Opinion

Short: Indian Navy confined entire Pak Navy to its ports during Operation Sindoor: Rajnath

Hailstorm Causes Extensive Damage to Orchards and Crops in Shopian Villages

Home Minister Amit Shah Chairs Security Review Meeting On Border-Related Issues

NEW DELHI, May 30: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, chaired a security review meeting in Bhuj, Gujarat, focusing on security-related issues concerning the border and coastal districts of Gujarat situated along the India-Pakistan Border (IPB). Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Chief Secretary, DGP, Gujarat, along with other senior state government officials, as well as the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police of Kutch, Vav-Tharad, and Patan were present in the meeting. With a [] The post Home Minister Amit Shah Chairs Security Review Meeting On Border-Related Issues appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

D K Shivakumar Elected Cong Legislature Party Leader, Set To Be New Karnataka CM

BENGALURU, May 30: Karnataka state Congress President D K Shivakumar was elected leader of the legislature party on Saturday, paving the way for him to take over as the next chief minister of the state. Senior leader Siddaramaiah, the outgoing chief minister, proposed Shivakumars name as the new leader of the legislature party at the meeting held at Vidhan Soudha. The meeting was overseen by AICC general secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala. However, the CLP meeting to [] The post D K Shivakumar Elected Cong Legislature Party Leader, Set To Be New Karnataka CM appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

CUET-UG exam hit by technical glitch; NTA orders probe, announces retest for 3765 candidates

Srinagar, May 30: Hundreds of candidates appearing for the Common University Entrance Test Undergraduate (CUET-UG) 2026 faced disruption on Saturday after a technical glitch at several examination centres delayed the commencement of the first shift, prompting the National Testing Agency (NTA) to order an investigation and announce a special re-examination for affected students. In an official statement, the NTA said the technical issue, reported by its service provider TCS iON, affected the start of Shift-I examinations at some centres across the country. While the problem was later resolved and the examination resumed with compensatory time, the disruption caused inconvenience and uncertainty for candidates and their families. According to the agency, nearly 95 per cent of candidates were able to complete their examination after services were restored. However, 3,765 candidates who had reported to their centres, completed biometric registration and were present for the examination chose to leave before the test could restart. The NTA said these candidates would be given a fresh opportunity to take the examination through a one-time rescheduled test. The date and other details of the special examination will be announced separately on the official CUET website. The technical service provider, TCS iON, has been directed to conduct a root-cause analysis and submit its report immediately, the agency said, adding that no candidate who remained at the centre would be disadvantaged as full compensatory time was provided. The agency further revised the schedule for the afternoon session, postponing the commencement of the examination by one hour. Candidates were asked to report at 2.30 pm, while the examination began at 4 pm instead of the originally scheduled 3 pm. NTA expressed regret over the disruption, stating that it understood the distress caused to students and parents. It reiterated that candidates who were present at their centres on May 30, completed biometric verification but could not complete the examination due to the technical failure would be accommodated through the rescheduled test. The incident comes weeks before the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2026, scheduled for June 21. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the Delhi Government would provide free travel in all Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses for NEET-UG 2026 candidates on examination day upon presentation of a valid admit card. No student should face inconvenience on a day that holds such importance for their future, the Chief Minister said in a post on X and extended her best wishes to aspirants appearing for the medical entrance examination.

LG directs Ladakh Admin to adopt austerity measures as per PM's call

Leh, May 30: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday directed departments to promote austerity, adopt sustainable practices and ensure the judicious use of natural resources, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's austerity call. The directions aim to reduce government expenditure, cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions, promote renewable energy, encourage the use of sustainable products, strengthen local livelihoods and enhance environmental sustainability, officials said. Saxena also called for greater promotion of domestic tourism, natural farming, renewable energy and efficient utilisation of public resources across sectors. The Lieutenant Governor said he has already reduced the number of vehicles in his official motorcade by 50 per cent following the Prime Minister's appeal. Calling for a coordinated and time-bound approach, Saxena directed all administrative secretaries to implement the measures through their respective departments and issue necessary instructions to subordinate offices and field formations. The Prime Minister has given a timely and visionary call for adopting sustainable practices in our daily lives, governance systems and developmental activities. Resource conservation, promotion of renewable energy, support to local products, healthy lifestyles and sustainable development are collective responsibilities, Saxena said. He said Ladakh, with its unique ecology and immense potential, is well placed to lead by example in implementing such transformative measures. The Lieutenant Governor directed all departments to submit a consolidated Action Taken Report (ATR) to the Chief Secretary within 30 days and launch public awareness campaigns on energy conservation, domestic tourism, local products, healthy lifestyles, natural farming and sustainable development. Under these directions, the general administration department has been asked to maximise the use of video conferencing and digital platforms for meetings and training programmes, reduce official travel and examine the feasibility of work-from-home and hybrid working arrangements wherever appropriate. The Power, Transport and Urban Development departments have been tasked with promoting energy conservation, accelerating installation of rooftop solar systems in government buildings, expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure and encouraging the use of public transport and electric vehicles. The public works department has been directed to encourage environmentally sustainable construction materials, promote the use of plastic waste in road construction where feasible and explore green technologies such as bio-bitumen. The Industries and Commerce, Handicrafts and Handloom, and Rural Development departments have been asked to strengthen the promotion of local products under the 'vocal for local' and 'one district one product' initiatives and support MSMEs, artisans, self-help groups and cooperatives. The tourism department has been directed to intensify campaigns to promote Ladakh as a preferred domestic tourism destination and encourage responsible and sustainable tourism practices. The agriculture and horticulture departments will promote natural farming and sustainable agriculture through awareness programmes and capacity-building activities, and the Health Department has been asked to conduct campaigns promoting healthy lifestyles and balanced dietary habits, officials said.

Rusted mortar shell found in JK's Poonch, defused

Jammu, May 30: A rusted mortar shell was recovered near a river in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday and later defused safely, officials said. The shell was found in Jogger's Park by a youth who had gone for a morning walk in the park near the Pulastya River, close to the Sher-i-Kashmir Bridge on the outskirts of Poonch town, they said. He informed the police, prompting the Army to rush to the area and defuse the shell safely, they said.

The poet who shaped a filmmaker: Vishal Bhardwaj recalls a lifetime of friendship with Bashir Badr

