Expresses Condolences appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

LG Saxena Launches Ecological Restoration Project To Reclaim 800 Acres Of Barren Land In Ladakh

LEH/JAMMU, May 24: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday launched an ambitious ecological restoration project to reclaim nearly 800 acres of barren land near Spituk and transform it into a productive ecosystem through innovative freshwater recharge techniques. This was a major initiative launched by the LG aimed at reversing land degradation in the cold desert region of Ladakh. Officials said that the pilot project has been undertaken on the directions of the LG Saxena after identifying around 800 acres [] The post LG Saxena Launches Ecological Restoration Project To Reclaim 800 Acres Of Barren Land In Ladakh appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

US GoPro Shipped To China Traced To Lashkar Terrorists, NIA Ascertaining Supply Chain: Officials

PAHALGAM, May 24: Even as the NIA has filed a comprehensive chargesheet in the Pahalgam terror attack, investigators are aggressively tracing a global supply chain to determine how a US-manufactured GoPro camera supplied to China ended up in the hands of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit, senior officials said on Sunday. The high-tech camera recovered from the terrorists, who were neutralised in an encounter in Dachigam forests last July following the attack, has opened a critical new line of inquiry into [] The post US GoPro Shipped To China Traced To Lashkar Terrorists, NIA Ascertaining Supply Chain: Officials appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

LG Manoj Sinha interacts with NCC Cadets at Special National Integration Camp

Srinagar, May 24: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today attended the Special National Integration Camp organised by National Cadet Corps (NCC) Directorate, Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. During his interaction with NCC cadets from across the country, the Lieutenant Governor emphasised that this special camp is a living symbol of Indias spirit, where every cadet is not just witnessing history but actively shaping it. India places its hope and confidence in its youth, trusting that the young generation will lead the nation to greater heights. NCC cadets must honour that trust by living the values of the NCC and spreading across communities, the Lieutenant Governor said. The Lieutenant Governor said that for India, diversity is the greatest strength and for many centuries, our greatest strength lies in turning diversity into unity, weaving many cultures into one shared national spirit. The values of unity in diversity and the leadership qualities you have learned at this camp must be put to use in improving society. Equally important is the seed of patriotism sown here must be carried forward with full responsibility and dedication to the youth in your states and cities, the Lieutenant Governor told the NCC cadets. The Lieutenant Governor observed that the youth of the NCC are both Indias strength today and the builders of its tomorrow. He said the youth are inheriting a world of rapid change, which may unsettle many nations but Indias youth are full of confidence, equipped with skills to rise to meet these challenges with courage and capability. I want to emphasize that NCC cadets possess a remarkable creative energy and a strong readiness to move forward. I want that energy to be channeled with clear purpose so you can stand firm against every challenge the future brings. The NCC motto is Unity and Discipline. Guided by this ideal, you should work to foster unity in your states and regions, resolve social problems through dialogue and respect, and build a path for Viksit Bharat, the Lieutenant Governor said. The event featured captivating performances by NCC cadets, vividly showcasing India's rich cultural diversity. The camp brings together 340 cadets and NCC officers from all over the country. Lieutenant General Virendra Vats, Director General, National Cadet Corps (NCC); Lieutenant General Balbir Singh, GoC, Chinar Corps; Major General Anupinder Bevli, Additional Director General NCC J&K and Ladakh Directorate; Major General Abhijit Mitra, GoC 31 Sub Area; Shri Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Dr. GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, SSP Srinagar; Shri Akshay Labroo; Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar; Shri Naseer Ahmad Wani, Director School Education Kashmir; Prof Sheikh Aijaz Bashir, Director Colleges, senior officials of NCC Directorates, Army, Police and civil administration, NCC Cadets from across the country were present.

Department of Consumer Affairs expands scope of GATC; verification of CNG, LNG and hydrogen dispensers enabled

New Delhi, May 24: The Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has amended the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013, to further strengthen Indias legal metrology ecosystem and expand the countrys verification infrastructure for weights and measures. Five New Fuel Dispensing Systems Brought Under GATC Framework A key feature of the amendment is the expansion of the scope of Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs) to include verification and re-verification of additional fuel dispensing systems. The move is expected to enhance the availability of verification services, improve efficiency and support the growing adoption of cleaner fuels across the country. Under the amended Rules, the following five categories of dispensing systems have been added to the list of instruments that can be verified by GATCs: Petrol/Diesel Dispensers CNG Dispensers LPG Dispensers LNG Dispensers Hydrogen Dispensers With the inclusion of these instruments, Government Approved Test Centres can now undertake verification and re-verification of a total of 23 categories of weights and measures under the Legal Metrology framework. Supporting Clean Fuel Infrastructure The inclusion of CNG, LNG and Hydrogen dispensers under the GATC framework comes at a time when the use of cleaner fuels is increasing across the country. The measure will help ensure accurate fuel delivery and greater transparency in transactions. Expanding Verification Capacity Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs) are approved facilities with the required infrastructure and technical expertise to undertake verification and re-verification of specified weights and measures under the Legal Metrology Act and Rules. By involving qualified private laboratories and industries, the GATC framework helps expand the country's verification capacity and improve access to verification services. Greater Flexibility and Faster Processing The amendments empower State Governments to notify additional categories of weights and measures for verification through GATCs under their respective Rules. This will help expand verification services based on local requirements. To improve administrative efficiency, officers of the rank of Joint Secretary and above have also been authorised to exercise powers under relevant provisions of the Rules, enabling quicker processing of approvals and related matters. Verification Fees Notified Under the amended Rules, the verification fee for Petrol and Diesel dispensers has been fixed at 5,000 per nozzle, while the fee for CNG, LPG, LNG and Hydrogen dispensers has been fixed at 10,000 per nozzle. Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs) are already playing an important role in providing timely and reliable verification services for weighing and measuring instruments across the country. The expanded scope of GATCs is expected to further strengthen India's verification infrastructure, improve service delivery and reduce delays. The reforms will also enable State Legal Metrology Departments to focus more on inspection, enforcement and consumer grievance redressal. The initiative supports the Government's vision of technology-driven governance, transparency in trade practices and Atmanirbhar Bharat, while strengthening India's metrology system in line with global best practices and recommendations of the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML). Categories of Weights and Measures Verifiable Through GATCs Existing Categories (18) Water Meter Sphygmomanometer Clinical Thermometer Automatic Rail Weighbridges Tape Measures Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments of Accuracy Class III (up to 150 kg) Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments of Accuracy Class IIII Load Cell Beam Scale Counter Machine Weights (All Categories) Gas Meter Energy Meter Moisture Meter Vehicle Speed Meter Breath Analyzer Multi-Dimensional Measuring Instrument Flow Meter Newly Added Categories (5) Petrol/Diesel Dispenser CNG Dispenser LPG Dispenser LNG Dispenser Hydrogen Dispenser

Delhi Red Fort blast: NIA chargesheet reveals abuse of AI platform for 'terror engineering'

NIA investigation into the Red Fort car blast uncovers a disturbing use of artificial intelligence for terror engineering. Accused individuals allegedly developed and tested rocket Improvised Explosive Devices in Jammu and Kashmir. The probe details a meticulous approach to IED fabrication. This case highlights the evolving methods of terrorist groups.

Minor girls death in Budgam: 5-member SIT formed, all angles being explored, says SSP Hari Prasad K.K

Srinagar, May 24: Police on Sunday constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death of a 12-year-old girl whose body was recovered near her residence in Galwanpora area of Budgam hours after she went missing, officials said. Senior Superintendent of Police Budgam K K Hari Prasad said that a five-member SIT has been constituted to investigate the case. We have already constituted a five-member Special Investigation Team. Her post-mortem examination has been conducted. As soon as the doctors detailed report comes, we will add other relevant sections of law, SSP Hari Prasad said. He further said that, Right now, it is a kidnapping and murder case. As soon as the doctors detailed examination report comes, we will also explore the sexual assault angle. All angles are being explored, he added. Meanwhile, Budgam Police in an official statement issued to JKNS said that on May 23, 2026 at around 10:00 PM, Police Station Budgam received information regarding the disappearance of a minor girl aged about 12 years from her residence during evening hours. Acting promptly on the complaint, police registered FIR No. 139/2026 under relevant sections of law and immediately launched an extensive search operation. Police said that during the early morning hours on Saturday, the body of the minor girl was recovered at a short distance from her residence, following which medico-legal and investigative formalities were initiated. The SIT constituted for the investigation is functioning under the supervision of Shri Sajad Ahmad-JKPS, DySP Headquarters Budgam, police said. The investigation team is examining all possible angles to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident and assures that the investigation shall be carried out in a fair, transparent and professional manner, the statement reads. Police also appealed to media organizations and the public, particularly social media users, not to reveal the identity or photograph of the minor, stating that disclosure of such details is prohibited under law. The general public is requested not to circulate unverified information or indulge in speculation regarding the matter, as such actions may hamper the investigation and cause unnecessary distress, police added. (JKNS)

Rahul Gandhi urges party's Muslim leaders to raise issues concerning their community

New Delhi, May 23: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday urged Muslim leaders of the party to vociferously raise issues concerning their community and to work towards enhancing their representation. Sources said that during a meeting of the advisory council of the party's Minority Department, Rahul Gandhi said that if injustice is done against a Muslim, one should raise their voice specifically as a 'Muslim', rather than merely as a member of a 'minority' group. Similarly, he emphasised that if Dalits, OBCs, or members of the general category face attacks, the issue should be raised by explicitly identifying that specific community. Rahul Gandhi's direct message was that the Congress party should not shy away from using the word 'Muslim'. It has often been observed these days that instead of explicitly saying 'Muslim,' people tend to use the term 'minority', a leader present at the meeting said. Sources further said Gandhi also stressed the need for the Congress party's Minority Department to create a platform that ensures adequate participation for the community within the party structure. According to sources, while touching upon the issue of vote theft, he said that former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had previously not aligned with the Congress on this matter, but has now called for a movement against it. He also remarked in the context of the Assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam that these elections were not conducted in a free and fair manner. Sources said that citing the country's current economic situation, the former Congress president claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi lacks the capability to effectively manage the situation over the long term.

LoP making below the belt remarks: DyCM

Jammu, May 23: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Saturday took exception to, what he alleged, below the belt remarks of the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in J&K Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma about the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. He (Sunil) is Leader of the Opposition. Such below the belt remarks dont behove him. His criticism of the Chief Minister is very unfair. LoP, himself, remained missing for around two months during the J&K budget session. He was away in Assam. We did not raise any objection. We did not ask him where he was. Precisely, in healthy politics, there should be no place for below the belt remarks, Choudhary said, while responding to a media query on the sidelines of an official event, about LoPs statement that BJP would file an FIR vis-a-vis missing Chief Minister. Whenever LoP launches a verbal assault against the Chief Minister, he makes below the belt remarks. This is not done. We both, LoP and myself, come from very humble backgrounds. We should be thankful to the Almighty that with His blessings we have reached such respectable posts. We need to maintain the dignity of our positions, the Deputy Chief Minister stated. He rubbished, what he said, the oppositions missing CM propaganda and asserted that the Chief Minister had informed the relevant quarters, before leaving. In the same breath, he threw a string of posers. Does the Chief Minister need to seek permission from the LoP before going anywhere? This is an absurd proposition. As far as the Chief Minister is concerned, he is not missing. He (CM) took the entire cabinet into confidence. During the cabinet meeting, when even the Chief Secretary (CS) was there CM informed all of us that he had some personal engagement and he would be away for a few days. What wrong did he commit? Choudhary questioned. He reiterated that the Chief Minister had informed the relevant quarters - his cabinet colleagues. Does he need to make a public announcement? Should he announce it in a press conference? As per propriety, he informed the relevant persons (cabinet, CS) at the proper platform. LoP and his party BJP are in the habit of threatening people with FIRs and other intimidating measures. There are no takes for these tactics here. The Omar Abdullah government cannot be intimidated by such frivolous statements. We dont need to inform them about our every move. Likewise, they (BJP) dont need to tell us. In fact, we dont ask, the Deputy Chief Minister said. When asked about LoPs another statement that the National Conference government led by Omar Abdullah would not last long and would fall on its own given the simmering discontent within the party among its MLAs, Choudhary said that he and his party were fed up with such rhetoric of the LoP. There is no threat to the Omar Abdullah government. He (LoP) should not bother about us. As far as his statement is concerned that NC MLAs are dissatisfied leading to disintegration of the party and ultimately the fall of government, our simple proposition is Those MLAs, who are in touch with him or are ready to sell; LoP can buy them. Let the government fall- well see. He (LoP) wants to indulge in horse-trading. Let him, we are not afraid. But we are fed up with his everyday boasting. We are averse to his rhetoric. Let him do what he wants, we dont care, the Deputy Chief Minister dared LoP. On May 22, LoP Sunil Sharma had asserted that the NC government would disintegrate on its own and would not be able to complete its term. Im not a broker that I should remain in touch with the dissidents (of a political party). Im the Leader of Opposition so I dont need to coordinate with any dissident. But Im a political animal. I live in J&K and we, too, have our own sources of information. Hence, I reiterate that this government will disintegrate for sure. Im asserting here that it will not be able to complete its full term, at any cost, Sharma had claimed. RAINAS COCKROACH ACT WARNING TO YOUTH Referring to a video featuring his political bete noire and former J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina, crushing a cockroach, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary claimed that it was a symbolic act to ridicule youth of J&K and other parts of India. Youth have recently generated a movement identifying themselves with cockroaches a name given to the unemployed youth. Raina through his act was showing that anyone, who would raise a dissenting voice against them, would be crushed like a cockroach, he alleged. Choudhary had defeated Raina from Nowshera assembly segment in the 2024 elections. Taking dig at Sunil Sharma and other BJP leaders for alleging that even the residence of NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah in Bhatindi was constructed on the encroached forest land, the Deputy Chief Minister said, They (BJP) are known for their holier than thou approach. They pose that only they are above the board, rest everyone else is corrupt. I request the Lieutenant Governor to order an ACB raid on the residence of Raina and his brother. Ask him how his brother created so much wealth, he said.

WHO declares Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern

New Delhi, May 24: In light of the reported outbreaks of Ebola Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, the World Health Organization (WHO), under the International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005, on 17 May 2026, determined the situation to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has also officially declared the ongoing outbreak of Bundibugyo strain Ebola Virus Disease affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS). Further, the WHO IHR Emergency Committee on 22 May 2026 issued temporary recommendations to strengthen disease surveillance at Points of Entry to detect, assess, report and manage travellers with unexplained febrile illness arriving from areas with documented Bundibugyo virus detection while also discouraging travel to areas with documented Bundibugyo virus detection. Countries bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, including South Sudan, are assessed to be at high risk of disease transmission. Ebola Disease is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by infection with the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola Virus. It is a serious disease with a high mortality rate. At present, no vaccines or specific treatments have been approved to prevent or treat Ebola Disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain. India has not reported any case of Ebola Disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain. In view of the evolving situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other affected countries, and in line with WHOs recommendations, Government of India advises all Indian citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan until further notice. Indian citizens currently residing in or travelling to these countries have been advised to strictly follow public health guidance issued by local authorities and maintain heightened precautions.