New Delhi, May 30: Years later, when dementia had erased much of his memory, Bashir Badr would still react to Vishal Bhardwaj's name, the filmmaker said, recalling the formative bond he shared with the great Urdu poet from the age of 19. Badr was a rising star on the literary scene and Bhardwaj just a student who had fallen in love with the poet's verses. Such was the impact of Badrs poetry that he still remembers the first couplet that he heard all those years ago: Yeh ek ped hai, aa is se mil ke ro le hum, yahan se tere mere raaste badalate hain. The poet passed away on Thursday at the age of 91, almost a decade after he withdrew from public performances due to the onset of dementia. Whenever I called his home to check on him, his son Tayeb and Rahat apa (Badrs wife) would tell me that he still reacts to my name. I remember, we cried so much when we got to know he had dementia. In 2010, he had stopped talking for days and one day I had forgotten a couplet. I said, Mera dimag bhi dhadakata hai mere dil ki tarah' and asked him, 'Doc sahab, I dont remember the next line and he suddenly added, 'Mita diye hain faasle sab mohabbat ne'. We were all surprised. So, sometimes he would have these flashes of memory, Bhardwaj told PTI in an interview. Over the years, the filmmaker has honoured Badr through his work whether by including the poet's name and poetry in Dedh Ishqiya or by using his writing for composing music in films such as Betaabi and Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar, projects from the early years of his career. Bhardwaj has independently composed and released many of Badr's ghazals, most recently Main Ghana Andhera Hoon. Next month, he will release another composition from the poet, Nariyal ke Darakhton ki Pagal Hawa. The track of poetry in my life is the strongest part of my personality, my creativity. My music is because of my poetry. My films are because of my poetry. My father was also a poet. And I consider Bashir Badr and Gulzar as my other parental figures. They have shaped me. I am so fortunate to have had that influence in my life. Looking back at their friendship, Bhardwaj said it all began in Meerut, where Badr used to live and teach while the director was still a student. Badrs daughter and Bhardwajs sister were classmates. He asked his sister to take him to meet Saba (Badrs daughter) who then lent him Badr's book. The filmmaker said he spent the night copying the verses in his diary. It was a time when names like Mehdi Hasan, Ghulam Ali, Jagjit Singh and Chitra, and Pankaj Udhaas had started brewing this tornado of Urdu poetry and ghazal and the youth was obsessed with poetry. I think this was the most beautiful youth period of India. Bhardwaj eventually started to frequent the poet's house. At the time, my memory was really sharp... I could easily memorise poems. I started meeting doc sahab every weekend. He used to read to me his latest poems. Then, the very unfortunate incident happened, his house was burnt down (in 1987). Most of his latest work was burnt along with the house. We are such a bad race as people that we burn poets houses. Badr also lost his first wife at around the same time and fell into depression. It was during this time that he wrote the oft quoted lines: Log toot jaate hain ek ghar banane mein, tum taras nahi khate bastiya jalane mein. The poet left Meerut and settled in Bhopal after that incident. Bhardwaj's sharp memory turned out to be a blessing. I could remember 90 per cent of what he had narrated to me. And he would ask me about those couplets and I would narrate him back. I helped him retrieve at least 90 per cent of the poetry, it was like a years work. While Badr was in Meerut and teaching at the college there, Bhardwaj said he and the poets friend Prem Bhandari formed an unlikely triad. Bhandari sahab was 60 years old. I was 19 years old and Bashir sahab must be 50 at that time. Only two people were allowed in the evening to be with him, me and Bhandari sahab. It was such a strange company because his children were not allowed. So, the three of us used to talk about poetry and life, what a triad this was. Bhardwaj went on to build his reputation in the film industry, first as a composer and later as a filmmaker who introduced a new idiom to Hindi cinema with his movies, including the three successful adaptations of Shakespeares tragedies Maqbool (Macbeth), Omkara (Othello) and later Haider: (Hamlet). But it was Badr who first recognised the composer in him. I was a musician in those days and he recognised that in me I had no interest in literature. I was a very bad student. I never thought that I would have anything to do with Shakespeare. But you opened any book by Gulzar and Bashir Badr and I could recite the whole page. I had such a memory about these two poets. And at the subconscious level, my grooming happened because of Bashir Badr. Even today, Bhardwaj said if he really forms a bond with someone, he gives Badr's book as a gift to that person. He bought over 50 copies of Badr's whole collection years ago. Whenever I love someone and I have to give them a gift, I give them a book of 'Culture Yaksan'. And if you received the book from me then that means you have my genuine love because when you read something so beautiful, you want to share the most beautiful part of your life. Even when life got busier for them, they wouldnt leave without meeting each other whenever they were in the city, whether Bhardwaj was visiting Meerut or Badr Delhi. When Bhardwaj shot Maqbool in Bhopal, Badr would come and stay with Bhardwaj's family. The filmmaker would also accompany the poet to mushairas across Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. When I came to Bombay, he used to come to my house and stay. We have so many memories of Gulzar sahib and him together, they would discuss poetry for hours. They both were big fans of each others work. Badr was most happy with the success Bhardwaj achieved in the Mumbai film industry. Even when I was struggling, he would tell everyone, 'I'm Bashir Badr and you have to trust me when I say that this boy is very talented.' He was a saint, a beautiful saint. All poets are saints, but Bashir Badr was a saint of some other level, the filmmaker said. Bhardwaj will attend a memorial for Badr on June 4 at Ravindra Bhawan in Bhopal.

J&K Hajj Committee official speaks on luggage controversy

Div Com Kashmir chairs meeting with stakeholders to review preparations for Amarnath Yatra

Donald Trumps Daughter Visits Taj Mahal

AGRA (UP), May 30: American President Donald Trumps daughter Tiffany visited the iconic Taj Mahal with her husband Michael Boulos on Saturday and spent about an hour exploring the monument, officials said. Trump arrived at the Taj Mahal around 11 am along with Boulos and a few close friends. During her visit, she extensively toured the monument and clicked pictures at various locations within the complex. Tourist guide Ramesh Diwan said she showed keen interest in the history and architecture [] The post Donald Trumps Daughter Visits Taj Mahal appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Indian Navy Confined Entire Pak Navy To Its Ports During Operation Sindoor: Rajnath

LUCKNOW, May 30: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that the Indian Navy forced the entire Pakistan Navy to remain confined to its ports during Operation Sindoor. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Nausena Shaurya Vatika, an open-air naval museum here, Singh said, The Navy played a significant role in maintaining pressure on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Our Navy was deployed in the Arabian Sea with full preparedness and strength, maintaining constant pressure on the adversary. As a result, [] The post Indian Navy Confined Entire Pak Navy To Its Ports During Operation Sindoor: Rajnath appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Why Interest Keeps Adding Up During Education Loan Moratorium

You took out an education loan, finished your degree, and now you're in the moratorium period. No EMIs due yet. It feels like a breather. But your loan balance? It's growing every single month. And by the time repayment kicks in, you might owe significantly more than you originally borrowed. Here's why that happens, and why it catches so many borrowers off guard. What the Moratorium Period Actually Is The moratorium period on an education loan is the grace window between the end of your course and the start of your EMI payments. Most banks in India offer a moratorium that covers the duration of your studies plus six months to one year after completion. The idea is straightforward: you shouldn't have to make full loan repayments while you're still in college or hunting for your first job. On paper, this sounds generous. And it is, to an extent. Banks don't demand principal or interest payments during this time. But the loan agreement doesn't say interest stops accruing. It says repayment is deferred. That distinction matters more than most borrowers realise at the time of signing. How Interest Accumulates Silently Interest on education loans starts from the day the first disbursement hits your college's account. Not from when you graduate. Not from when your moratorium ends. From day one. So if your loan is disbursed in four instalments across a four-year degree, interest begins accumulating on each tranche the moment it's released. The education loan interest rate applied by your bank doesn't pause or freeze during the moratorium. It runs continuously, calculated on whatever outstanding principal exists at any given point. Let's say you borrow 10 lakh at 9% per annum. During a five-year moratorium (four years of study plus one year of grace), the simple interest alone would be 4.5 lakh. But banks don't calculate simple interest. They use compound interest, which means unpaid interest gets added to the principal at regular intervals. That 10 lakh loan can become 15 lakh or more by the time you make your first EMI payment. You haven't spent a rupee of that extra 5 lakh. It's purely the cost of waiting. Why Banks Don't Waive This Interest Banks are lending money. The moratorium is a concession on timing, not on cost. From the bank's perspective, the loan is a financial product with a defined rate of return. Pausing interest accumulation would mean the bank earns nothing on deployed capital for four to six years. No commercial lender operates that way. There's also a structural reason. Education loans in India are often unsecured below 7.5 lakh and carry higher risk compared to home or auto loans. The borrower has no income at the time of borrowing, no collateral in many cases, and an uncertain employment outcome. Banks price this risk into the interest rate. Asking them to also absorb years of zero-interest carry would make education lending financially unviable for most institutions. Government subsidy schemes like the Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme do exist for economically weaker borrowers, covering interest during the moratorium for students from families with annual income below a specified threshold. But these schemes have eligibility criteria and don't apply to everyone. The Compounding Problem Gets Worse With Longer Courses If you're pursuing a two-year master's degree, the damage from moratorium interest is contained. But for students in five-year integrated programmes, medical degrees, or those who take a gap year before repayment begins, the compounding effect is brutal. Each year of moratorium isn't just adding one year's worth of interest. It's adding interest on the already accumulated interest from prior years. The longer the moratorium, the more the curve bends upward. A student finishing an MBBS plus internship might be looking at six or seven years of compounding before making the first payment. This is precisely why using an education loan calculator with moratorium period factored in is so important before you borrow. Most EMI calculators online assume repayment starts immediately. They'll show you a misleadingly low total cost. You need a calculator that accounts for the interest buildup during the course and grace period, because that accumulated interest gets capitalised into your repayment principal. What Borrowers Can Do About It The single most effective thing you can do is pay the interest during the moratorium. Most banks allow this. Some even incentivise it with a small rate reduction. Paying even just the interest component while studying prevents capitalisation and keeps your eventual EMI burden close to what you originally planned for. If full interest payments aren't affordable, paying even a partial amount helps. Every rupee you pay toward interest during the moratorium is a rupee that won't compound against you for the next several years. Another practical step is choosing a shorter moratorium if your financial situation allows it. Starting repayment six months after your course ends rather than twelve months reduces the interest pile-up. The Real Cost of Free Time The moratorium period is not free money time. It is borrowed time, literally, and the meter is running. Too many graduates discover this only when their first repayment schedule arrives and the outstanding balance is far higher than expected. Understanding how and why interest accumulates during this window isn't just financial literacy. It's self-defence. The earlier you account for it, the less it costs you in the long run.

Fire causes extensive damage to forest area in J&Ks Rajouri

CUET-UG delayed at some centres due to technical glitch, afternoon timing revised: NTA

NEW DELHI, May 30: The CUET-UG 2026 for admissions into undergraduate degree programmes across India was delayed at some centres on Saturday due to a technical glitch, the National Testing Agency said. The issue has since been resolved and the examination is being conducted with full compensatory time so that no candidate is disadvantaged, the National Testing Agency (NTA) said. TCS has reported that a technical glitch at their end delayed the commencement of CUET UG 2026 at some centres [] The post CUET-UG delayed at some centres due to technical glitch, afternoon timing revised: NTA appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Gen Chauhan wraps up 'very satisfying' tenure as CDS; Lt Gen Subramani to take charge Sunday

New Delhi, May 30: Outgoing Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan on Saturday described his tenure as very satisfying as he wrapped up a three-year-and-eight-month stint at the top military post, during which he focused on bringing synergy among the three services. Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani (retd) will take charge as India's next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on Sunday. I had a very satisfying and excellent tenure, the outgoing CDS told reporters after he was accorded a ceremonial tri-services guard of honour. Gen Chauhan, a former Eastern Army Commander, took charge as the country's senior-most military commander in September 2022, over nine months after the first CDS General Bipin Rawat died in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu. As Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Chauhan played a key role in planning and implementation of Operation Sindoor along with the three service chiefs. During his tenure, he focused on ensuring tri-services synergy to enhance India's military prowess in view of the evolving regional security scenario. The Chief of Defence Staff also initiated a number of measures towards India's plan to roll out the theaterisation model by creating integrated military commands. It's a matter of great honour for me to superannuate with a tri-services guard of honour. I thank the three services and Headquarters IDS (Integrated Defence Staff) for it. With the conclusion of the guard of honour, I bid farewell to my colleagues in uniform, comrades in arms, Gen Chauhan said. I just laid the wreath at the War Memorial for the last time in uniform, as a humble tribute to those who laid down their lives in the line of duty. After the wreath laying, I was welcomed by friends, relatives and well-wishers. This is symbolic of my transition from uniform to civilian life, he said. Gen Chauhan's tenure was to end on September 30 last year, but he was given an extension. He had retired from service in May 2021 in the rank of lieutenant general, but assumed the rank of a four-star General after taking charge as India's second Chief of Defence Staff. Gen Chauhan was the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) when Indian fighter jets pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist training camp deep inside Pakistan's Balakot in February 2019. He was known to have provided key inputs for the operation. Born on May 18, 1961, Gen Chauhan was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981. In his distinguished career, Gen Chauhan held several command, staff and instrumental appointments and had extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast India. The officer is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. In the rank of Maj General, the officer had commanded an Infantry Division in the critical Baramulla sector in the Northern Command. Later, he commanded a corps in the Northeast and subsequently went on to become the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command. Gen Chauhan was awarded with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for his exemplary services to the Indian Army.

Police attach properties worth Rs 2 crore under NDPS Act in Srinagar

Srinagar, May 30: As part of the ongoing 'Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan', Srinagar Police has attached multiple immovable properties worth approximately 2 crores rupees belonging to individuals involved in narcotics-related activities. According to officials, Srinagar Police attaches properties worth approximately 2 crore under NDPS Act, adding that crackdown on drug trafficking intensifies under Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan. In a statement, a police spokesperson said, that Police Station Bemina attached immovable property worth approximately 1.5 crores belonging to accused drug peddler Mudasir Ahmad Pir alias Sahil alias Doge, son of Shareef-U-Din, resident of Firdous Colony, Bemina, Srinagar. The attachment proceedings were carried out under Section 68F(1) of the NDPS Act after obtaining confirmation from the Competent Authority SAFEMA, Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, New Delhi. The attached property comprises a double-storey residential house along with approximately 04 marlas of land situated at Firdous Colony, Bemina, Srinagar. Investigations revealed that the said property was acquired through proceeds generated from illicit narcotics trafficking, the statement said. In another action, Srinagar Police attached a residential house along with land worth approximately 50 lakhs belonging to notorious drug peddler Shafiq Ahmad Khawaja, son of Fateh Joo, resident of Dildar Karnah, District Kupwara. The property was attached under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act, 1985 in connection with Case FIR No. 10/2024 registered under Sections 8/21-29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station M.R. Gunj, police said. The attachment proceedings in both cases were carried out after following due legal procedures and establishing that the properties were acquired through proceeds generated from illicit narcotics trafficking, the statement said. These actions reflect the firm resolve of Srinagar Police to dismantle the financial infrastructure of drug trafficking networks and to ensure that illegally acquired assets of drug peddlers are identified and attached under the provisions of law, police said. Srinagar Police remains committed towards eradicating the menace of drugs from society and appeals to the general public to continue supporting law enforcement agencies by sharing information related to drug peddling and narcotics activities in their areas.