JKCSF, JKPUF express concern over delay in salaries, pensions ahead of Eid-ul-Azha

Srinagar, May 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Forum and Jammu and Kashmir Pensioners United Front , under the chairmanship of Abdul Qayoom Wani , have expressed deep concern and anguish over the non-release of salaries to government employees, pensions of retired employees, wages of temporary and casual workers, and long-pending payments to contractors ahead of the sacred occasion of Eid-ul-Azha In a joint statement, the organisations termed the situation highly unfortunate and insensitive, especially at a time when lakhs of families across Jammu and Kashmir are preparing for one of the most important religious festivals of the Muslim community. Eid-ul-Azha is not merely a festival but a sacred occasion associated with sacrifice, compassion, charity and collective happiness. Denial or delay of legitimate financial dues at such a crucial time has pushed thousands of families into severe emotional and economic distress. The organisations said that despite repeated appeals from civil society groups, employee unions, pensioners, contractors and various social organisations, the government has failed to respond seriously to the genuine concerns of the people. They stated that where there is a will, there is always a way, and similar measures had been taken in previous years whenever Eid fell after the 21st of the month. The statement particularly highlighted the plight of low-paid workers including Anganwadi workers, cooks, contingent paid staff, daily wagers, AAYAs, ASHA workers and other temporary employees whose wages have remained unpaid for months together. According to the organisations, these economically weaker sections are facing unbearable hardship during a period when household expenses rise significantly due to Eid preparations. JKCSF and JKPUF further said that contractors and small business owners are also suffering because of the non-clearance of pending bills. The continued delay in payments has badly affected the market economy in Jammu and Kashmir. Small traders, shopkeepers and local business establishments are among the worst affected, as purchasing power among the common people has sharply declined. The organisations criticised the government for allegedly prioritising enhancement of privileges and facilities for legislators and VIP institutions while ignoring the pressing concerns of employees, pensioners and common citizens. They maintained that timely release of salaries and dues is not a favour but a legitimate right of the people. Abdul Qayoom Wani stated that if the government had shown seriousness and commitment towards public welfare, temporary financial arrangements could have been made through institutional support mechanisms, including short-term banking arrangements, to ensure release of salaries before Eid. He added that failure to do so reflects administrative insensitivity towards the aspirations and emotions of the people. The organisations urged the administration to immediately release all pending salaries, pensions, wages and contractors payments without further delay so that families may celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with dignity, peace and a sense of security.

Abdul Ahad Dar, brother of Chadoora MLA, breathes his last

Budgam, May 24: Abdul Ahad Dar, younger brother of Chadoora MLA Ali Mohammad Dar and a resident of Doniwara Chadoora in central Kashmirs Budgam district, passed away on Saturday morning, family sources said. Family sources said that the younger brother of the Chadoora MLA, breathed his last this morning. His demise has sparked grief and sorrow across the area, with political leaders, relatives and well-wishers expressing condolences to the bereaved family. People from different walks of life prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul and strength for the family to bear the loss. (KNO)

Missing 12-year-old girl found dead in Budgam field

Budgam, May 24: A minor girl who had been missing since Saturday was found dead in a nearby field in Galwanpora village of central Kashmirs Budgam district on Sunday morning, officials said. An official said that the girl had gone missing on Saturday, prompting family members and local residents to launch a search operation. He said the body was recovered from a nearby field on Sunday, triggering shock and grief across the area. Meanwhile, police have reached the spot and taken cognizance of the incident. Legal proceedings have been initiated and further investigation is underway.(KNO)

A 9-storey building under construction in Philippines collapses, possibly trapping dozens of workers

Manila, May 24: A nine-storey building under construction in a city north of the Philippine capital collapsed early Sunday with 22 workers managing to get out while dozens of others remain missing, police and other officials said. The building collapsed before dawn during a thunderstorm in Angeles City in Pampanga province, north of Manila. More than 100 police and other government personnel were scrambling to rescue those believed trapped in the rubble, police Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez said. Mendez could not immediately say how many workers were trapped in the collapsed building. But Jay Pelayo, who heads Angeles City's information office, said at least 30 workers may still be trapped in the rubble, citing a construction foreman who managed to dash out of the building as it tumbled down. Angeles City used to host one of the largest US Air Force bases outside of the American mainland until it closed in the early 1990s, helping develop Clark and outlying cities and towns into entertainment and commercial hubs in the main northern Philippine region of Luzon. The Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Metro Manila.

Russia pounds Kyiv with missiles and drones, shaking city centre and injuring 10

Kyiv, May 24: Russia attacked Kyiv with missiles and drones overnight Sunday in an intense assault that shook buildings across the city centre, including near government offices, residential buildings and schools. At least 10 people were injured, local authorities said, citing preliminary figures. Air raid sirens blared through the night as smoke billowed across the city from strikes. Associated Press reporters heard powerful explosions near the city center and close to government buildings. The attack was ongoing by sunrise Sunday, with more missiles and drones expected to reach Kyiv. Damage was recorded across at least nine districts of the capital including residential buildings, Kyiv military administration head Tymur Tkachenko said in a Telegram post. In Kyiv's Shevchenko district, a school building was damaged by an attack while people sheltered inside, Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said. Local authorities reported supermarkets and warehouses across the city also were damaged. Multiple communities recorded damage throughout the Kyiv region, according to Mykola Kalashnyk, the regional governor. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia was planning to use the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile, citing intelligence from the U.S. and Western partners. Ukraine's Air Force later warned of a possible launch of the Oreshnik. It was not immediately clear if the missile had been used in the overnight attack. Russia first used the multiple-warhead Oreshnik on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in November 2024. It was used a second time in January in the western Lviv region. President Vladimir Putin said the Oreshnik, which means hazelnut tree in Russian, streaks at 10 times the speed of sound, or Mach 10, and is capable of destroying underground bunkers three, four or more floors down. The weapon travels like a meteorite and is immune to any missile defense system, Putin said, adding that several such missiles, even fitted with conventional warheads, could be as devastating as a nuclear strike.

Anantnag Police book two under NDPS; seize contraband substance

Anantnag, May 24: Intensifying the crackdown on drug trafficking under 'Nasha Mukht J&K Abhiyan', Anantnag Police, in two seperate incidents, booked two persons under NDPS Act and recovered 3.265 kg Charas like contraband substance from their possession, police officials said on Sunday. Police achieved a significant success in Bijbehara by registering two separate NDPS cases and recovering a substantial quantity of contraband substance, an official spokesperson said in a press statement. The statement said that during routine naka checking at Rakh Nowbug, a police party from Police Station Bijbehara apprehended one drug peddler identified as Umar Rasheed Ganie, son of Abdul Rasheed Ganie, resident of Nowbug Bijbehara. During his search, 295 grams of charas powder-like substance was recovered from his possession.Accordingly, FIR No. 137/2026 under Section 8/20 NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Bijbehara and investigation has been taken up. Acting on a specific tip-off, a police party from Police Post Sangam, in another operation, conducted a search at the residence of Bashir Ahmad Dar, son of Amma Dar, resident of Natipora and recovered approximately 2.970 kilograms of charas powder-like contraband substance from his residential premises. In this regard, FIR No. 136/2026 under Section 8/20 NDPS Act has been registered and investigation has been set into motion. The accused was not present at the time of the search, and efforts are underway to apprehend him. Anantnag Police remains committed to eradicating the drug menace and urges the public to cooperate by sharing information regarding drug-related activities in their areas.

Ujala Cygnus in partnership with Amandeep BR Medicity celebrates milestone

Ujala Cygnus, in partnership with Amandeep BR Medicity Tengpora Bypass, has achieved a remarkable milestone in neonatal care with the successful discharge of over 200 critically ill newborns from its advanced Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), bringing hope, relief, and joy to hundreds of families across Jammu & Kashmir. The NICU has cared for some of the most fragile lives, including babies with birth weights as low as 600 grams, with a majority belonging to the Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW), less than 1.5 kg, and Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW), less than 1 kg, categories. These newborns required intensive, round-the-clock care for complex conditions such as severe respiratory distress, sepsis, and metabolic instability. A significant number also needed advanced respiratory support, including High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFOV), a highly specialized mode of ventilation reserved for the most severe cases. This milestone has been made possible through expertise in managing high-risk and premature newborns, availability of advanced ventilation strategies including HFOV, implementation of Developmental Supportive Care (DSC) to promote neurodevelopmental outcomes, integration of bedside technologies such as POCUS and Point-of-Care Echocardiography for real-time decision-making, strong infection control and nutritional protocols, and a dedicated multidisciplinary NICU team. Caring for newborns as small as 600 grams requires precision, teamwork, and relentless dedication. This achievement reflects our commitment to bring advanced, compassionate neonatal care to the families of Jammu & Kashmir and give every baby the best possible start in life, said Dr. Altaf Hussain, HOD and Consultant Neonatology, Amandeep BR Medicity. This milestone is a testament to the skill, compassion, and perseverance of our NICU team. Ujala Cygnus, in partnership with Amandeep BR Medicity, remains committed to strengthening advanced neonatal services and ensuring that even the most critically ill newborns receive world-class care close to home, said Dr. Amandeep Kaur, Director, Amandeep BR Medicity.

Voluntary Medicare Society organises distribution of mobility devices for 200 visually impaired persons

Voluntary Medicare Society (VMS) organised a large-scale distribution and training program of Saarthi Smart Canes and smart mobility devices for 200 visually impaired persons from across Jammu & Kashmir at its Head Office, Bemina, Srinagar. The initiative was aimed at promoting independent mobility, safety, dignity, and inclusion for persons with visual impairment through the use of innovative assistive technology. Dr Akramullah Tak, Additional Commissioner, Kashmir presided over the function. Also pnaresent on the occasion were Prof. (Dr.) Mir Mohammad Maqbool President/Founder, VMS, Amit , Zonal Relationship Manager (North) from Hyundai India Insurance Broking Pvt. Ltd., Dr. Farooq Ahmad Kaloo,Prof. Masooda Yaseen, Ayoub Bhat Administrator VMS. Businessmen Bilal of Hyundai Show Room and Athwas Promoter Arshad were present on the occasion. Arshad announced that Athwas would sponsor advanced assistive devices for five visually impaired students as a token beginning. Amit told the audience that his company sponsored the distribution of smart canes as first CSR project for visually impaired persons in the North and they made the beginning in Kashmir. Adding that their next camp will be held in Jammu on Monday. Torchit Electronics, a National Award-winning social startup based in Ahmedabad, partnered as the technology and implementation partner for the program. Dinesh K. Bahl from Torchit Electronics supported by VMS conducted a detailed hands-on training session for the beneficiaries regarding the use and functionality of Saarthi Smart Canes and smart mobility devices. The beneficiaries expressed gratitude towards the sponsors and the Voluntary Medicare Society and supporting organizations for bringing advanced assistive technologies to Jammu & Kashmir and enabling greater confidence and independent mobility among visually impaired individuals. The program concluded with a vote of thanks and a reaffirmation of the organizations commitment towards inclusion, accessibility, rehabilitation, and empowerment of persons with disabilities across the region.

Rashid Hanjura's Kashmiri translation of Hazrat Shahi Hamdan ( RAs) Zakhirul Malook released

An impressive literary cum spiritual function was organised here by the Islamic Research and Relief Trust in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Urdu Council, during which the Kashmiri translation of the world-renowned Persian work Zakhirat-ul-Muluk authored by the 14th century revered Sufi saint Mir Sayeed Ali Hamadani (RA) was formally released. The Kashmiri translation of the book has been rendered by noted social reformer and writer Advocate Abdul Rashid Hanjura. The event was organised on the auspicious occasion of the annual Urs of Shah-e-Hamdan (RA) coinciding with the forthcoming Eid-ul-Adha celebrations. Prominent social and religious scholar Dr Syed Shams-ur-Rehman attended the function the as chief guest, while noted writer and scholar Dr.Maroof Ahmad Shah, Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Urdu Council Ejaz Ahmad Kakroo, eminent educationist GN War, religious preacher Molvi Mohammad Ashraf and representatives of Batamaloo and downtown Traders Associations adorned the presidium. Although Zakhirat-ul-Muluk has already been translated into several languages, Abdul Rashid Hanjuras work is believed to be the first authentic Kashmiri translation of its kind , after Molvi Qasim Shah. Comprising ten chapters on political ethics, principles of governance and Sufism, the book has had a profound influence on the social, cultural and political fabric of Kashmir. In the book, Shah-e-Hamdan (RA) has presented the concept of a welfare-oriented society, which not only contributed to the spread of Islam in Kashmir but also played a vital role in reforming rulers and laying the foundation of a welfare state. In his welcome address, Advocate Abdul Rashid Hanjura stressed the urgent need to uphold human values and strengthen the spirit of social service in society.

Adv Maroof Khan calls for immediate release of salaries, urges govt to ensure smooth festive arrangements

Political Youth Leader and Adv Maroof Khan has urged the Jammu & Kashmir Government and concerned authorities to immediately release the pending salaries of employees and daily wagers ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, stating that timely disbursement of salaries is essential to ensure that people are able to celebrate the auspicious occasion with dignity and peace of mind. In a statement issued here, Adv Maroof Khan said that thousands of employees and their families across Jammu & Kashmir are facing immense difficulties due to delay in salaries at a time when households are preparing for Eid-ul-Adha and managing essential expenses. He emphasised that employees form the backbone of the administrative structure and their genuine concerns must be addressed on priority. Adv Maroof Khan further appealed to the administration to make comprehensive and timely arrangements across the Union Territory to facilitate smooth, peaceful, and hassle-free celebrations for the people. He stressed upon ensuring uninterrupted electricity and water supply, proper sanitation, availability of essential commodities, effective traffic management, market regulation, and healthcare preparedness during the festive days. He stated that Eid-ul-Adha is a festival of sacrifice, compassion, and togetherness, and it is the collective responsibility of the Government and administration to ensure that every family across J&K is able to celebrate the occasion without inconvenience or distress. Adv Maroof Khan expressed hope that the Government will take immediate and people-friendly measures in the larger public interest and stand firmly with the people during the festive occasion.

Drug abuse destroying youth, all narcotics should be banned: Ravinder Raina

Senior BJP leader Ravinder Raina Saturday said that drug abuse was destroying the youth and urged that all forms of narcotics should be completely banned. Speaking to media following his visit to Mawar to offer condolences to MP Er Rashid and MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed on the demise of their father, Raina said that anything that harms the younger generation happens to be wrong and needs strict action. I believe all forms of narcotics should be banned and anything which destroys the youth cannot be tolerated, he said. Raina who was accompanied by several BJP workers said that making political statements during condolence visits was against principles and not appropriate. He, however, did not respond to a question related to the cockroach issue viral on social media.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini calls on Dr Karan Singh

Chief Minister of Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini called on veteran statesman and former Sadr-i-Riyasat and Governor Dr Karan Singh, at his residence in New Delhi. During the meeting, the Chief Minister briefed Dr. Karan Singh on the various developmental initiatives being undertaken by the Haryana Government, particularly the strong policy push aimed at attracting domestic and international investors to further strengthen industry and commerce in the state, said a press release. Nayab Saini also shared his memories and experiences from his travels across Jammu & Kashmir during the early years of his public life and association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Dr. Karan Singh presented the Chief Minister with his recent literary works on Hinduism and discussed various cultural and spiritual themes. Also present during the meeting were Vikramaditya Singh, former MLC and Trustee of the J&K Dharmarth Trust, along with his son Martand Singh. Vikramaditya Singh invited Chief Minister Saini to visit several iconic temples across Jammu & Kashmir that have recently been restored by the Dharmarth Trust, including prominent shrines in Gulmarg and Pahalgam, among others.

Nasir Aslam, Shammi Oberoi visit Langate, offer condolences to Er Rashid

Advisor to the Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Sogami, along with MP & Treasurer Rajya Sabha Shammi Oberoi and Provincial President Showkat Mir Saturday visited the Langate residence of Member of Parliament Baramulla Er Rashid, and MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed to offer condolences on the demise of their beloved father. The leaders expressed solidarity with the bereaved family. The visiting delegation conveyed heartfelt sympathies and prayed for strength and patience for the family during this difficult time. They also offered prayers for eternal peace to the departed soul.

Sunil Sharma targets Omar Abdullah, says CM missing amid public issues

Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Sunil Sharma on Saturday intensified his attack on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, alleging that the latter has remained missing from the public eye for the past ten days while people across Jammu and Kashmir continue to grapple with water shortages and prolonged power cuts. Addressing reporters and speaking in a video statement circulated on social media, Sharma said that there has been no public information regarding the Chief Ministers whereabouts and accused him of remaining absent during a period of public distress. I am going to say something serious without involving politics. The people of J&K are worried about where their CM is. If a CM visits anywhere, the public and media generally have an idea about it. We have not seen our CM for 10 days now. There are so many problems here to be solved, and the CM is nowhere to be found, Sharma said. The BJP leader alleged that residents in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir are facing severe hardship due to inadequate electricity and drinking water supply, while the Chief Minister was reportedly abroad on vacation. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are searching for their Chief Minister, who has been missing for the past 10 days. It is the misfortune of Jammu and Kashmir that on one hand, the public is struggling with power outages and water shortages, while on the other, the CM Sahib is enjoying a vacation abroad, Sharma said in the video message posted on X. Sharpening his criticism, Sharma took a swipe at Abdullahs political legacy and accused him of being disconnected from the ground situation. The poor people of J&K who made a prince the Chief Minister are now suffering. The prince who was once rejected has been missing for the past few days, he said. Sharma further claimed that protests over electricity and water scarcity were being witnessed in several areas of the Union Territory and alleged that the administration was failing to respond effectively in the absence of the Chief Minister. He also mocked Omar Abdullahs reported foreign visit, saying, We do not even know whether he is in London or elsewhere in England, but he is sitting outside while people are suffering here. In a symbolic political move, Sharma announced that the BJP may approach the Ram Munshi Bagh Police Station to file a missing report for the Chief Minister if he does not return within the next couple of days. We have decided to file a missing report if he still does not appear in 1-2 days, he said. The remarks come amid an aggressive campaign launched by the Bharatiya Janata Party in Jammu and Kashmir targeting the National Conference-led government over governance and public service delivery. On Friday, the BJP shared missing posters of Omar Abdullah on social media, alleging that the Chief Minister had been absent from the Union Territory for the past ten days. A post shared on the official social media handle of the Jammu and Kashmir BJP on May 21 claimed that the Chief Minister had been missing since last 10 days, triggering a fresh political confrontation between the BJP and the ruling National Conference.

Mehbooba Mufti raises concern over plight of detainees in J&K

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti Saturday raised concerns over the prolonged detention of youths and political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir. She said that many families have suffered due to prolonged imprisonment of their relatives for the last several years with the result they are subjected to severe hardships. Mehbooba was talking to the media in Mawer Langate after visiting the residence of jailed Member of Parliament Er Rashid to offer condolences on the demise of his father. PDP President said that several families have been denied even the opportunity to meet their loved ones during difficult times. Since Er Rashid is a sitting Member of Parliament, the court perhaps allowed him some relief to meet his father and attend the funeral, but there are many others jailed since 2019 whose parents passed away without seeing their sons even once, she added. This situation reflects the hardships being faced by families across Jammu and Kashmir where many people continue to remain in different jails across the country without even facing trial, Mufti said. She said that the prolonged detention of youths and political leaders have caused deep emotional sufferings in Kashmir and it was high time for New Delhi to ease out things. Mehbooba Mufti was accompanied by MLA Kupwara Mir Fayaz, MLA Pulwama Waheed Ur Rehman Parra and MLA Budgam Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi.

Dr Farooq pays obeisance at Khanqa Maula on the Urs of Hazrat Shah-e-Hamadan (RA)

The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah paid obeisance at the revered Khanqah-e-Moula in Srinagar on the occasion of the annual Urs of Hazrat Sayadat Panah Ameer-e-Kabeer Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (RA). He was accompanied by party legislators Tanvir Sadiq and Hasnain Masoodi. MLA Habba Kadal Shameema Firdous along with party functionaries and local unit members particularly YNC District President Srinagar Irshad Anchari and his team, felicitated and welcomed him at the shrine complex gate. People from all walks of life and different parts of the Kashmir Valley greeted Dr. Farooq on the occasion. He along with other party leaders, offered Namaz-e-Asr at the revered shrine and prayed for lasting peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir. Party Publicity Secretary Mir G.M. Saqi was also present on the occasion.

Urs of Shah-e-Hamdan (RA) observed with religious fervour

The Urs of Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamdani (RA), popularly known as Shah-e-Hamdan and Amir-e-Kabir, was observed with religious devotion and fervour across Kashmir on Saturday. Thousands of devotees from different parts of the Valley thronged the historic Khanqah-e-Moula shrine in Downtown Srinagar, where the largest congregation was held. On the occasion, special prayers, recitations, and religious sermons were delivered throughout the day. The Urs of Shah-e-Hamdan (RA), who is credited with spreading Islam in Kashmir and introducing Central Asian culture and crafts to Kashmir, is observed every year on the 6th of Zil-Hijjah according to the Islamic calendar. Devotees on the occasion participated in Zikr-o-Azkaar, Naat-Khwani and other religious gatherings, seeking blessings and praying for peace and prosperity. It is a blessed day for all of us. We come here every year to offer prayers and remember the teachings of Shah-e-Hamdan (RA), who showed people the path of spirituality, brotherhood and compassion, said Ghulam Nabi, a devotee from Ganderbal who had come to Khanqah-e-Moula with his family. Religious scholars during the gatherings highlighted the life and contributions of Mir Syed Ali Hamdani (RA), particularly his role in shaping Kashmirs spiritual and cultural identity. Devotees said the revered saints teachings continue to inspire generations across the Valley. President of J&K Jamait Hamdani Moulana Riyaz Hamdani delivered a sermon highlighting the contribution of Shah-e-Hamdan (RA), for spreading Islam in Kashmir and introducing Central Asian culture and crafts in the Valley. The markets around Khanqah-e-Moula wore a festive look as devotees were seen purchasing snacks, bakery items and other goods from roadside vendors. The area witnessed heavy footfall throughout the day, with business owners saying the Urs also brings economic activity to the locality. There was a good rush of devotees since morning. On such occasions people buy snacks, tea and other items while visiting the shrine. These holy days are important for us both spiritually and economically, said Sajad Ahmad, a local snacks seller near the shrine. However, many devotees also expressed concern over traffic congestion and lack of adequate parking facilities in the Downtown area. They said more parking spaces should be identified and opened during major religious occasions to avoid inconvenience to visitors. We faced difficulty finding parking near the shrine area. Authorities should make better arrangements during such revered occasions as thousands of people visit here, said another devotee. Officials said special arrangements had been put in place for the smooth conduct of the Urs. Traffic Police personnel were deployed at several locations to regulate vehicular movement, while departments including Srinagar Municipal Corporation, PHE and Power Development Department carried out sanitation, water and electricity arrangements around the shrine premises. Besides Khanqah-e-Moula Srinagar, the Urs was also observed at several shrines and religious places across Kashmir, including Khankah Faizpanah Tral, Jinab Sahab Soura, Aasar Sharif Kalashpora, Khiram Sirhama in Anantnag, Seer Hamdan Dooru, Aham Sharif Bandipora and Khanqah-e-Moula Sopore.

As Delhi swelters, dehydrated birds fall from skies, street animals battle heat distress

As the summer sun scorches rooftops and concrete lanes across Delhi, city veterinarians and animal rescuers say exhausted pigeons are dropping unconscious from the sky, dehydrated eagles are being picked up from roadsides and street animals are suffering from stomach toxicity amid the capitals punishing heatwave. Across the city, veterinarians and rescuers say that distress calls involving birds and stray animals suffering from dehydration, heat strokes, and infections have risen sharply over the past few weeks as prolonged dry conditions and extreme temperatures continue to batter Delhi and the NCR. Delhi has been reeling under heatwave conditions over the past few days, with temperatures crossing the 45 degrees Celsius mark in several areas, leading to heat strokes, extremely dry conditions, and warm nights. A veterinarian at Abhay Daanam Bird and Animal Hospital in the Delhi-NCR region said the facility is receiving nearly 20 bird cases daily linked to heat-related illnesses, marking around a 50 per cent rise in recent weeks. Most of the birds coming to us are pigeons. A large number of them are suffering from pigeon pox, an infection that spreads more during periods of extreme heat and poor conditions. We are also getting other kinds of birds, besides horses and cows that are being brought in with dehydration, heat strokes, and immovable conditions, he told PTI. Pigeon pox is a viral disease affecting pigeons and other birds and causes lesions, weakness, and feeding difficulties. Experts said extreme heat, stress, and unhygienic surroundings often aggravate the spread of such infections. A veterinarian working in the Shahdara and Chandni Chowk areas said he is currently receiving nearly 70 to 80 cases everyday involving birds suffering from dehydration, breathlessness, and heat-related distress. Most of the cases are of pigeons, black kites, and eagles. Many birds are brought to us in unconscious states because of the heatwave. We are giving them ORS and fluids to help them regain consciousness and recover, he said. Some birds arrive in extremely critical condition and we are unable to save them. But when we get calls in the early stages, treatment becomes easier and survival chances improve significantly, he added. Manta Sidhu from People For Animals said the organisation has also been rescuing several stray dogs, cats, and other street animals suffering from dehydration and gastrointestinal infections during the summer. Garbage rots much faster during the summer season. When animals consume food from garbage dumps or trucks, they are getting toxicity and gastro infections. Pig fever is also becoming a major issue, she said. Sidhu urged residents to place bowls of drinking water and create shaded resting spots for animals in their neighbourhoods. Everybody has dogs and other animals in their lanes. People should keep water and some shaded space for them, especially during such harsh weather, she added. Abhishek Jain from Vidyasagar Jeev Daya Parivaar, which runs round-the-clock bird ambulance services across Delhi-NCR along with his brother Amit Jain, said the organisation is currently receiving around 40 distress calls daily related to birds affected by heat strokes and dehydration. We have seen nearly a 30 per cent rise in heat-related cases. Many birds are found unconscious because of dehydration and heat strokes. We rescue them and provide treatment immediately, Abhishek Jain said. He said eagles account for a large share of the birds being rescued during the ongoing heatwave. People sometimes keep food and water for pigeons and other domesticated birds, but eagles do not have such access. They end up severely dehydrated and are often found lying unconscious, he said. Amit Jain, chairperson of the NGO, said the organisation has launched a large-scale outreach campaign to help animals survive the harsh summer. We have started distributing 10,000 pots of water free of cost so that people can keep them outside their homes for birds and stray animals. Once these birds become unconscious, they also become vulnerable to attacks by other animals, leading to injuries that require additional treatment, he said. Pankaj Gupta from Bird Count India said most resident bird species in Delhi are adapted to high temperatures, but rapid urbanisation and reduction in wetlands are making survival increasingly difficult. Most resident birds in Delhi have lived here for thousands of years, so they are adapted to the heat. The real problem is rapid urbanisation, reduction in wetlands and shrinking green cover because of which birds are not able to access enough water, he said. We advise people to keep a bowl of clean water in a shaded area and refill it at least twice a day. Make sure that the bowls are clean. Birds do not need feeding because they are capable of finding food on their own, but water is the major issue during this season, he said. It is very important to place the bowl in a shaded spot. If water is kept in direct heat, bacteria grows quickly. Clean bowls and fresh water twice a day can go a long way in helping birds survive the summer, he added. A Delhi-based veterinarian, who did not wish to be named, said peacocks, kites, and other large birds are increasingly being brought in with dehydration and heat stress, while several street dogs and cats are also arriving with breathlessness and exhaustion linked to the extreme weather. Peacocks, kites, and other large birds are increasingly being found weak or disoriented in open areas. Heat stress affects their movement, feeding, and ability to fly. Dehydration is becoming a common problem this season. We are also treating street dogs and cats coming in with breathlessness and heat-related distress, the veterinarian said. Animal welfare groups and veterinarians have appealed to residents to place earthen water bowls on balconies, rooftops and outside homes to help birds and stray animals cope with the extreme summer conditions.