Live shell recovered in J&K's Poonch

Poonch, May 30: Police on Saturday recovered a live shell near Jagar Park in Poonch town after a local resident spotted it and informed the authorities, officials said. According to officials, a citizen taking a morning walk near Jagar Park noticed the live shell and immediately alerted the police. Police personnel subsequently reached the spot and recovered the shell. The shell will now be defused and rendered harmless, the officials added.

How was FIR lodged 75 minutes before alleged recovery of weapons? J-K High Court seeks answers in terror case

Srinagar, May 30: The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has flagged what it termed as a very striking aspect in a 2019 terror case, noting that the FIR appears to have been registered 75 minutes before the alleged recovery of arms that forms the basis of the prosecution case. Hearing a bail plea filed by accused Sabeel Ahmad Baba, a single bench of Justice Rahul Bharti observed that FIR No. 61/2019 was registered at Police Station Lakhanpur at 8.30 am on September 12, 2019, while the alleged commission of offences took place at 9.45 am when a truck was intercepted by police and arms were allegedly recovered from it. One very striking aspect of the case, from which this Court is not able to distance itself from taking serious cognizance, the court said, referring to the chronology reflected in the prosecution record. According to the prosecution, truck JK-13E/2000, allegedly driven by Sabeel Ahmad Baba, was intercepted by police at Lakhanpur. During the search, police claimed to have recovered four AK-56 rifles, two AK-47 rifles and six loaded magazines containing 30 rounds each. Besides Baba, two persons travelling in the truck, Ubaid-ul-Islam and Jahangir Ahmad Parray, were taken into custody. The investigation subsequently led to the inclusion of Bashir Ahmad Lone and Suhail Ahmad Dar as accused. Ashiq Ahmad Nengroo alias Ashiq Molvi was named as the sixth accused in the case. The chargesheet filed in March 2020 accused six persons of offences under Sections 120-B and 201 of the Ranbir Penal Code, provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Arms Act. The High Court also noted that the original FIR was not part of the final police report placed before the trial court. Referring to a report received from the trial court, Justice Rahul Bharti recorded that while the original FIR had been submitted before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kathua, and later sought by the designated NIA court in Jammu, it was never received. Instead, a copy of the FIR was procured from the prosecution and annexed to the record. Taking note of the missing FIR and other aspects of the investigation, the court directed the government to inform it whether the investigating officer, Dy SP Kamal Dev Bhagat, remains in service. The court said that if the officer is still serving, he shall appear in person on the next date of hearing. The court also asked counsel for the petitioner to place on record a chronology of prosecution witnesses already examined and those yet to be examined. Baba and two co-accused were arrested on September 12, 2019 and continue to remain in custody as undertrials while seeking bail. The latest order follows proceedings earlier this month in which the High Court had taken note of the petitioners contention that the original FIR was missing from the trial record. After examining the scanned file requisitioned from the trial court, the court had observed that the record prima facie supported the submission and sought a report from the Special Judge under the NIA Act on whether the original FIR was available on the trial file. (KDC)

India is 'powerful' and 'modernising' its military, says Hegseth

Singapore, May 30: India is powerful and modernising its military with heavy industrial and logistics capacity to sustain high-end military operations, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Saturday. Hegseth made these remarks while talking to the delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday in Singapore. India is powerful and modernising its military, he said and also highlighted that it is maintaining a balance of power, particularly in the Indian Ocean. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, he noted that India was also uilding a heavy industrial and logistics capacity to sustain high-end military operations. We've also committed to pursuing co-production with India to advance capabilities, said Hegseth, adding that America was undergoing a national manufacturing globalisation of its defence. He also assessed defence-related relations with Japan, South Korea, ASEAN and Australia. Hegseth highlighted several points on the US' defence strategy in the region, noting that the Asia-Pacific was the most consequential region in the world, that the security of the region rested disproportionately on the US military power and called on nations to invest seriously in their own defence. He pointed out that the US and China relations are better than they have been in many years under President Donald Trump, but also that no state, including China, can impose hegemony and hold the security of our nation and allies in question. Hegseth expressed Washingtons stand amidst global tension and the ongoing conflicts in West Asia and Europe, as well as growing uncertainty over the United States long-term strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific. The Shangri-La Dialogue, into its second day, brings together top officials from 44 nations this year.

US, China trade journalist expulsions days after Trump visits Xi in Beijing

Washington, May 30: The Trump administration has revoked the visa of a Chinese national working for the state news agency Xinhua in the United States, in an apparent reciprocal act to Beijing's decision to expel a New York Times reporter. A person familiar with the matter confirmed the visa had been revoked. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter involves visa privacy. A State Department official confirmed there was a plan to revoke the visa. The tit-for-tat move by the Trump administration has followed the expulsion by Beijing of Vivian Wang, a China correspondent for The New York Times, apparently over the appearance of the Taiwanese leader in a DealBook event in which Wang had no role. It was a rare occasion of the US government directly retaliating against Beijing's expulsion of American journalists. The Times, which first reported the reciprocal move by the Trump administration, said the newspaper does not ask governments to revoke media credentials or otherwise interfere with the work of any journalist. On Friday, the paper issued a statement calling for Wang to be reinstated as a credentialed journalist in China and urging both governments to everse this deterioration in journalist access. The Chinese government's decision to expel Vivian Wang is wrong, Joseph Kahn, the paper's executive editor, said in a statement published on the Times' corporate website. Her expulsion will make it even harder for our global audience to get accurate, independent and in-depth reporting about the world's second-largest economy at a critical time. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. US media presence in China already dwindled Wang is leaving China when the presence of US media is already thin after previous rounds of disputes over journalistic credentials, leaving several US news organisations with skeleton staffing in their China bureaus. The number of correspondents from American media outlets allowed to work in China has now fallen to an alarmingly low level, at a time when the need for people everywhere to understand China is greater than ever, Kahn wrote. Beijing moved to expel Wang, a China correspondent for the newspaper since 2020, after the media group's DealBook Summit 2025 featured Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te in a recorded interview with host Andrew Ross Sorkin. Sorkin called Taiwan a country, and Lai warned of Beijing's aggressive behaviour in the Taiwan Strait and vowed that Taiwan will do everything necessary to protect itself. The Chinese government claims sovereignty over Taiwan, which split from the mainland in 1949 after Mao Zedong's communists won a civil war. In the latest summit with President Donald Trump in Beijing, in mid-May, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that China and the US could collide or even clash over Taiwan if the issue is not handled properly. Other Western media watching closely The decision against the New York Times also has created unease among other Western media that might interview Lai, giving the self-governed island a voice, at the risk of losing their abilities to report within China. All foreign journalists must be accredited by China's foreign ministry to report in China, and Beijing has used the accreditation and visa policy to expel or keep out foreign journalists whose work has upset the Chinese leadership or to show displeasure with what Beijing views as unfavourable or malicious coverage of China. In 2020, for example, the Chinese government expelled three Wall Street Journal correspondents after the financial newspaper ran an opinion piece titled China is the Real Sick Man of Asia following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As US-China relations soured, the US State Department in 2020 designated some major Chinese news groups as foreign missions. Xinhua, for example, is tasked by the ruling Chinese Communist Party to serve as the mouthpiece of the party and the government, which includes distributing their official news. Beijing in turn drastically limited visas for journalists working for US media. In total, at least 18 foreign journalists working for The Washington Post, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal were expelled in the first half of 2020, according to the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China. Many others were given short visas ranging from one month to three months, according to the group's annual survey. The two governments later reached a one-time agreement that allowed US media to send in a small number of correspondents to mainland China. Wang was one of them.