Rs 300 Cr payment backlog pushes 60 J&K dialysis centres to brink of closure

Dialysis centres across J&K are on the verge of collapse due to massive pending payments under the Ayushman BharatSehat Scheme, threatening treatment access for thousands of kidney patients who rely on life-saving dialysis services every day, the J&K Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association (JKPHDA. The association warned that continued delay in the release of dues by the State Health Agency (SHA) has pushed private dialysis centres into an unprecedented financial crisis, with several facilities struggling to purchase essential medical consumables, retain staff and sustain operations. General Secretary of JKPHDA, Dr Masood-ul-Hassan, said hundreds of crores in legitimate claims remain unpaid, with some bills pending since 2021, severely disrupting the functioning of dialysis centres that shoulder the bulk of patient care in J&K. Dialysis centres are on the verge of shutting down as legitimate dues under the Ayushman BharatSehat Scheme have remained unpaid for years. Due to this financial chokehold, many centres are unable to purchase essential dialysis consumables such as dialysers, tubing sets and medicines. In several units, there are no funds left even to pay salaries of doctors, technicians and nursing staff, Dr Hassan said. According to JKPHDA, nearly 1,500 dialysis patients are treated every day through around 60 private dialysis centres across J&K, compared to approximately 300 patients in the government sector, highlighting the dependence of the healthcare system on private facilities for renal care. Dr Hassan said private dialysis centres currently handle over 70 per cent of Golden Card beneficiaries and warned that any disruption in services could prove fatal for patients suffering from kidney disease. Dialysis is not optional; it is a life-saving intervention. A single missed dialysis session can become fatal for a kidney patient. Private centres have continued services despite mounting losses because patients lives are at stake, but we have reached a stage where centres are being forced to choose between buying consumables and paying staff salaries. Neither option is sustainable anymore, he said. The association claimed that despite a total healthcare budget allocation of 625 crore for 202526 under the scheme, dialysis centres continue to face acute liquidity stress, alleging that around 200 crore was overspent while pending dues till March 2026 alone have crossed 300 crore. Criticising the existing implementation framework, Dr Hassan said the current Trust Mode system has failed to ensure timely payments and accountability. The present Trust Mode of implementation has completely failed in Jammu and Kashmir. Unlike Insurance Mode, there is no fixed payment timeline or accountability mechanism. Vendors have stopped supplies because of unpaid bills and trained staff are resigning due to months of unpaid salaries. If immediate intervention is not made, we may have no choice but to suspend services, he said. He said healthcare workers in dialysis centres have continued to work for months without salaries to ensure continuity of care for critically ill patients. Our doctors, technicians and support staff have worked without salaries for months simply to keep patients alive. But no institution can survive indefinitely without operational funds. The government must act immediately, he added. The association appealed to Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir to urgently intervene, release all pending dues and shift the scheme to an Insurance Mode system to prevent disruption of dialysis services. JKPHDA warned that failure to address the crisis could trigger a humanitarian emergency, leaving thousands of economically vulnerable kidney patients without access to life-saving treatment.

Farhan Manzoor elected additional secretary of REC/NIT Srinagar Alumni Association

Er Farhan Manzoor Shah has been elected as Additional Secretary of the REC/NIT Srinagar Alumni Association (AANITS) after being inducted into its Executive Committee for the 20262029 term. In his new role, Er Farhan is expected to work towards enhancing alumni networking, fostering meaningful collaboration among members, and contributing to the vision and development of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar beyond geographical boundaries. Describing the opportunity as a privilege, Er Farhan said the responsibility provides him with a platform to serve his alma mater and contribute meaningfully to strengthening alumni ties and institutional development. He expressed commitment to working closely with fellow members of the association to promote greater engagement and collaboration among alumni.

OMCs ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies amid demand surge in J&K: SLC Oil Industry

State Level Coordinator (SLC), oil industry Himanshu Sharma Saturday stated that the public sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) - Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL recorded 30 percent growth in petrol and 20 percent diesel sales for the period May 1 to 21, 2026 over last year in J&K. Sharma, in a statement, informed that in recent days, OMCs witnessed a significantly higher offtake of petroleum products in the J&K and Ladakh region, driven by seasonal agricultural activities and increased demand during the tourist season. Additional demand pressure has also emerged due to a visible shift of institutional and commercial consumers towards retail fuel outlets. OMCs are maintaining close coordination with the administration for seamless fuel supplies, Sharma said. He stated that Public Sector OMCs continued operations and logistics coordination across the country to ensure uninterrupted availability of petrol (MS), diesel (HSD) and LPG amid a sudden and sharp increase in fuel demand in the region. The oil industry would like to reassure consumers that adequate stocks of petrol, diesel and LPG are available across the country and all necessary measures are being taken to maintain smooth and uninterrupted supplies, assured SLC, oil industry in J&K and Ladakh. He said that public sector OMCs were continuously reviewing stock positions and closely coordinating on logistics and distribution planning to efficiently meet the enhanced demand scenario. Himanshu Sharma advised citizens to continue with normal purchasing behaviour and avoid unnecessary panic buying and also requested consumers to rely only on official communications issued by authorised agencies and OMCs for accurate information related to fuel availability.

PHDCCI Kashmir raises MSME credit, industries concerns with Parliamentary Panel

Chairman of PHDCCI Kashmir, Vicky Shaw, along with Co-Chairman Himayu Wani, held detailed deliberations with Tiruchi Siva, Chairperson of the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, and members of the parliamentary panel, focusing on credit guarantee schemes for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), revival of sick industries, and marketing support for Kashmir-based businesses. During the interaction, the PHDCCI leadership briefed the Committee on key economic challenges confronting Kashmir and stressed the need for stronger institutional and financial support to sustain industrial growth and employment generation in the region. Vicky Shaw informed the Committee about PHDCCI Kashmirs efforts to strengthen awareness around credit access mechanisms, particularly through a first-of-its-kind awareness workshop conducted in collaboration with the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) and leading banks operating in Kashmir. He said such initiatives are vital to bridging information gaps, improving financial literacy among entrepreneurs and facilitating easier credit access for MSMEs. Shaw also highlighted pressing concerns affecting Kashmirs industrial ecosystem, including the urgent need for revival of sick industries and stronger marketing support for viable sectors to help them access wider domestic markets. He further informed the Committee that the Jammu and Kashmir administration is working towards improving the ease of doing business and expressed optimism regarding the introduction of a new industrial policy aimed at simplifying business operations in the Union Territory. We are hopeful that a new industrial scheme will be introduced that significantly improves ease of doing business and creates a more enabling ecosystem for industries in Jammu and Kashmir, Shaw said. Special emphasis was laid on the fragile nature of Kashmirs economy, with PHDCCI representatives stressing that sectors such as tourism, horticulture, handicrafts, handloom and allied industries require greater access to affordable and customised institutional finance. Shaw and Himayu Wani said that given Kashmirs unique economic vulnerabilities, generous and accessible funding support through banks is essential for sustaining livelihoods, promoting entrepreneurship and generating employment opportunities. The PHDCCI leadership also sought focused policy support for sector-specific growth and effective implementation of credit guarantee mechanisms to encourage business confidence and industrial revival in the region. Tiruchi Siva and members of the parliamentary committee acknowledged the concerns and assured that the issues raised, particularly regarding implementation of credit guarantee schemes and support for key sectors in Jammu and Kashmir, would be examined in detail.

Kashmir Chamber of Horticulture seeks relief for growers amid hailstorm damage

President of the Kashmir Chamber of Horticulture (KCH), Hakim Khalid Ahmed, has expressed solidarity with growers and farmers across Kashmir who continue to suffer losses due to repeated spells of unfavourable weather, particularly devastating hailstorms that have caused extensive damage to orchards and crops. Expressing deep concern over the destruction caused by repeated hailstorms, Ahmed stressed the urgent need for a multi-pronged, result-oriented short- and long-term strategy to address the crisis confronting the horticulture sector. He said the immediate priority should be an assessment of losses through the deployment of available manpower by the concerned authorities, with a clearly defined timeline for compensation to affected growers and farmers. In the short term, authorities must mobilise available human resources to assess the extent of the damage and ensure compensation is provided within a fixed timeframe to restore confidence among the grower community, Ahmed said. He also urged the government to formally announce the long-awaited crop insurance scheme for the horticulture sector, saying its implementation could provide much-needed relief to stakeholders struggling with recurring weather-related losses. Ahmed further called for the reintroduction of the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), stating that the measure would provide crucial support to growers, particularly marginal farmers, who have been severely impacted by the recent adverse weather conditions. Reintroduction of the MIS at this stage would act as a breather for cultivators and help them withstand the financial burden caused by repeated weather-related disruptions, he said. Describing the situation as financially and socially distressing, Ahmed said the latest disaster has pushed growers into an extremely unpredictable situation with wider implications for the entire horticulture economy. This disaster has placed growers in a highly uncertain financial and social situation, with serious consequences not only for farmers but for the entire horticulture sector, he said. While acknowledging assurances extended by the authorities as encouraging, Ahmed stressed that these commitments must now translate into tangible action to restore confidence among growers. He said that, in the long run, authorities must devise effective measures to reduce vulnerability to such recurring weather events, especially in the context of climate change. Ahmed urged the government to adopt a proactive approach and consider subsidised and affordable hail nets under various schemes to safeguard orchards from future damage. Expressing solidarity with growers and representative organisations, he urged immediate action on several fronts, including the introduction of an effective compensation mechanism to mitigate losses and the reintroduction of the MIS to help cultivators sustain the impact of the recent crisis. He also reiterated his earlier demand for the constitution of a committee comprising government officials and stakeholders to urgently identify and assess losses suffered by growers, saying the exercise should be undertaken on priority. Hakim Khalid Ahmed emphasised the need for sustained stakeholder engagement and consultation while framing long-term policies and schemes for the horticulture sector to ensure resilience against future challenges.

Suspect killed after firing near White House, bystander injured

A suspect was shot dead after opening fire near the White House on Saturday evening, the US Secret Service said. According to the agency, the incident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue when an individual pulled a weapon from a bag and began firing, reports BBC. Secret Service officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. One bystander was also injured in the shooting, BBC said. The agency said no officers were hurt in the incident. US President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time, but no protectees or operations were affected. The incident remains under investigation, and officials said more information would be released as it becomes available.

Trump says US-Iran deal largely negotiated, details to be announced soon

US President Donald Trump has said that an agreement between the United States and Iran has been largely negotiated and that details would be announced shortly. In a social media post, Trump said he had held a very good call with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and others regarding a Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE, reports BBC. An agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalisation between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, Trump said, adding that final aspects of the deal were still being discussed. Trump also said the proposed agreement would include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but did not provide further details. He later said he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that the conversation went very well. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei earlier said that US and Iranian positions had been converging over the past week, though he cautioned that key disagreements remained and accused Washington of issuing contradictory statements. Speaking to Iranian state television, Baqaei said Tehran was working towards a 14-point framework agreement and expected further talks within 30 to 60 days aimed at reaching a final deal. A ceasefire was agreed in early April, after which Washington and Tehran resumed talks on a long-term peace arrangement.

JK Hoteliers Club reconstitutes executive body, elects Mushtaq Chaya as president

The Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club (JKHC) has reconstituted its office bearers and executive committee for the 20262028 term, with prominent hotelier Mushtaq A. Chaya elected as President of the body. According to the newly announced structure, Riyaz A. Shahdad has been appointed Senior Vice President, Tariq Ghani as Junior Vice President, Abdul Wahid Malik as Secretary General, Mukhtar A. Shah as Joint Secretary General, Naseera A. Khan as Finance Secretary, and Murad Kapra as Joint Finance Secretary. Veteran hotelier Sardar Narinder Singh has been named Founder Chairman, while Zahoor A. Trumboo and Mohd Afzal Parray will serve as Patron and Mentor. The newly constituted executive committee includes Jyotsana Suri and Omer Trumboo as Advisors, while members include Latif A. Bhat, Farooq A. Hafiz, Akib Chaya, M. Shafi Trumboo, Manzoor A. Burza, Amir Gunna, Sadam Zaroo, Aatif Yaqeen, Manzoor A. Shah, Mubi Shaw, Tariq Hafiz, Javed Anim, Khawar Jeelani, Sajad Makaya, Hayat Bhat, Hussain Khan, A.B. Majeed Sofi, Khalid Sheikh, Usman Shahdad, Manzoor Wagnoo, Naseem Chaya, Shabir Bazaz, Manzoor Khan, Zahoor A. Khan, Aazad Malik, Aadil Shah, Asma and Nayeem Putoo. The reconstituted body is expected to work towards strengthening the hospitality sector, improving coordination among stakeholders and promoting sustainable tourism growth in J&K. Speaking on the occasion, JKHC President Mushtaq A. Chaya said the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir has started witnessing signs of recovery after suffering a major setback following last years tragic attack in Pahalgam, which had adversely impacted tourist arrivals and business sentiment. Last year, we faced a tragic incident in Pahalgam, which temporarily derailed the tourism sector and affected confidence among visitors. However, tourism has now started reviving and we are seeing encouraging signs of recovery, Chaya said. He said it was important to collectively sustain the momentum and continue promoting Jammu and Kashmir as a safe and welcoming destination. Tourism is the backbone of Jammu and Kashmirs economy and provides livelihoods to thousands of families. The revival of tourism will not only help the hospitality sector but also transporters, artisans, traders and several allied sectors dependent on visitors, he said. Chaya stressed that tourism growth must go hand in hand with environmental protection, saying preserving the regions fragile ecology is crucial for long-term sustainability. Jammu and Kashmirs natural beauty is our greatest asset. We have to protect our environment, maintain cleanliness and encourage responsible tourism practices so that future generations also benefit from this sector, he said. He further said the tourism and hospitality sector plays a critical role in employment generation and economic growth, adding that sustained recovery would create more job opportunities for youth and support livelihoods across the region. Chaya also urged all stakeholders, including the government, tourism players and local communities, to work collectively to strengthen the tourism sector and reinforce confidence among visitors.

Hailstorm havoc in Kashmir: Fruit growers demand relief, crop insurance

Massive hailstorms have wreaked havoc across large parts of Kashmir, severely damaging apple orchards and pushing fruit growers deeper into financial distress, prompting the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union to demand an immediate and comprehensive compensation package along with long-pending policy interventions. An intense spell of hailstorms swept through several parts of north Kashmirs Baramulla district, particularly Sopore and Rafiabad, besides affecting orchards in Tral area of south Kashmirs Pulwama district and parts of Shopian on Friday, leaving behind widespread destruction in fruit orchards. The latest hailstorm, described as the third weather disaster to strike the affected districts in recent weeks and the second consecutive spell in Rafiabad, caused extensive damage to developing apple crops, fruit-bearing branches and standing orchards at a crucial stage of the horticulture season. According to growers, several villages in Rafiabad, including Watergam, Lessar, Dandiwacha, Dandoosa, Hadipora and adjoining areas, witnessed intense hail for several minutes, turning orchards white and destroying months of labour and investment within minutes. The recent weather event follows earlier hailstorms and strong winds that struck parts of Kashmir on April 18 and May 12, compounding losses for orchardists already struggling to recover. Chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union, Bashir Ahmad Basheer, said the repeated hailstorms had devastated the horticulture sector and placed fruit growers, especially marginal orchardists, in an extremely vulnerable position. The fruit orchards across large parts of Kashmir have suffered severe devastation due to repeated hailstorms and stormy winds. Growers are sinking into debt as natural disasters continue to destroy crops, while there is no crop insurance or market intervention mechanism to support them in times of distress, Basheer said. He said horticulture, regarded as the backbone of Jammu and Kashmirs economy, sustains lakhs of people directly and indirectly and plays a major role in employment generation, particularly in rural areas. Nearly 90 percent of orchard owners in Kashmir are marginal growers whose household expenses, childrens education and daily livelihood depend entirely on income generated from orchards. When crops are damaged, families are pushed into acute hardship, he said. Basheer expressed concern that despite repeated hailstorms in April and May, authorities were yet to comprehensively assess damages in affected areas of north, central and south Kashmir. The government machinery must immediately undertake assessment of losses and ensure relief reaches affected growers without delay. Repeated weather disasters are threatening not only this years harvest but the fragile rural economy dependent on horticulture, he added. The union reiterated its demand for immediate implementation of a crop insurance scheme for the horticulture sector in Jammu and Kashmir and restoration of the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), saying both mechanisms were essential to protect growers from recurring losses caused by natural calamities. We have repeatedly urged the government to introduce crop insurance and reintroduce the Market Intervention Scheme so that growers get relief during natural disasters. Without these safeguards, orchardists are being pushed deeper into debt, Basheer said. The union also urged the Union Agriculture Minister, Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir to announce a reasonable and comprehensive compensation package for orchard owners who suffered losses due to devastating hailstorms during April and May this year.