No double standards in fight against terrorism: NSA Doval in Russia

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called for decisive action against terrorism and said there cannot be double standards in the fight against it, while addressing an international security forum in Russia on Thursday, according to the Indian Embassy in Moscow. Doval participated in the first International Security Forum and the 14th Meeting of High Representatives for Security Matters in Moscow. The meeting was hosted by Mr. Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, the embassy said in a post on X, adding that the forum deliberated on the Challenges and Threats to International Security in the context of the Emergence of the Multipolar World. (The) NSA stated that there cannot be double standards in the fight against terrorism. Responsible nations have to evaluate their choices and decide whether they support sponsors of terrorism or counter them with decisive action, the embassy said. Doval also highlighted the urgent need for reforms in the structures and institutions set up after the end of the Second World War in 1945 to make them effective in dealing with contemporary international security threats. The reforms must give greater representation to and factor in the views of the Global South, it said. Referring to the situation in West Asia, Doval was quoted as saying it was essential to ensure the safe and uninterrupted movement of trade through international waterways including the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. On the sidelines of the forum, Doval held a meeting with his Russian counterpart Shoigu, the Indian Embassy said in another post. During the meeting, the parties reviewed the current state of cooperation in the areas of defence, security, energy, and trade-economic ties, it said. The two officials also exchanged views on preparations for the upcoming meeting of BRICS national security advisers to be held in New Delhi, the mission said. The specific dates for the BRICS national security advisers' meeting have not yet been officially announced. Doval's visit to Russia comes amid a fragile geopolitical situation marked by continuing conflict in West Asia, concerns over maritime security in key global trade routes, and sharpening competition among major powers over the emerging multipolar world order. The Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked for three months now, because of the conflict, and the Red Sea are among the worlds most critical shipping corridors. They carry a substantial share of global energy supplies and commercial trade. Any disruption in these waterways has implications for energy prices, supply chains and economic stability across Asia and beyond. The visit also comes as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to weigh on global security and economic stability, with Moscows ties with the West remaining strained more than four years after the war began. The conflict has reshaped geopolitical alignments, disrupted energy and food supply chains, and intensified debates over the future global security architecture. On Wednesday, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in Cyprus and discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, battlefield developments and efforts to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace. As Europe steps up its responsibility, we would welcome India's strong voice and input, Sybiha said in a social media post after the meeting. India has consistently called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the Ukraine conflict while maintaining close relations with both Russia and Ukraine.

Dr Jitendra to inaugurate Lavender festival at Bhaderwah on June 6: Director CSIR-IIIM Jammu

Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh will inaugurate the 4th Lavender festival to be organised by the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu at the Government Degree College (GDC), Bhaderwah, Doda, on June 6 and 7, 2026. Director CSIR-IIIM Jammu Dr Zabeer Ahmed, while announcing it in a curtain raiser press conference at Institute complex, stated that the festival would be organised under the theme, Lavender goes global, celebrating the continued success of the purple revolution and lavender-based rural entrepreneurship in J&K. Dr Ahmed said that through CSIR-Aroma Mission, a flagship programme of Union Ministry of Science and Technology, under the mentorship of Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister and Vice President CSIR, and guidance of Dr N Kalaiselvi, Director General CSIR and Secretary DSIR, Government of India, the CSIR-IIIM implemented Aroma Mission in J&K thus empowered the rural communities through lavender cultivation by engaging over 5,000 farmers and young entrepreneurs in remote areas, providing free Quality Planting Material (QPM), support in cultivation, processing, value addition, and marketing. During the three phases of this mission completed, more than 50 fixed and mobile distillation units across J&K were installed to support local-level processing of lavender produce. During the curtain raiser event, the web portal of Lavender festival 2026 was launched and the Lavender festival brochure was also released. The festival is being organised under the patronage of Dr N Kalaiselvi and overall supervision of Dr Zabeer Ahmed, assisted by his team of HoDs and scientists including Abdul Rahim, Dr Asha Chaubey, Dr Dhiraj Vyas, Dr Shashank Singh, Dr Sumit Gandhi, Dr Naveed Qazi, Dr Suphla Gupta, Dr Saurabh Saran, Kaushal Kumar, Dr Raj Kishore, Zahoor Wani, Rajesh Gupta and Ashok Kumar. Dr Ahmed said that the Lavender festival emerged as a national platform showcasing the transformation brought by the CSIR-Aroma Mission in remote Himalayan regions, especially Bhaderwah, which had become a major lavender cultivation hub under the Purple Revolution initiative. He said the 2026 festival would witness enthusiastic participation of scientists, startups, aroma industries, entrepreneurs, policymakers, agri-business stakeholders, students, progressive farmers and representatives of fragrance and wellness companies from across the country. The Director said the event would feature startup exhibitions, live demonstrations, buyer-seller interactions, technical sessions, farmer-industry networking and displays of value-added lavender and aromatic products developed by local entrepreneurs and startups. Highlighting the growing impact of the aroma sector, Dr Ahmed said CSIR-IIIM played a pioneering role in expanding lavender cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir Uttarakhand, north eastern states and Himachal Pradesh through scientific interventions, free quality planting material, distillation technologies, training and entrepreneurship support. He said thousands of farmers and young entrepreneurs benefitted from lavender cultivation, while women-led enterprises and startups also emerged under the mission. Dr Ahmed said, The upcoming festival follows a series of precursor events organised to strengthen the aroma ecosystem and market linkages in the region. He referred to the recent aroma buyer-seller meet organised at the CSIR Innovation Complex, Mumbai, where leading aroma and perfumery companies interacted directly with lavender farmers, startups and entrepreneurs from J&K. Earlier, another buyerseller meet jointly organised by the Directorate of Ayush, J&K Medicinal Plants Board and CSIR-IIIM at Bhaderwah focused on strengthening the medicinal and aromatic plants sector through direct farmer-industry partnerships and contract farming initiatives. He said those interactions laid the foundation for a stronger aroma-based economy in Jammu and Kashmir by connecting farmers with industries, startups and national markets. Dr Ahmed said the Lavender festival 2026 aimed to further promote agri-based entrepreneurship, sustainable livelihoods and innovation in the aromatic crops sector. He said several startups, farmer producer organisations, self-help groups and research institutions would showcase products related to essential oils, herbal wellness, floriculture, cosmetics, organic products and aroma technologies during the festival. The event, according to him, will also include technical discussions on lavender cultivation, post-harvest management, essential oil extraction, branding, marketing and export opportunities. Seeking wholehearted participation of people from different walks of life, Dr Ahmed said, The festival is not only a celebration of lavender cultivation but also a movement towards transforming the rural economy of the Himalayan region through science-driven agriculture and entrepreneurship. He appealed to farmers, students, startups, researchers, industry representatives, media persons and members of civil society from J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and across the country to attend the festival and witness the success story of the Purple revolution in Bhaderwah. He also extended a special invitation to national and regional media organisations, journalists, digital content creators and documentary filmmakers to extensively cover the festival and highlight the transformation of the Himalayan rural economy through lavender cultivation and aroma-based entrepreneurship.

Industry stakeholders seek balanced expansion of J&K industrial package ahead of high-level review

Ahead of the high-level review meeting on the 28,400-crore New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS) for J&K reportedly scheduled to be chaired by the Union Home Minister on May 30, industry stakeholders and experts have expressed hope that the review process would address certain emerging concerns relating to balanced industrial growth, revival of existing enterprises and equitable distribution of incentives across the Union Territory. The industrial package announced by the Government of India in 2021 is widely acknowledged by business circles as one of the most significant economic initiatives undertaken for J&K in recent decades. Stakeholders believe that the scheme has helped revive investor confidence, generate industrial interest and create a positive atmosphere for economic activity in the region. However, while appreciating the initiative, industry observers maintain that the evolving investment pattern under the scheme also highlights the need for a more region-sensitive and balanced approach going forward. According to industry experts, one of the principal objectives behind the launch of the scheme was to take industrialisation to block and district levels across Jammu & Kashmir. Nevertheless, investment proposals approved so far reportedly indicate concentration in selective industrial pockets possessing relatively better infrastructure and connectivity, while several districts continue to witness comparatively limited industrial response. Economic analysts and stakeholders believe that a district-sensitive allocation model could help ensure more balanced industrial growth. Some industry representatives are of the opinion that the overall package, if notionally distributed across all the 20 districts of J&K, would have encouraged investors to spread industrial activity more evenly across the Union Territory instead of concentrating in limited locations. They suggest that any future enhancement or expansion of the package may consider this principle to ensure wider geographical distribution of industrial investments and employment opportunities. Another issue increasingly being highlighted by stakeholders relates to the emerging challenge of unequal incentive structures within the industrial sector. According to business representatives, while the New Central Sector Scheme has undoubtedly generated optimism and investment interest, a substantial number of enterprises that had registered within the prescribed time frame reportedly remained outside the approved list due to limitation of funds. Simultaneously, thousands of existing industrial units that have survived decades of extraordinary disruptions continue to remain beyond the ambit of meaningful incentive support despite operating under the same difficult economic conditions. Industry observers point out that coexistence of two sharply differentiated incentive regimes within the same industrial ecosystem may unintentionally create distortions on the ground. Enterprises operating side by side under identical geographical, logistical and economic disadvantages may eventually face vastly different cost structures and competitive capacities depending solely upon whether they were accommodated within the approved incentive framework. Experts believe that such disparities may adversely affect industrial balance, discourage revival of existing enterprises and create uneven competitive conditions within the local industrial sector over time. Business circles therefore emphasize that sustainable industrialization in J&K requires a more comprehensive and inclusive policy approach covering not only newly approved units but also eligible units left out despite timely registration, existing enterprises undertaking revival and expansion, and prospective units in underdeveloped districts. According to stakeholders, industrial policy in a geographically disadvantaged and sensitive region like Jammu and Kashmir must function as an instrument of broad-based economic stabilization and balanced regional development rather than remaining confined to selective pockets alone. Another issue being strongly highlighted by stakeholders relates to the condition of existing industrial units in Jammu & Kashmir. Business representatives point out that while new investments are important, revival and strengthening of existing enterprises is equally critical for sustainable industrialisation. According to industry estimates, nearly 40,000 industrial and business units in Jammu and Kashmir possess substantial assets and infrastructure on ground, many of which have suffered severe stress over the past three decades due to prolonged disturbances, repeated shutdowns, floods, economic disruptions, policy uncertainty and financial distress. Stakeholders argue that revival, modernization, rejuvenation and expansion of these units could generate large-scale employment and economic activity by utilizing already existing industrial infrastructure and entrepreneurial capacity. Experts believe that a dedicated revival and rehabilitation corpus for existing industrial units could significantly improve capacity utilization, revive stressed enterprises and create employment at comparatively lower cost and within shorter timelines than creation of entirely new infrastructure. Industry circles have also stressed the need for stronger market support for local enterprises. Stakeholders have suggested that Central Public Sector Enterprises, PSUs and major executing agencies operating in Jammu & Kashmir may be encouraged to procure part of their requirements through local industrial units and contractors in accordance with MSME promotion objectives. Observers maintain that sustainable industrialization in Jammu & Kashmir requires a balanced policy framework that simultaneously supports new investments, revival of existing enterprises and assured market access for local industry. Stakeholders have expressed hope that the forthcoming review meeting would provide an opportunity to further strengthen the industrial policy framework of J&K in a manner that is equitable, regionally balanced and employment-oriented, while building upon the positive momentum already created by the Government of Indias industrial development initiatives in the Union Territory.

43 tonnes of cherries from Kashmir transported through SLR, parcel vans

Around 43 tonnes of fresh luscious cherries of Kashmir have been transported to major markets across the country through special VPs (parcel vans) and the SLR (Seating cum Luggage Rake) coach facility from the Jammu Railway Division till date during the current season. According to railway officials, so far cherry consignments have been sent as railway parcels through SLR and parcel vans in train numbers 12472, 12474, 12476, 12920, 19028 to major stations, including Surat (Gujarat), Bandra (Maharashtra), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh, Chhayapuri- Vadodara (Gujarat) etc. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM), Jammu Railway Division, Uchit Singhal stated that the dispatch of 43 tonnes of cherries through SLR and VP was proof of the growing trust of J&K fruit growers and traders in rail services. Indian Railways is committed to providing efficient and economical logistics solutions to the farming community. Our teams are ensuring priority loading, safe handling, and timely delivery so that perishable produce reaches consumers fresh. Similar facilities will continue for apples and other fruits as well, he shared. Singhal said that Indian Railways was once again proving to be a fast and reliable mode of transport for fruit growers and traders of Jammu and Kashmir. He pointed out that cherries were reaching destinations in less time through rail service without loss of quality, enabling farmers to get better prices. Delineating key features of the service being provided by the Jammu Railway Division, Raghvender Singh, Public Relations Inspector, Jammu Railway Division said, With SLR and VP facilities, all traders, small or big, are able to book cherries as per their demand. Growers of the Jammu region are now bypassing the uncertainties of road transport and sending their produce directly to major mandis (markets). Utilisation of parcel space in passenger trains, Singh said, was generating additional revenue for Railways besides boosting the marketing of agricultural produce. The railway administration has appealed to all stakeholders to make maximum use of the rail parcel service and cooperate in taking the premium fruits of Jammu and Kashmir to markets across the nation. On May 25, 2026, the seasons first special parcel van, carrying Kashmir valleys luscious cherries weighing around 12 tonnes, departed for Mumbai from Jammu Railway Station. Prior to that, 18 tonnes of cherries were already sent to Mumbai. Till May 25, 2026, 28 VP indents were already received from Jammu and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway stations for cherry transportation. According to Singhal, apart from 28 special VPs (parcel vans), the SLR (Seating cum Luggage Rake) coach facility available in regular trains on the route will also continue. Small and medium traders will also be able to send their low-volume consignments safely and affordably, he said.