NCC Cadets must lead fight against drugs: Satish Sharma

Srinagar, May 23:Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma on Saturday said that National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets must become soldiers in the fight against drug abuse. Addressing NCC cadets during the Special National Integration Camp (SNIC) at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar, Sharma said that narcotics was a weapon being used to destroy the countrys youth from within. Drug menace is posing one of the gravest threats to society, particularly in border regions. The poison of drugs is being used as a weapon not fired from a gun, but one that destroys from within, he said. He said that drugs corrode potential, breaks families and robs the nation of its most precious resource, its youth. He urged the NCC cadets to take a stand against narcotics, saying that cadet must refuse it, resist it and report it. A nations greatest enemy is not always across the borders. Sometimes it is the one that creeps silently into our homes, he said. The minister also highlighted the role of NCC in fostering discipline, integrity, leadership and national unity among youth. He described the cadets as the true face of India and said the camp reflected the countrys diversity and collective spirit. You come from different regions, different cultures and backgrounds, yet you stand together in one uniform with one purpose and one heartbeat. This is the power of NCC and the strength of India, he said. Recalling some incidents of his personal life, Satish Sharma said he is the son of a soldier and had grown up witnessing the sacrifices made by armed forces personnel. I have seen firsthand the silent courage behind every farewell at the doorstep and the deep love for the tricolour that defines a soldiers soul, he said. The minister also praised the NCC Directorate Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh for organising the camp and lauded the cadets for showcasing Indias cultural diversity through performances during the event. Every dance, every song and every performance is a thread in the rich tapestry of our civilisation, he said. He further said that an NCC Unity Run scheduled on Sunday at Nishat Garden along the banks of Dal Lake will act as a powerful symbol of Indias youthful energy and determination. He also talked about perseverance and discipline while recounting episodes from his childhood in a border area affected by shelling and his struggles before entering politics. Youth must remain resilient despite hardships and never give up in life. The real courage today is saying no, firmly and fearlessly, he said Minister for Sports also made several announcements related to development and employment in J&K and claimed that the government was working on bringing IPL matches to the J&K UT within the next 14 months. He further said two IT parks were being planned in J&K, which, according to him, would generate employment opportunities for around 50,000 people. The minister also referred to plans for a cruise transport system to address traffic congestion in the region. During his speech, Satish Sharma turned poetic and recited couplets while urging cadets to stay strong and disciplined in the face of challenges. This century belongs to our country, he said.

Police attach properties worth Rs 5 Crore in major crackdown on drug trafficking networks

Srinagar, May 23:In a major crackdown under the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan 100 Days Campaign, Srinagar Police on Friday attached multiple immovable properties worth nearly Rs 5 crore belonging to alleged drug peddlers and narcotics traffickers across Srinagar and adjoining districts. Police officials said the action was taken under various provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act as part of a sustained campaign aimed at dismantling the financial networks supporting drug trafficking in the Valley. According to police, the attached properties include residential houses, allegedly acquired through proceeds generated from illegal narcotics trade. Among the properties attached are houses belonging to Bilal Ahmad Sheikh and Aneek Ahmad Sheikh, residents of Larbal Beerwah in Budgam, who are involved in FIR No. 37/2024 registered at Police Station Saddar Srinagar under the NDPS Act. The properties include a single-storey and a double-storey residential house collectively valued at around Rs 80 lakh. In another operation, police attached a double-storeyed residential house worth nearly Rs 1 crore at Mini Colony Chanapora in connection with a narcotics case registered at Police Station Chanapora. A three-storeyed residential house with attic located in Jawahar Nagar and belonging to Mohsin Ibrahim Naqash was also attached in connection with FIR No. 42/2026 registered at Police Station Saddar Srinagar under Sections 8/21 and 29 of the NDPS Act. The property is estimated to be worth around Rs 1 crore. Similarly, Srinagar Police attached a three-storeyed residential house belonging to Farhan Manzoor Pandit of Kursoo Rajbagh in connection with a drug trafficking case registered at Police Station Rajbagh. Officials said the market value of the property is approximately Rs 50 lakh. Police Station Karan Nagar also attached a double-storeyed residential house belonging to Fayaz Ahmad Rather of Ajas Bandipora in connection with a case registered under Sections 8/21 and 29 of the NDPS Act along with Section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). In a separate action, a double-storeyed residential house located at Bakshiabad Bemina and belonging to Abid Hassan Dar was attached in connection with FIR No. 18/2022 of Police Station Batamaloo under multiple sections of the NDPS Act and IPC. The property is valued at nearly Rs 1.7 crore. Police said all attachments were carried out under Sections 68-E and 68-F of the NDPS Act after completion of legal formalities in the presence of executive magistrates, revenue officials and independent witnesses. Officials said investigations had established that the properties were allegedly acquired using proceeds from illicit drug trafficking. The latest action comes amid intensified anti-narcotics measures launched by Srinagar Police over the past several months under the Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan. Police have significantly stepped up raids, arrests, property attachments and preventive actions targeting drug peddlers, habitual offenders and organized narcotics networks operating across Srinagar and other districts of the Valley. In recent months, several alleged drug traffickers have been booked under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act, while dozens of properties linked to narcotics proceeds have been attached as part of efforts to break the economic backbone of the drug trade. Srinagar Police has also intensified awareness campaigns in educational institutions, mohallas and public spaces, warning youth against substance abuse and encouraging community participation in identifying drug peddlers. Officials said the crackdown reflects the police departments zero tolerance approach towards narcotics trafficking and substance abuse, which authorities describe as a growing threat to Kashmiri society and youth. Police urged the public to share any information related to drug peddling or substance abuse with the nearest police establishment, assuring that the identity of informants would be kept strictly confidential. Any individual found involved in drug trafficking or related unlawful activities will face strict legal action, including attachment and forfeiture of illegally acquired assets, a police spokesperson said.

Local labourers protest against Beacon department in Kupwara

Kupwara, May 23:Dozens of residents from Batpora, Jaktiyal-C, Bangam and Bharam Dhari areas of north Kashmir's Kupwara district Saturday staged a protest against the Beacon department alleging discrimination and denial of employment opportunities to local labourers. The protesters said that local workers are being continuously ignored despite the department carrying out road construction and other developmental works in the area for nearly two decades. The officials and mates of the said department are giving preference to their relatives, friends and close acquaintances while genuine local labourers are being deprived of work opportunities, they said. They said that the issue has been brought into the notice of concerned authorities several times but to no avail. The protesters warned that if their demands are not addressed, they would intensify their protest in the coming days. They have sought immediate intervention of Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Shrikant Balasaheb, Local MLA and senior Beacon officials in this regard so that they may get employment opportunities.

No official dinners, lunches, except those hosted by LG, CM: J&K Govt

Jammu, May 23:J&K Government, as a part of its annual fiscal-prudence austere-drill, has ordered complete ban on official dinners, lunches, receptions and similar hospitality functions, except those hosted by the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister. In consonance with the Prime Minister Narendra Modis appeal for fuel and energy conservation, the UT government has also asked all its departments and officials to avoid unnecessary use of official vehicles, generators, air-conditioning systems, lighting and other energy-consuming equipment. While directing all the government offices to ensure optimum utilisation of transport arrangements and reduction in avoidable movement of official vehicles, it has asked all its officers and officials to travel within the UT preferably by road or rail. These directions form part of guidelines and measures for austerity and rationalisation of expenditure as spelt out by the J&K Finance Department. J&K Financial Commissioner (ACS), Finance Department, Shailendra Kumar, in an order, has accorded sanction to the rationalisation of expenditure for fiscal prudence and economy during the current financial year 2026-27 with immediate effect. Contingent expenditure, as per the order, will be restricted strictly to unavoidable operational requirements and all discretionary expenditure will be minimized. Directors Finance or Financial Advisors and CAO or AOs will periodically review expenditure under POL and electricity charges to ensure a strict economy. The Finance department has made the Administrative Secretaries responsible for ensuring compliance of the measures outlined. Directors Finance or Financial Advisors will assist their respective departments in enforcing these measures. They have also been instructed to submit periodic compliance reports to the Finance Department. Going austere, the government, with regard to creation and filling of posts, has ordered that no new post will be created. Filling up of regular posts will be undertaken only through the prescribed recruitment agencies, viz., Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board, Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission and with concurrence of the Finance Department. Departments have been directed to identify posts remaining vacant for more than two years for surrender. Such posts will not ordinarily be revived except under rare and unavoidable circumstances and with prior clearance from the Finance Department. Engagement of consultants, outsourcing agencies, and contractual support services will be undertaken only after careful assessment of functional necessity and availability of in-house capacity. No new PMU creations will be undertaken by any department. Utmost economy, as per guidelines, will be observed in organising conferences, seminars, workshops, training programmes, and similar events. Such activities will be undertaken only where absolutely necessary and after exploring virtual alternatives. Holding of exhibitions, fairs, seminars, conferences, and workshops outside the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is strongly discouraged. There will be a complete ban on holding meetings and conferences in private hotels and commercial venues. Government buildings, conference halls, and other available government infrastructure will invariably be utilized for such purposes, it has been directed. With regard to purchase of new vehicles, it has been specified that exceptional cases, involving critical operational requirements, may be considered only with the concurrence of the Finance Department and subject to replacement against condemned vehicles with 20 percent reduction in fleet strength. Departments will ensure that condemned vehicles are auctioned and the auction proceeds deposited as Miscellaneous Revenue before submission of any proposal for replacement vehicles. Departments have been asked to ensure optimal utilisation and pooling of available government vehicles and avoid deployment of vehicles beyond functional necessity so as to promote economy in fuel consumption and maintenance expenditure. Guidelines stipulate that international travel will not be permitted unless specific approval is obtained from the Finance Department. Departments will make effective use of Video Conferencing and virtual platforms for meetings, consultations, and reviews so as to minimize avoidable travel expenditure. However, within the country, all officers will travel only by Economy Class irrespective of entitlement if need arises.Departments have been asked to adopt a digital-first approach in official functioning. Physical meetings, printing of bulky documents, physical circulation of files, and avoidable paper consumption will be minimised through maximum use of e-office, video conferencing, and digital communication platforms. Restrictions have been put in place on hiring of office accommodation, furniture and fixtures also. It has been instructed that no furniture will be procured except in case of newly established offices and only with the concurrence of the Finance Department. The Local Funds available with various Departments, Universities, Authorities, Boards, Corporations, and Agencies will also be governed by these austerity measures. Guidelines stipulate strict compliance with GFR provisions, CVC guidelines, e-tendering procedures, GeM-based procurement norms, technical sanctions, and administrative approvals in all cases. It has been specified that budget releases through BEAMS will not be permitted for non-priority new works and activities such as repair, renovation, and upgradation of residential quarters or office buildings, token provisions, lump-sum provisions, and similar non-essential works provided under BE 2026-27, unless specifically approved by the Finance Department. Fresh financial commitments will be made on items, schemes, or proposals which are not provided for in the approved Budget Estimates for FY 2026-27. Any relaxation or deviation from the austerity measures will require prior approval of the Finance Department.

HC designates 15 lawyers as Senior Advocates

Srinagar, May 23:The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Saturday designated 15 advocates as Senior Advocates following approval by the Full Court. The Advocates named as Senior Advocates have been asked to furnish undertaking in terms of Rule 5 of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (Designation of Senior Advocates) Rules, 2025, according to a notification issued by Registrar General, M K Sharma. The advocates designated as Senior Advocates are: Arifa Jan, Ajay K Gandotra, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, Rozina Afzal, Pran Nath Bhat, Abdul Rashid Malik, Monika Kohli, Adarsh Kumar Sharma, Pawan Kumar Kundal, Mandeep Reen, Radha Sharma, Ajay Pal Singh, Anshuja Sharma Tak, Manzoor Ali and Vikas Mangotra.

Diplomatic tour aimed at ensuring employment, global exposure for Indias youth: PM Modi

Jammu, May 23:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asserted that his recent diplomatic tour, spanning five countries, and agreements forged there aimed at creating employment opportunities and global exposure for Indias youth. PM Modi stated that Indias international partnerships were purposefully structured to serve its youth. He was addressing the gathering via video-conferencing during 19th Rozgar Mela where distributed more than 51,000 appointment letters to newly appointed youth in various government departments and organisations. Among 51,000 new recruits, who were handed over appointment letters by the Prime Minister through digital mode across the country, also included 229 J&K youth. These J&K youth selected, through a transparent process from J&K, for appointment in the Ministries of Railways, Home Affairs, Health and Family Welfare, Department of Financial Services and other central government departments were handed over their appointment letters physically in a function held at the Convention Centre, Jammu, following the PMs address. The event was hosted by Jammu Railway Division, as a part of PMs Rozgar Mela- the Government of Indias nationwide employment generation campaign. Divisional Railway Manager, Jammu, Vivek Kumar, who was the chief guest and Chairman, Railway Recruitment Board, Jammu, Sanjay Tyagi distributed appointment letters among the new recruits. Earlier, in his address, delineating the significance of Rozgar Mela (employment fair), the Prime Minister maintained it reflected his governments commitment to empowering the Yuva Shakti with new opportunities. Extending his heartfelt congratulations to each selected candidate, PM Modi also offered his best wishes to the families and parents whose support had been indispensable along the way. Pivoting to address the new appointees directly, the Prime Minister reminded them that the true strength of any institution lies in its people, and that the system they are joining is intimately and directly connected to the lives of crores of citizens. In whichever department you serve, your behaviour, empathy, and way of working will be of immense significance, noted PM Modi. Affirming the nations trust in the new appointees, the Prime Minister called upon every young Karmayogi to view their position as a living responsibility, to understand the growing aspirations of Indias people and to align their work accordingly. He asked them to commit to lifelong learning and continuous adaptation to new technologies, systems, and evolving needs. He asserted that Viksit Bharat would be built through the efforts of youth who considered their work a means of serving the nation. He exuded confidence that the new appointees would impart fresh momentum to Indias development journey, and that through their work and decisions, the resolve of Viksit Bharat would be fulfilled. Sharing insights from a just-concluded diplomatic tour spanning five countries, the Prime Minister stated that the world wanted to be a part of Indias development journey. Elaborating on the diplomatic and economic outcomes of the tour, the Prime Minister outlined sector-specific agreements forged and dialogues held with each nation visited. He made it clear that the purpose of partnerships and agreements was that Indias youth should get employment and global exposure. The Prime Minister emphasised that every new investment, every technology partnership, and every industrial collaboration ultimately creates fresh opportunities for Indias young people. He further underlined the long-range significance of these collaborations. These are the sectors that will shape industries defining global growth for the next 25 years, asserted PM Modi. Noting that each new partnership simultaneously widens global connectivity for Indian startups, researchers, and young professionals, he reflected on a world that respects nations which innovate, build, and deliver at scale. He expressed pride that India was advancing on all three fronts. The greatest force behind this transformation is Indias youth, all of you, affirmed PM Modi. Declaring that the opportunities available to Indias youth across manufacturing, technology, startups, digital services, railways, defence, and space were unprecedented in the countrys history, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the governments commitment to ensuring that the maximum number of young people could seize these opportunities and fully showcase their talent. In his address, Divisional Railway Manager Vivek Kumar said, The youth of Jammu and Kashmir are immensely talented. Events like Rozgar Mela are channeling their energy in the right direction for nation-building. Indian Railways is fully committed to providing world-class opportunities to the youth of this region and to advancing public welfare initiatives.

From U-19 cricket to Kashmir Golf, Jadeja keeps sport close

Srinagar, May 23:The rain clouds hung low over the lush greens of Royal Springs Golf Course as young golfer from Rajasthan quietly prepared for another round in Kashmir. Dressed casually, speaking softly and carrying none of the intensity often associated with competitive sport, Padmanav Jadeja, better known among friends as Paddy, looked more like a traveller soaking in the mountains than a player about to tee off in a two-day tournament. But golf, for him, is exactly that, travel, connection and escape. I play golf as a hobby which has now become something I really enjoy, he said with an easy smile. I like travelling and playing different courses. Jadeja, from a royal family, is now based in Rajasthan and, had returned to Kashmir after playing here nearly two years ago during the Khyber Cup. That memory, he admits, stayed with him. It was one of the better tournaments I have played, he said. The setting here is beautiful. And honestly, it is also a perfect escape from the Rajasthan and Delhi summer. While temperatures in the plains continue to soar above 40 degrees, Kashmirs cool breeze and rain-soaked mornings have become a welcome refuge for golfers. For Paddy and his friends, the decision to come was almost spontaneous. The kids holidays had started, and we thought, why not go to Kashmir and play golf, he said. What followed was less a carefully planned campaign and more a youthful sporting adventure. A few calls, conversations with organisers, and suddenly a team was formed for the WHS Sports Hub Golf Cup. We are actually just a patched-up team, he laughed. We just got together and said let us go play. There are no dramatic strategies, no intense pre-tournament meetings, and no pressure of expectations. The team, according to him, simply wants to enjoy the course and perhaps turn this visit into an annual tradition. We hope to do well, but you cant get too serious, he said. You just take it as it comes. Yet beneath the relaxed personality lies an athlete shaped by years in competitive cricket. Long before golf entered his life, Jadeja played U-19 cricket and even played a few practice matches at the professional level before deciding not to pursue cricket further. I could not make the big leap, he admitted honestly. But sport has always remained part of my life. That sporting background, he says, made the transition to golf natural. When you grow up playing cricket, you are already used to spending hours on the field, staying patient and focused, he said. But unlike many professionals who struggle to balance work and sport, he believes golf actually complements his professional life. Golf helps you connect with people, he said. Even if you build one meaningful connection in a year through the game, it makes sense. That philosophy perhaps explains why golf attracts him beyond competition. For Jadeja, the sport is less about scorecards and more about people, places and moments. And on a rainy Srinagar morning, with mist floating above the fairways and golfers gathering near the first tee, that moment felt complete. There was no visible nervousness before the round. No bold predictions either. Just a young golfer from Rajasthan, escaping the desert heat, walking calmly into the Kashmiri rain with a golf club in hand and no expectations beyond enjoying the game.

When rain fell on Royal Springs, Vicky Shaw chose Shalimar

Srinagar, May 23: The rain had just begun to settle over the emerald greens of Royal Springs Golf Course when Vicky Shaw took his cappuccino in hand and quietly watched golfers warm up for the WHS Sports Hub Golf Cup. At 45 years into the game, Shaw no longer rushes through tournament mornings. There is no visible anxiety, no frantic stretching, no loud team talk. Just a measured calm, the kind only decades on the golf course can teach. Work hard, play hard, he says softly, almost like a life philosophy rather than a sporting quote. For Shaw, golf has never been just a sport. It has been a lifelong companion. Long before he became Chairman of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kashmir, Shaw was among the prominent faces shaping professional golf in the region and beyond. He served as Vice President and later President of the Professional Golfers Association of India for nearly a decade, helping organise junior coaching camps and tournaments across India. But on Saturday morning in Srinagar, titles mattered little. What mattered was the game, the weather, and the people beside him. His team, six golfers from different cities, some strangers until this tournament, had spent the previous evening discussing something as simple as a team name on WhatsApp. I suggested two names, Chinar and Shalimar, Shaw said with a smile. Shalimar clicked instantly. I thought if we are playing in Kashmir, the name should reflect the beauty around us. And so Team Shalimar was born. The team, a blend of youth and experience, represented what golf often quietly creates, friendships without introductions and competition without hostility. We have youngsters in the team, and I understand their excitement because I was exactly like that once, he said. My only advice to them was, relax, enjoy the day, and put in your best effort. For Shaw, golf is as much about temperament as technique. If you are stressed, you wont play well. Golf teaches you patience. It teaches you how to stay calm, he said while glancing towards the misty fairways. Outside Kashmir, temperatures in cities like Delhi had crossed uncomfortable summer highs. But here, under cloudy skies and gentle rain, Shaw compared the atmosphere to Scotland, golfs spiritual home. The weather is absolutely marvellous. Golfers never stop, even if it rains, he laughed. His relationship with Kashmir Golf stretches back decades. A member of the Kashmir Golf Club for over 45 years, Shaw also witnessed the rise of Royal Springs Golf Course after its commissioning in 2001. He remembers when the course was recognised among Asias best soon after opening. According to him, golf has played a quiet but powerful role in Kashmirs tourism story. Golf tourists are high spenders. They travel, they stay longer, and they fall in love with Kashmir, he said. This sport is also a tourism multiplier. Watching younger organisers now take ownership of the sport gives him hope. Shaw praised the efforts of the Woodland House School promoters and WHS Sports Hub founders for bringing golfers from Mumbai, Delhi and Chandigarh to Srinagar. For him, however, the beauty of golf still lies in its simplicity. There is no other sport where you spend hours walking and talking with your partner or even your opponent, he said. That bonding is special. Soon after finishing his coffee, Shaw prepared for the tee-off. Around him, younger golfers adjusted gloves, checked clubs and discussed strategy. He remained composed. Forty-five years in golf had taught him that sometimes the best strategy is simply to breathe, enjoy the rain, and walk the course.

Golf tourism, grassroots infrastructure in focus as WHS Sports Hub Golf Cup tees off at RSGC

Srinagar, May 23:Stressing the need to expand sports infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir and promote golf as both a sporting and tourism asset, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani said on Saturday the government is working to create sports facilities from the district to block level while also encouraging newer sporting disciplines in the region. Wani, while speaking to Greater Kashmir after teeing off the two-day WHS Sports Hub Golf Cup 2026 at Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC), termed the tournament an important initiative for golf promotion. Wani said such events will help to revive sporting activities and simultaneously boost tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. This has now become an annual feature. We are trying to bring golfing activities back on track. We are having tournaments in Srinagar and Pahalgam and are also trying to organise one in Gulmarg. These events help us in two ways, promoting golf in Jammu and Kashmir and supporting tourism, he said. The Advisor said the government is keen to widen sports participation and expose youngsters to different sporting disciplines beyond cricket. We are trying to establish a golf academy here where younger children from schools can be trained and camps can be organised so that they are attracted towards the sport. Golf is a game that can also get us national and international recognition, he said. Highlighting the governments broader sports vision, Wani said infrastructure development remains a priority. The government, under the leadership of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, wants sports activities to spread across the length and breadth of Jammu and Kashmir. Infrastructure will be developed at district, tehsil and block levels so that children get opportunities to compete at national levels as well, he said. Referring to the ongoing development of indoor facilities, Wani said low-cost multi-purpose sports complexes are being planned to ensure sporting activities continue during winters. Our weather conditions are different, and most outdoor activities stop during winter. We want children to remain active throughout the year. Hopefully, in the next couple of years, we will have strong sports infrastructure in place, he added. Wani also underlined the convergence between sports and tourism sectors, particularly in golf. Sports and tourism will definitely go together, especially golf, which has huge tourism potential, he said. Meanwhile, Viraj Singh, co-founder of WHS Sports Hub, said the second edition of the Golf Cup has attracted golfers and guests from across the country. We hosted the first edition in 2024 with over 100 golfers, and this year too we have similar participation. The idea is to build the ecosystem of golf and showcase Royal Springs Golf Course, which is among the most scenic golf courses in the country, he said. According to Singh, the event features 14 teams comprising around 84 players along with special invitees and corporate partners. It is a team event where each side has six players. Along with competitive golf, the event also creates networking opportunities, he said. Singh said WHS Sports Hub has also been working on football and pickleball infrastructure in Kashmir and aims to use sports as a positive force for youth engagement. We want to create platforms that are accessible to all sections of society. Sports can play a huge role in keeping youngsters away from drugs, he said. He added that the organisation plans to host more tournaments and sporting events in the future to strengthen the sporting ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.

First Cochlear Implant surgery conducted at GMC Rajouri

Rajouri, May 23:Government Medical College Rajouri has achieved a major milestone in advanced healthcare services by successfully conducting a Cochlear Implant surgery for the first time under the supervision of Principal Dr AS Bhatia. With this, Government Medical College Rajouri has become the first peripheral medical college among the three newly established GMCs in the Jammu division to perform the specialised surgery. Head of Department ENT & HNS, Prof Dr Vidushi Badial, said that cochlear implant surgery creates a new pathway for sound by placing electrodes inside the cochlea to directly stimulate the hearing nerve, thereby enabling sound perception in a profoundly deaf child. The surgery was successfully carried out by the ENT Department in coordination with the DIEC team headed by Sahil Lone and Anaesthesia team led by Dr Suhail Bandey, and the operation theatre team headed by Sahil Sharma. The procedure was performed under the expert guidance of Dr Rajiv Kapila and Dr Padam Singh Jamwal. Officials and staff members appreciated the dedicated efforts of the ENT Department and all associated teams for successfully conducting the complex surgery, terming it a significant step towards strengthening advanced medical care facilities in the region. The financial assistance for this surgery was provided by NHM, and a two-year-old child from Sunderbani, Lower Hathal has been operated upon. The child was not having hearing tendency since birth and through this Cochlear implant, he will be able to hear the voices. Father of child namely Vipan Pal Sharma has said that he is from a financially poor family and was not able to be at the expenses of child's treatment but District Early Intervention Center (DEIC) has come up as a big sigh of relief as it got this crucial surgery done while ENT Department of GMC Rajouri headed by Dr. Vidushi Badial has always been at forefront to aid the family.

Amit Sharma reviews Census 2027 preparedness with JMC

Jammu, May 23:Amit Sharma, IAS, Chief Principal Census Officer (CPCO) and Director Census Operations (DCO), Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, on Saturday chaired a detailed review meeting with Principal Census Officer, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Dr Devansh Yadav, IAS, and Charge Officers of JMC regarding the ongoing Self-Enumeration exercise and overall preparedness for Census 2027 in Jammu city. The meeting, as per an official statement, was related to the review of the progress of Self-Enumeration, House Listing Block (HLB) demarcation and geo-tagging, training of Enumerators and Supervisors, media and publicity activities, mapping and jurisdictional updations, distribution of Census materials and financial preparedness relating to Census operations in JMC areas. During the interaction, CPCO Amit Sharma appreciated the efforts of Jammu Municipal Corporation and field-level Census teams in promoting Self-Enumeration and implementing preparatory activities for Census 2027 across urban areas. He observed that Jammu city is witnessing encouraging participation in Self-Enumeration and stressed upon maintaining strong momentum by intensifying the campaign in densely populated localities, residential colonies, commercial areas and major urban clusters of Jammu city during the remaining days of the Self-Enumeration period up to 31st May 2026. Amit advised that the final days of the Self-Enumeration exercise in urban agglomerations of Jammu city should be utilised aggressively for public mobilisation, awareness generation and facilitation support so that more households voluntarily complete their Self-Enumeration through the official portal. Special emphasis was laid on thematic campaigns, ward-level outreach activities and coordinated IEC initiatives in urban areas. The meeting also reviewed the status of HLB demarcation and geo-tagging activities, during which it was informed that all identified House Listing Blocks under Jammu Municipal Corporation have been fully demarcated and geo-tagged as part of the preparatory framework for Census 2027 and few officers from ORGI and DCO J&K and Ladakh also assisted online to clarify lot of doubts on the subject. CPCO Amit Sharma also assessed the progress of training programmes for Enumerators and supervisors, which was also discussed in-detail. It was informed that Field Trainer training has been completed successfully and substantial progress has been achieved in operational orientation of field-level Census functionaries regarding digital Census applications and field procedures. Detailed discussions were also held with PCO-cum-JMC Commissioner regarding media outreach initiatives, participation of dignitaries in Self-Enumeration, thematic publicity campaigns and urban awareness activities relating to Census 2027. The DCO team shared the data about receipt and distribution of Census kit items, updation of jurisdictional records and integration of ward maps on the HLBC portal. Necessary directions were issued regarding timely updation of records and systematic maintenance of operational and financial documentation relating to Census activities. Reiterating the importance of accurate demographic data for governance and developmental planning, CPCO Amit Sharma appealed to all residents of Jammu city to complete their Self-Enumeration within the notified timelines and actively participate in this exercise of national importance.