PCI invites claims from eligible Associations of Persons for 15th Term Reconstitution

The Press Council of India is a statutory quasi-judicial authority constituted by an Act of Parliament i.e. the Press Council Act, 1978, with the mandate for preserving the freedom of the press and maintaining and improving standards of press in India. The 14th term of the Press Council of India, as per an official statement, concluded on October 5, 2024. The Council in order to be reconstituted for its 15th term vide Advertisement Notice dated 09.06.2024 had invited claims from eligible Associations of Persons for filing of claims under Section 5(3)(a), (b) and (c) of the Press Council Act, 1978. However, no claim was filed under Section 5(3)(c) of the Press Council Act, 1978. The Chairperson of the Council in terms of Section 5(4) of the Act read with Press Council (Procedure for Notification of Associations of Persons) Rules, 2021, has invited claims from eligible Associations of Persons who manage news agencies/News Agency itself from all over the country under Section 5(3)(c) of the Press Council Act, 1978, for notification in the Official Gazette. The claims in sealed envelope should reach the Chairperson, Press Council of India on or before 19th June, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. The advertisement has been released on 17.05.2026 in newspapers pan India. The advertisement can be also accessed from the website of the Council https://www.presscouncil.nic.in/ .

Reshuffle in Udhampur Police, SHOs, officers transferred

District Police Udhampur on Friday ordered the transfer and posting of several police officers with immediate effect. According to the order issued by SSP Udhampur, Inspector Purshotam Kumar has been transferred from Police Station Rehmbal and posted as SHO Police Station Ramnagar, while Inspector Nishant Gupta has been posted as SHO Police Station Chenani from DPL Udhampur. Inspector Parvez Sajad has been transferred from DPL Udhampur and posted as SHO Police Station Udhampur. However, he will assume charge after the relieving of the present SHO Udhampur, Abhijeet Sirohi (IPS). Inspector Sumit Magotra has been posted as SHO Police Station Rehmbal from DPL Udhampur. Among other transfers, PSI Manveer Singh has been shifted from Police Station Ramnagar to Police Station Udhampur, while PSI Varun Sharma has been transferred from Police Station Udhampur and posted as Incharge Police Post Battal Ballian. PSI Ravinder Kumar has been transferred from Police Post Battal Ballian to Police Station Udhampur. The order stated that all officers shall report to their new places of posting forthwith. The transfers have been made in the interest of administration and to ensure efficient functioning of the police department across the district, the order reads.

Rajouri Encounter Day 7: More reinforcement rushed to encounter site

The ongoing encounter between security forces and terrorists in the dense forests of the Dori Maal in the Gambhir Mughalan area of Rajouri has entered its seventh consecutive day on Friday, with forces intensifying the anti-terror operation to eliminate the terrorists hiding in the forest belt. The operation has been named as 'Operation Sheruwali' by the Indian Army. Officials said intermittent gunfire continued from the encounter site since Friday morning, while a couple of heavy explosions were also heard from deep inside the cordoned forest area, indicating the continuation of the fierce operation. Security forces have further strengthened the operation by rushing additional reinforcements to the encounter site in a bid to aggressively advance the anti-terror operation and neutralise the terrorists. A tight multi-layered cordon has been maintained around the dense forest area, while round-the-clock surveillance and high alertness are being observed by the forces engaged in the operation. The encounter is underway in the Dori Maal area of Gambhir Mughalan in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, where security forces have been carrying out an aggressive search and combing operation for the last seven days. Officials said forces are working continuously to track down and eliminate two terrorists believed to be hiding in the dense woods of the area.

Govt committed to responsive governance, grassroots development: Deputy CM

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Friday conducted an extensive tour of Nowshera, inspecting various developmental works and healthcare facilities in the region. During the visit, the Deputy Chief Minister, as per an official statement, met several delegations and individuals who apprised him of various public issues, development needs and local concerns. He also visited Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Nowshera to assess the healthcare facilities and patient care being provided at the institution. During interaction with the patients, attendants and hospital staff, the Deputy Chief Minister sought feedback regarding the functioning of the hospital and the quality of services being delivered. He directed the concerned authorities to ensure better healthcare services, availability of essential facilities and timely treatment for the patients. He emphasised that public welfare and efficient healthcare delivery are among the top priorities of the government. The Deputy Chief Minister also inspected the Dak Bunglow Nowshera to review the ongoing works, maintenance and overall facilities aimed at improving public convenience and hospitality standards. He stressed the need for timely completion of works while maintaining quality standards to enhance the public utility and facilities for the visitors. The government is committed towards responsive governance and grassroots development. Meaningful public interactions immensely help in understanding the aspirations of the people and ensure that governance remains people-centric and result-oriented, maintaining the Deputy CM.

Eid-ul-Adha celebrated with religious fervour across Jammu

Eid-ul-Adha was celebrated with religious fervour, enthusiasm, and communal harmony across the Jammu region and the Chenab Valley. Thousands of devotees gathered at major mosques and Eidgahs in Jammu, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Udhampur, and Reasi districts to offer special Eid prayers and seek peace, prosperity, and well-being for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the country. The celebrations passed off peacefully amid elaborate arrangements by the civil and police administrations. In Jammu city, the main and largest congregation was observed at Eidgah along Residency Road, where devotees offered prayers and sought blessings for mankind. Large congregations for the Eid-ul-Azha prayers were also witnessed at Jamia Masjid at Talab Khatikan, Tawi Bridge Masjid near Jewel; Mecca Masjid, Bathindi and Eidgah in Sidhra besides other mosques in Jammu district. Similar congregational prayers in Masjids and Eidgahs amid fervour and festivities were held in other districts of the Jammu province. Tight security arrangements were put in place all across the region for peaceful congregational prayers and celebration of the festival. People from different religions greeted their Muslim brethren after Eid prayers and exchanged greetings. Sumptuous Eid feasts were hosted by the faithful for the friends and relatives, in consonance with the festive spirit. Thousands of devotees gathered at major mosques and Eidgahs to offer special Eid prayers and seek peace, prosperity, and well-being for Jammu and Kashmir and the country. Large congregations were witnessed at Jamia Masjid Doda, Jamia Masjid Bhaderwah, Jamia Masjid Kishtwar, and Jamia Masjid Sharif Ramban, besides Eidgahs in Kishtwar, Doda, Bhaderwah, Banihal, Gool, and Batote. Reports of Eid-ul-Azha celebrations were also received from Udhampur and Reasi districts, where people participated in prayers and festivities with enthusiasm and devotion. Following the prayers, hundreds of people performed Qurbani in accordance with Islamic traditions and distributed meat among relatives, neighbours, and the needy in their respective localities. Deputy Commissioners of Ramban, Kishtwar, and Doda extended warm greetings to the people on the occasion and said that such sacred festivals strengthen the values of unity, compassion, brotherhood, and communal harmony in society. Senior officers from the civil and police administration also conveyed their greetings to the Muslim community and visited major congregational sites to oversee arrangements and participate in the celebrations. At Ramban, MLA Ramban Arjun Singh Raju greeted the people on Eid-ul-Adha and wished peace, prosperity, and happiness for every household in the district. SSP Ramban Arun Gupta and other senior officers were also present on the occasion. The district and police administrations had made elaborate arrangements, including adequate security, traffic regulation, sanitation, drinking water supply, and other essential services to ensure smooth and peaceful celebrations across the region. Besides district headquarters, Eid prayers were offered in several mosques and Eidgahs located in remote villages and adjoining areas of the Chenab region.