Jammu Srinagar Vande Bharat Express carries over 1 lakh passengers in just 22 days

Jammu, May 23:The state-of-the-art JammuSrinagar Vande Bharat Express has emerged as preferred, reliable and all-weather option, as over one lakh passengers have opted it to travel between the two capitals of J&K since the commencement of its commercial operations on May 2, 2026. In a historic milestone for Indian Railways and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the JammuSrinagar Vande Bharat Express has successfully carried 1,01,050 passengers within just 22 days of its commercial operations, reaffirming its growing popularity as a fast, safe and reliable transport link between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley, stated Raghvender Singh, Public Relations Inspector, Jammu Railway Division. It commenced regular commercial operations on May 2, 2026, after being flagged off by the Union Railway Minister on April 30. Since then, the Vande Bharat Express has rapidly emerged as a preferred mode of travel for passengers, setting a new benchmark in seamless rail connectivity in the region, he said. The official said that the achievement was being viewed as a landmark moment in the history of rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, where travel between Jammu and Srinagar traditionally depended on National Highway-44, frequently disrupted by landslides, snowfall and adverse weather conditions. Over the last 22 days, the train has maintained remarkable punctuality and operational reliability, providing commuters with a comfortable, efficient and dependable all-weather travel alternative, he said. Expressing satisfaction over the achievement, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM), Jammu, Uchit Singhal said the overwhelming public response reflected the trust passengers placed in the service. Carrying 1,01,050 in just 22 days is a moment of immense pride for Northern Railway. This remarkable figure is not merely a statistic but a reflection of our commitment to providing world-class rail infrastructure and services to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said. Singhal maintained that passengers responded positively to the trains comfort, hospitality, safety standards and travel efficiency, significantly reducing the fatigue traditionally associated with the JammuSrinagar journey. Our priority remains maintaining the highest standards of punctuality, cleanliness and passenger safety. We sincerely thank the people for making this service a success in such a short period, he added. Officials said the Vande Bharat Express not only strengthened year-round connectivity between the Kashmir valley and the rest of the country, but also gave a major boost to tourism and trade in the region. Improved rail connectivity is expected to facilitate faster transportation of Kashmirs apple produce and handicrafts to markets across India, benefiting local industries and businesses, they stated.

Qurbani of the Self

I am the animal. I still wait. Not outside the tent of Prophet Ibrahim (AS). Its outside the apartment gates. Marble houses. Farmhouses with decorative lights. Luxury cars parked nearby. Children come to take selfies with me. Some are afraid to touch me. Some ask my price before my name. And I wonder what I was meant for that day? That day was not about blood. That day, a father walked toward the impossible. A son walked beside trust. And heavens watched silence become faith. The knife was never the story. Submission was. The trembling of a fathers heart was. The calmness of a son was. The surrender of ego was. The obedience beyond logic was. I was only sent to remind humans: Something inside you must die. Not your child. Not your love. Not your compassion. But actually, your arrogance. Your greed. Your attachment to self. Your illusion that you own what was only entrusted to you. But now I stand watching another Eid. And I am confused. People negotiate my weight more passionately than they negotiate kindness. Families discuss meat distribution while not speaking to relatives for years. Some feed entire neighborhoods. Some post filtered photographs before feeding the poor. I see knives sharpened while hearts remain blunt. I see animals sacrificed while egos survive every Eid. And I ask myself: Was I sent only to become meat? No. I was meant to become a mirror. Look into my eyes before sacrifice. There is fear there. Stillness there. Trust there. Perhaps that was the lesson. Because the son trusted the father. And the father trusted the Almighty. Trust. That is what humanity is losing now. Today, humans sacrifice animals but protect their pride. Protect status. Protect hatred. Protect divisions. Protect inherited prejudices. Protect wealth even from hungry siblings. Then they call it a sacrifice. I hear speeches about Eid al-Adha. But the old parents sit alone in rooms aside. Workers who cleaned the house are forgotten after Eid lunch. The poor receive leftovers wrapped in pity. And social media becomes louder than prayer. Sometimes I think: Perhaps humans no longer understand me. In Ibrahims (AS) time, I arrived to stop death. Today, maybe I arrive to stop deadness. Dead compassion. Dead conscience. Dead relationships. Dead humanity. I am not offended by sacrifice. It is an honor. But sacrifice without transformation is only ritual. The desert of Ibrahim was outside. The desert of modern man is inside. Dry hearts. Thirsty souls. Big homes. Empty conversations. You sharpen knives every year. But when will you sharpen honesty? When will you slaughter hypocrisy? When will you sacrifice cruelty? I have watched poor families share one small portion with dignity greater than kings. I have seen children secretly carry meat to neighbors too ashamed to ask. I have seen tears in prayer after sacrifice. There, I understand my purpose again. Not in slaughter. In softness. In remembrance. In breaking the illusion that life revolves around the self. Perhaps the real Qurbani was never meant to happen on the ground. It was meant to happen inside the human being. Inside jealousy. Inside rage. Inside selfishness. Inside insincerity. Inside the endless greed and malice. And maybe that is why my story survives centuries. Because every generation thinks sacrifice means losing something external. But Almighty was teaching humanity how to lose the animal within themselves. The real animal was never tied outside the house. It lives inside man. And every Bakr Eid asks the same question: What are you willing to surrender for truth?

What more does Auqib Nabi need to do?

When the Indian squad for the Afghanistan Test was announced on Tuesday evening, cricket followers in Jammu & Kashmir went straight to the fast bowlers list. Mohammed Siraj was there. Prasidh Krishna too. Then came Gurnoor Brars maiden call-up. Auqib Nabis name never arrived. For many in Kashmir cricket, that was difficult to digest. Only a few months ago, Nabi was the bowler tearing through batting line-ups in the Ranji Trophy and leading Jammu & Kashmirs charge towards a title nobody thought possible at the start of the season. In the final against Karnataka, he bowled with the kind of intensity that changes matches early. KL Rahul edged one. Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair too followed. By the end of the match, J&K had created history with their first Ranji Trophy title, and Nabi had finished with a five-wicket haul in the biggest game of his career. Normally, that sort of season pushes a player into the national conversation automatically. This time, it did not. The numbers are not ordinary either. Nabi has taken more than 100 wickets across the last two Ranji seasons. Last season alone, he finished with 60 wickets in 10 matches, the highest in the tournament. The previous year, he had already picked up 44 wickets in eight matches. There was also that hat-trick in the Duleep Trophy which briefly made people feel the India cap was now only a matter of time. Instead, the wait continues. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar admitted Nabis name did come up during discussions. According to Agarkar, India preferred going with only three seamers because the match is at home. That explanation has not ended the debate. Former India opener Aakash Chopra publicly questioned the decision and openly wondered what more Nabi needed to do after becoming one of the countrys most successful domestic bowlers over the last two years. Even former J&K captain Samiullah Beigh reacted strongly, calling the omission grossly unfair. Inside Kashmir cricket circles, the disappointment is obvious. Players from the region have always felt they need extraordinary seasons to get noticed nationally. Nabi seemed to have delivered exactly that. Not just wickets, but impact wickets. Match-winning spells. Big performances in knockout games. That is why many expected this to finally be his moment. To be fair, selectors do not pick teams purely on statistics. They look at pace, conditions, combinations and long-term planning. Gurnoor Brar is a promising bowler and clearly somebody the selectors see potential in. Still, comparisons were always going to happen because the gap in first-class output between the two bowlers is significant. Indian cricket repeatedly talks about the importance of domestic cricket. Every season, players are told that performances in the Ranji Trophy matter. Nabis case has now become part of that larger discussion. Because if a fast bowler can take over 100 wickets in two seasons, lead his side to a historic Ranji Trophy win and still remain outside the Indian team against Afghanistan, then naturally people will ask where exactly the reward for domestic cricket lies. For now, Nabi will go back to doing what he has done for two years, bowl long spells, keep taking wickets and wait for the next squad announcement. Author is Sub-Editor at Greater Kashmir

Dream of Safe Drinking Water

India today is seen as a rising global power. It is one of the worlds fastest-growing major economies, a digital leader, a space power, a strong military nation, and an increasingly important player in global politics. Highways are expanding, airports are increasing, metro rail networks are changing cities, and the vision of becoming a developed country by 2047 is shaping national discussions. Even though all these achievements are visible, one harsh reality still remains millions of Indians do not trust the water coming from their taps. Most people still prefer bottled water, water purifiers, or boiling water before drinking it. This lack of trust shows that an important part of our countrys development journey is still unfinished. The day every citizen, as well as every tourist visiting India, can confidently drink water directly from a tap at home, a railway station, school, hotel, airport, office, or roadside public place without fear of illness, that will be the day India can truly call itself a fully developed nation. Safe tap water is not just a basic service. It is a sign of good governance, strong public health systems, environmental responsibility, and civic discipline. Civilisations have always grown around water. From the Indus Valley civilization to the banks of the Nile and the Tigris-Euphrates, access to clean water determined the survival and prosperity of societies. Even today, developed countries such as Germany, Australia, the United States, and much of Europe take immense pride in the fact that their citizens can drink water directly from the tap. In cities such as Berlin, public fountains and household taps symbolise public trust in governance and infrastructure. However, despite our rapid transformation, individual and society development are still far from that stage. To be fair, the government has made major achievements in expanding access to drinking water, and these efforts deserve recognition. Since the launch of the Jal Jeevan Mission in 2019, tap water connections in rural India have increased at a very fast pace. According to official figures, only around 3.23 crore rural households had tap water connections in August 2019. By March 2026, this number had reportedly crossed 15.82 crore households. The Union Budget for 202627 has allocated more than 67,000 crore for the mission, which has now been extended till 2028. This is no small achievement. Villages in remote regions of Ladakh, Sikkim, Jharkhand and Gujarat are now receiving piped water connections that were unimaginable a decade ago. Women no longer have to walk several kilometres carrying pots of water. Schools and anganwadis now have better access to drinking water. Local participation through village committees and womens groups has strengthened rural water governance in many regions. The government is right to celebrate these achievements. But there is a difference between water reaching a household and water being safe enough to drink directly from the tap. That remains the biggest challenge. India continues to face a severe water quality crisis. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, more than 70% of Indias surface water is unsafe for direct consumption. Hundreds of river stretches remain polluted due to untreated sewage, industrial waste, agricultural runoff and poor urban planning. Groundwater contamination from arsenic, fluoride and nitrates still continues to affect several states despite the government taking several checks. India is home to some of the worlds largest rivers, receives substantial monsoon rainfall, cleanest water from the foothills of Himalayas, and has invested massively in dams, pipelines and treatment systems. Yet ordinary citizens rarely trust the water flowing from their taps. Instead, our country has quietly built a parallel economy around unsafe drinking water. Nearly every household today uses a purifier, reverse osmosis system, or boils water before drinking it. Restaurants routinely serve filtered or bottled water instead of direct municipal supply. Offices install expensive filtration plants. Travellers buy packaged water bottles at railway stations, airports and roadside shops. The bottled water industry and domestic water purifier market are booming precisely because public confidence in tap water remains weak. This is perhaps the most honest fact-check of Indias drinking water reality. If Indias tap water were genuinely safe, millions of households would not feel compelled to spend additional money every month filtering water that has already supposedly been treated by civic authorities. The problem is not merely infrastructure. It is also governance, monitoring, enforcement and public behaviour. Our country already has strong legal frameworks. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 and the Environment Protection Act of 1986 empower authorities to regulate pollution and water quality. The National Water Policy speaks about integrated water management and conservation. Missions such as Namami Gange Programme and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation have sought to improve water infrastructure and urban sanitation. However, the implementation of many water and sanitation programmes still remains uneven across the country. Untreated sewage continues to flow into rivers. Lakes and ponds are disappearing because of encroachments and unchecked construction. Plastic waste blocks drains and pollutes water ecosystems. In many cities, damaged and leaking pipelines allow sewage water to mix with drinking water supplies. Water testing and monitoring systems are still weak, especially in smaller towns and rural areas. The government alone cannot solve this challenge unless citizens also change their habits and behaviour. A developed nation is not built only through government spending and big infrastructure projects; it is also built through public responsibility and civic discipline. Clean surroundings and safe drinking water are closely connected. Throwing garbage into drains, dumping waste into rivers, polluting lakes, and ignoring sanitation rules all lead to water contamination. Many people demand world-class facilities but continue practices that harm the environment. At the same time, there are positive examples that prove India can achieve global standards in safe drinking water. Odisha has emerged as a leading example through its Drink From Tap mission implemented by the Water Corporation of Odisha. Cities like Puri and Bhubaneswar have shown that round-the-clock safe tap water supply is possible in India when technology, efficient governance, and public trust work together. By using real-time monitoring systems, SCADA technology, GIS-based mapping, strict water quality checks, and transparent communication with people, Odisha has shown that Indian cities do not need to depend on bottled water forever. The success of cities like Puri and Bhubaneswar proves that safe tap water for everyone is possible in India. This model should now be expanded to other parts of the country. But providing safe drinking water to every Indian will require much bigger efforts. India needs major investment in sewage treatment plants, recycling of wastewater, cleaning of rivers, protection of groundwater, and better city planning. Water quality checking systems should work in real time and the information should be easily available to the public. Local authorities must be held responsible whenever drinking water gets contaminated. Schools should also teach water conservation and sanitation as basic civic responsibilities, not only as environmental subjects. Most importantly, India must rebuild public trust in its water systems. In developed countries, people drink tap water because they trust public institutions and water quality systems. In India, that trust is still weak because failures happen too often and without warning. Restoring this confidence may be the countrys biggest challenge. Indias ambitions are very large. The country aims to become a 10-trillion-dollar economy, a global manufacturing hub, a major tourism destination, and a developed nation by 2047. But development cannot be measured only through GDP growth, highways, airports, or skyscrapers. Real development must also be reflected in everyday life. There are many ifs that can be the measuring marks. Can a child safely drink water from a school tap? Can a tourist fill a water bottle at a railway station without worrying about falling sick? Can ordinary families stop spending large sums on water filters and bottled water? Can Indias rivers become clean and healthy again? When the answer to all these questions becomes yes across the country, India will not only appear developed, it will truly feel like a developed nation. Safe drinking water from every tap is not a luxury. It is one of the most basic signs of a civilised society. Surinder Singh Oberoi, National Editor Greater Kashmir

Security, Stability or Statehood

Jammu and Kashmir occupies a unique place in Indias national consciousness. It is not merely a territorial unit or a constitutional subject. It is one of Indias most sensitive strategic frontiers geographically vulnerable, politically symbolic, and central to the countrys sovereignty and national security architecture. For more than three decades, the region suffered the devastating consequences of terrorism, separatism, foreign interference, political instability, and institutional collapse. Thousands of civilians, soldiers, police personnel, and innocent young Kashmiris lost their lives in a conflict fuelled not merely by local failures, but by Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and sustained geopolitical hostility toward India. Entire generations grew up amid curfews, shutdowns, stone-pelting campaigns, fear, economic stagnation, and uncertainty. Tourism repeatedly collapsed. Investment disappeared. Schools remained shut. Public institutions weakened. Radical narratives occupied public space while governance often became secondary to political symbolism. No serious nation can afford to ignore that painful history. That is precisely why the future of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be approached through emotional constitutional politics or electoral sentimentality. It must be approached through the larger lens of national security, institutional stability, governance reform, and irreversible peace. Jammu & Kashmir Is Not Comparable to Ordinary States Those demanding immediate restoration of full statehood often overlook a fundamental strategic reality: Jammu and Kashmir is not an ordinary administrative unit. It borders Pakistan and China two nuclear-armed adversaries. It remains one of the worlds most targeted regions for cross-border terrorism, radical propaganda, infiltration networks, and geopolitical destabilisation. Pakistans military establishment has historically treated Jammu and Kashmir not as a democratic issue, but as a proxy conflict theatre against India. Terror infrastructure across the border remains active. Sleeper cells continue operating. Radical ecosystems continue targeting vulnerable youth. Even today, infiltration attempts and terror incidents continue despite major improvements in the security environment. The April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack was a grim reminder that terrorism has not disappeared. It is waiting for opportunities to exploit instability. In such circumstances, weakening central administrative coordination or politicising security management would not be democratic maturity it would be strategic recklessness. The Union Territory framework exists not merely as an administrative arrangement, but as a stabilising national-security architecture designed to protect both the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Indias sovereignty. The Home Department Is About Security Not Civic Governance A major misconception deliberately encouraged in political discourse is that the Union Territory structure prevents governance delivery. This is factually misleading. The sectors retained under stronger Union supervision primarily involve: Internal security; Intelligence coordination; Counter-terror operations; Law and order; Paramilitary deployment; and Strategic security management. These are matters directly linked to national security. However, the elected government already exercises substantial powers over virtually every major governance sector affecting daily life, including: Urban development Municipal administration Public works Education Healthcare Tourism Agriculture Rural development Welfare delivery Environmental management Employment initiatives Public service delivery Therefore, if Srinagar floods after moderate rainfall, if garbage remains unmanaged, if illegal construction flourishes, if Dal Lake deteriorates, if unemployment rises, or if municipal systems fail the issue is not the Home Department. The issue is governance failure within departments directly controlled by the elected administration. Urban Governance: Massive Spending, Poor Outcomes. One of the clearest examples of governance failure lies in urban management. The urban centers projects projected as transformative initiatives intended to modernise urban infrastructure, mobility, drainage, public spaces, and civic systems. But needs more attention and focus top realise full potential. Meanwhile, residents themselves increasingly criticised the absence of green urban planning, pedestrian-friendly development, and ecological sensitivity in Srinagars redevelopment model. Compare this with Chandigarh also a Union Territory. Chandigarh consistently ranks among Indias cleanest and best-planned cities because of: Scientific urban zoning; Strong municipal discipline; Effective waste management; Planned green spaces; Regulated construction; and Administrative continuity. Its Union Territory status did not prevent effective urban governance. Similarly, Delhi despite constitutional limitations significantly improved: Mohalla clinic healthcare systems; Government school infrastructure; Public transport integration; and Digitised public service delivery. The lesson is simple: governance outcomes depend on administrative competence, not constitutional slogans. Environmental Governance: A Systemic Failure Perhaps the gravest governance failure in Jammu and Kashmir lies in environmental management. A recent Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit revealed that Jammu and Kashmir lost 315 lakes since 1967, while another 203 lakes significantly shrank, resulting in a loss of nearly 2,851 hectares of lake area. The report concluded that: 74% of lakes in J&K have either disappeared or shrunk; Only six lakes receive serious conservation attention; Fragmented governance and weak coordination remain major causes; Encroachments and illegal construction continue unchecked; and Environmental monitoring remains deeply inadequate. This is not a constitutional failure. Environmental management lies directly within the functioning domain of the elected administration. The government could have already implemented: Strict ecological zoning laws; GIS-based encroachment monitoring; Urban wetland protection systems; Scientific tourism carrying-capacity frameworks; Independent environmental oversight authorities; and Climate-resilience planning. Instead, environmental governance remains reactive and fragmented. Compare this with Puducherry, which despite being a small Union Territory, consistently performs better in urban sanitation, environmental management, and human development indicators through focused administrative execution. Tourism Growth Without Planning Is Becoming Unsustainable Tourism is frequently cited as evidence of post-2019 normalcy and rightly so. Jammu and Kashmir recorded more than 2 crore tourist visits in 2023, creating employment for transporters, artisans, hoteliers, guides, handicraft workers, pony operators, and thousands of small businesses. Yet tourism growth without infrastructure discipline is becoming environmentally and administratively unsustainable. Visitors increasingly report: Traffic congestion; Waste accumulation; Poor sanitation; Overcrowding at destinations; and Weak civic management. Tourism policy remains heavily concentrated around a few destinations such as Gulmarg and Pahalgam, while enormous untapped potential across Jammu division and lesser-known Kashmir regions remains underdeveloped. The government could have: Developed heritage tourism circuits; Expanded winter sports infrastructure; Professionalised adventure tourism; Improved sanitation systems; Built international-standard convention infrastructure; and Linked tourism growth to local skill-development ecosystems. These are governance functions already fully available under the present framework. Electricity Sector: Financial Mismanagement on a Massive Scale The power sector remains one of Jammu and Kashmirs biggest administrative failures. Official figures acknowledge nearly 28,000 crore in liabilities and off-budget borrowings due to: AT&C losses; Power theft; Weak billing systems; and Unsustainable subsidies. This financial crisis is not linked to constitutional status. Power distribution, billing reform, transmission management, and anti-theft enforcement are governance responsibilities already available to the elected administration. Compare this with Chandigarh and Daman and Diu, where tighter administrative controls and modernised systems significantly reduced utility inefficiencies. Jammu and Kashmir could have aggressively expanded: Smart metering; Solar rooftop systems; Energy-efficient public infrastructure; Billing digitisation; and Anti-theft enforcement mechanisms. Instead, politically difficult reforms continue to be postponed. Youth Employment: Political Mobilisation Without Economic Vision Perhaps the greatest long-term risk facing Jammu and Kashmir is youth unemployment. More than 3.5 lakh educated youth reportedly remain unemployed across the Union Territory. Yet instead of creating a serious long-term economic transformation strategy, political discourse remains overwhelmingly centred on constitutional politics. The government could have already prioritised: IT and remote-work infrastructure; Startup incubation ecosystems; Horticulture value-chain industries; Food processing; Renewable energy sectors; Handicraft export modernisation; and Tourism-linked entrepreneurship. Governance requires building opportunity not merely amplifying grievance narratives. The Fiscal Reality and Dilemma One issue rarely discussed honestly is fiscal sustainability. Jammu and Kashmirs FY 202425 budget crossed approximately 1.18 lakh crore, yet the region remains heavily dependent on financial support from the Government of India. Massive expenditures continue in: Salaries Pensions Subsidies Welfare schemes Power-sector liabilities. At present, the enormous financial burden of: Counter-terror operations Intelligence infrastructure Paramilitary deployment Strategic policing Security logistics is substantially borne directly by the Government of India. Premature restoration of full statehood would gradually transfer far greater fiscal responsibility for internal security management onto Jammu and Kashmirs already strained finances. Would that reduce resources available for: Healthcare? Education? Urban infrastructure? Environmental restoration? Employment programs? These are serious governance questions not emotional slogans. Governance Must Come Before Political Reward In conflict-sensitive regions, constitutional evolution must follow demonstrated stability, institutional maturity, governance credibility, and fiscal discipline. Not precede them. The correct sequence is simple: First: Peace; Stability; Deradicalisation; Governance reform; Institutional accountability; Fiscal sustainability; and Economic modernisation. Then: Greater constitutional transition. Not the reverse. Because if there is one lesson history repeatedly teaches Jammu and Kashmir, it is this: Whenever governance weakens and political uncertainty grows, hostile forces exploit the vacuum. Above Politics Stands the Nation. The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve peace more than perpetual political mobilisation. They deserve: Clean cities; Functioning hospitals; Reliable electricity; Stable schools; Transparent institutions; Employment opportunities; Safe tourism; Environmental protection; and Freedom from fear. None of these aspirations are prevented by Union Territory status. But all of them can be destroyed by renewed instability. National security is not anti-democratic. It is the shield that protects democracy itself. India cannot afford another cycle of uncertainty in Jammu and Kashmir. Too much blood has already been shed. Too many families have suffered. Too many soldiers have sacrificed their lives defending the region from terrorism and separatist violence. The future of Jammu and Kashmir must now be guided not by emotional constitutional politics, but by strategic wisdom, governance delivery, institutional maturity, and national responsibility. Because above politics stands the nation. And above every political demand stands Indias unity, integrity, and security. The author is freelancer and Independent Political Analyst.

J&K House Chanakyapuri gets modern VVIP makeover

New Delhi, May 23:Jammu and Kashmir House at Chanakyapuri unveiled its newly redeveloped VVIP accommodation facilities on Friday, adding critical capacity to the J&Ks hospitality infrastructure for the dignitaries visiting the national capital. Resident Commissioner, J&K, Ramesh Kumar, inaugurated the modernised 4th floor of C-Block in the presence of Additional Resident Commissioner Anil Kumar Sharma and senior officers of the Resident Commission. The upgrade has come after the reorganisation of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, when A and B Blocks were transferred to the Union Territory of Ladakh. That left J&K with only the ageing C-Block, sharply cutting accommodation for the visiting Ministers, MPs, senior civil and police officers, judicial officers and official delegations. To address the gap, the administration undertook a comprehensive revamp of the 4th floor. The redesigned level now houses three suites, including Pashmina, Hangul and Chinar and two VVIP rooms named Trikuta and Saffron. These all have been built on contemporary hospitality standards for comfort, security and a professional environment. Jammu and Kashmir House in Chanakyapuri has long served as J&Ks principal official residence and reception centre in New Delhi, hosting ministers, legislators, senior bureaucrats, judicial officers, and official delegations. Following the 2019 reorganisation of the erstwhile state, A and B Blocks of the complex were allocated to the Union Territory of Ladakh, substantially reducing accommodation available to J&K guests. With only C-Block remaining under its control, pressure on existing infrastructure increased sharply. The latest redevelopment is part of efforts by the J&K administration to augment accommodation capacity and modernise facilities to meet growing official requirements in the national capital.

BJP rejected by people for 60 months, they should digest it: Satish Sharma

Srinagar, May 23: Minister for Youth Service and Sports, Satish Sharma, on Saturday said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was in New Delhi on a mission and expressed hope that he would return with something positive for Jammu and Kashmir. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a Special National Integration Camp (SNIC) at Badami Bagh Cantonment, Sharma said CM Omar was holding meetings in New Delhi. The CM is in New Delhi on a mission. He is meeting people there, and we are expecting that he will return with something good, Sharma said. On the BJPs criticism that the CM was missing on the ground, Sharma said the party had been rejected by the people of J&K for the next five years and should accept the mandate. The BJP is in opposition for the sake of opposition. The fact is that they have been rejected by the people of J&K for 60 months. The feeling of rejection is hard to digest, but they have to play a constructive role as opposition, he said. The minister said political parties should rise above political differences and work collectively for the welfare and development of J&K. We should rise above party politics and give our efforts to make J&K beautiful and prosperous. I wont go by what they (BJP) say about the CM, he said. Sharma highlighted the role of youth and sports in social transformation, saying that sports activities were being expanded across J&K to keep youngsters away from drug abuse. Sports is the only way to keep youth away from drugs. I will not discuss what we have done during the last months, but we all should play a positive role to channelise the energy of our youth, he said. Sharma said that the government was planning to host major sporting events in J&K. The minister said J&K had already hosted water sports events and downhill mountain biking competitions in Gulmarg. We will hold similar sporting events in Sonamarg as well, he said. Sharma said efforts were underway to host Commonwealth-level Kho-Kho events in the region. We have called sports ministers here for four days. J&K will prosper, he said. Sharma also underlined the importance of unity and diversity, saying National Cadets and Corps (NCC) cadets represented the spirit of the country. Our NCC cadets do not believe in caste, creed, and colour. Diversity is our strength and NCC cadets are our ambassadors, he said. Referring to the tourism sector, Sharma said tourist arrivals in J&K had increased despite challenges faced in the past. People from many states are coming here in large numbers. One year ago, we had an apprehension that our enemy had harmed us, but our people are strong, and the tourists from all the states are coming to Kashmir, he said. Sharma said that he would serve the people of J&K as their true representative. I am the son of a soldier, and I say it with pride, he said. We will explore options to promote tourism in hilly areas, including Chenab Valley, Kathua, and other places. There are wonderful things waiting for our J&K.

Srinagar-Jammu National Highway open for 2-way traffic

Ramban, May 23: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained open for two-way movement of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) on Saturday, although traffic movement continued to remain slow at several stretches due to congestion, vehicle breakdowns, and the movement of nomadic herds between Ramban and Banihal. Traffic authorities said that, subject to fair weather and favourable road conditions, the highway is likely to remain open for two-way movement of light, medium and heavy vehicles on Sunday as well. Officials said heavy congestion was witnessed between Marog and Kishtwari Pather, where single-lane road conditions created bottlenecks and hampered smooth vehicular movement. The situation further worsened after two heavy vehicles broke down at Ramsu and Nachlana, causing prolonged delays for commuters. Traffic movement was also affected by the large-scale migration of nomadic herds along the Nachlana-Banihal stretch. Officials said around 13 livestock herds crossed the highway on Thursday, while more such movements are expected in the coming days, likely to further impact traffic flow on the busy highway. Traffic movement on the single-lane stretch between Marog and Kishtwari Pather is expected to remain slow due to the continued movement of nomadic herds, officials said. Authorities have advised commuters to maintain strict lane discipline and avoid overtaking, warning that wrong-lane driving and traffic violations could lead to further congestion and traffic jams. Passengers and operators of LMVs have also been advised to undertake travel only during daylight hours and avoid night travel due to the risk of shooting stones, landslides, ongoing construction work between Ramban and Banihal, and the continued movement of nomadic herds along the highway. Traffic Control Units in Jammu and Srinagar, in coordination with the Ramban district administration, are closely monitoring the situation. Commuters have been urged to check the latest traffic and road status before undertaking their journey on the highway. Meanwhile, the Kishtwar-Sinthan Top-Anantnag National Highway remained open for vehicular movement.

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