100 Days Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan | Paddar Premier League Cricket Tournament begins in Kishtwar

Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, on Friday inaugurated the Paddar Premier League 2026 Cricket Tournament at Chhatargarh Stadium, Gulabgarh, Paddar, amid enthusiastic participation of youth and local residents. The sporting event, as per an official statement, is being organised by the local administration of Paddar in collaboration with the Department of Youth Services & Sports, Kishtwar, along with other stakeholders. The initiative aims to promote sportsmanship, youth engagement and healthy recreational activities in the region. On the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner appreciated the efforts of the organisers and encouraged the youth to actively participate in sports and constructive activities for overall personality development, as part of the ongoing 100 Days Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan launched by the Honble Lieutenant Governor, UT of Jammu & Kashmir, on April 11, 2026. During his visit to Gulabgarh, the Deputy Commissioner also held a public grievance redressal interaction at the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Paddar. He patiently listened to various issues and demands projected by the local residents and issued on-the-spot directions to the concerned officers for prompt redressal of genuine grievances. Later, the Deputy Commissioner inspected the functioning of mandatory RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Yatra Slip counters established at Paddar to facilitate smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage arrangements for the ongoing Shri Machail Mata Ji Yatra 2026. He reviewed the preparedness and directed the officials to ensure efficient public service and seamless registration facilities for pilgrims. He also reviewed the arrangements and availability of essential commodities being put in place for the convenience of pilgrims during the ongoing Shri Machail Mata Ji Yatra 2026. ADC Kishtwar Pawan Kotwal, SDM Paddar Dr. Amit Kumar, SDPO Paddar Vijay Bhagat, Tehsildar Paddar Vijay Gupta besides other officers and concerned staff were present on the occasion.

Indian football team gets rousing diaspora welcome in UK

The Indian men's football team, in the UK for the Unity Cup four-nation tournament, received a rousing community welcome to India House in London ahead of their third-place clash with Zimbabwe on Saturday. The Blue Tigers interacted with football fans and shared insights from their training schedules during the special reception hosted by the High Commission of India on Thursday evening. India's Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, Kartik Pande, greeted the sports stars and also led an interactive session with captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and defenders Sandesh Jhingan and Rahul Bheke. Those who follow know that Indian football has seen encouraging progress in the recent years, symbolised by grassroots participation, youth development and growing public interest, said Pande, in his welcome address. Football, they say, has a unique ability to bring people together across borders, languages and backgrounds. It creates friendships, build bridges across societies, and inspires young people in ways that few other sports can. Events such as the Unity Cup remind us exactly why sport matters so much in today's world, he said. The Unity Cup is an international football tournament celebrating AfroCentric and global diaspora communities, with the 2026 fixtures involving Nigeria, Jamaica and Zimbabwe besides India. While defending champions Nigeria will face off with Jamaica in the finals, India is set for a Zimbabwe clash at The Valley, home to Charlton Athletic Football Club in south-east London. India and the UK have recently concluded a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which will benefit both nations and football will be one of the factors behind the closer bilateral ties, Kalyan Chaubey, president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), said in his address in Hindi. Football is a character-building sport and for India to progress up the ranks of football, England's cooperation is important as a pioneer in the sport. India, on the other hand, can offer Yoga and meditation mental health insights, given our rich cultural traditions, he said. The players called on members of the Indian diaspora in the UK to turn up in large number for their last Unity Cup match against Zimbabwe.

Reshwari emerges as popular tourist retreat in Kupwara

Kupwara, May 29: Nestled in the foothills of Bangus Valley, Reshwari offers a surreal landscape, flanked by the gushing waters of Nallah Mawer flowing through towering deodar and pine trees, adding serenity to the area. Located around 20 kilometres from Handwara town, Reshwari has gained significant popularity in recent years, with people from nearby areas visiting the destination almost every evening in search of solace. In fact, residents from Handwara, Sopore and Baramulla frequently visit Reshwari, particularly on weekends, spending quality time with their families amid the scenic surroundings. The gushing waters of Nallah Mawer, which offer cool breezes, remain the centre of attraction for visitors. Besides, the premium variety of trout fish found in the stream inspires people to visit the place more often. Locals have even established private trout fish farms in the area, where visitors relish freshly prepared trout and often purchase fish to take home. For travellers heading to Bangus Valley through the Mawer route, Reshwari serves as an ideal stopover where visitors can rest and refresh themselves. Tourists can avail homestay services in Reshwari or stay at government rest houses where food facilities are also available. The Forest Departments Langate Division has set up a well-maintained rest house in Reshwari equipped with essential facilities. Located on the banks of Nallah Mawer, these rest houses offer an ideal setting for tourists to spend evenings with their families. Recently, a family from Mumbai, while enjoying barbecues on the banks of Nallah Mawer, said they were mesmerised by the beauty of the place. We havent seen such crystal-clear water flowing before. This place, although less popular among tourists, has all those things that can make it a better tourist spot, said one of the family members. Tourists from across the country remain confined to only a few known tourist destinations, but I believe Kashmir is more beautiful beyond Gulmarg and Pahalgam. Tourists must visit the countryside in Kashmir, and for that Reshwari happens to be the best place to have a mesmerising experience, said another tourist. Locals told Greater Kashmir that tourist footfall to Reshwari has increased manifold over the last few years, which, according to them, has contributed positively to local economic growth. However, they appealed to the authorities to provide all necessary facilities so that visitors to Reshwari do not face hardships.

Truck plunges into gorge at Zojila Pass; driver, conductor escape miraculously

Ganderbal, May 29:A truck driver and his conductor had a miraculous escape after a 14-wheeler vehicle rolled into a deep gorge near Zojila along the Srinagar-Leh highway, officials said on Friday. The accident occurred near Pani Matha in the Zojila sector when the ill-fated truck, bearing registration number JK01BC-2359, was travelling from Sonamarg to Kargil and reportedly went out of the drivers control before skidding off the road and plunging into a deep gorge. Both the driver and the conductor escaped unhurt in the accident. However, the truck was completely damaged. Police and local authorities reached the spot soon after the incident to carry out rescue operations, assess the situation and gather details regarding the circumstances that led to the accident.

Cherry picking gains pace in Ganderbal amid price concerns

Ganderbal, May 29:Cherry picking has begun in parts of central Kashmirs Ganderbal district, one of the Valleys largest cherry-producing regions. Cherries hold a crucial position in Kashmirs horticulture sector, particularly after the strawberry harvest. This year, growers in Ganderbal are expecting a bumper crop. The harvesting season is expected to peak over the next two weeks and continue until mid-June. While the Awwal and Double varieties are harvested from the second week of May, Mishrione of the most sought-after varietiesis expected to be ready for harvesting in the first week of June. Nearly a dozen villages, including Lar, Waliwar, Chuntwaliwar, Gutlibagh, Zazna and adjoining areas of Ganderbal district, are major producers of different cherry varieties. However, even as harvesting gradually picks up pace, low market prices have left growers disappointed. As of now, cherry prices in the market are low, said Mohammad Akbar, a farmer from Gutlibagh. We were expecting better rates. Over the past few years, horticulture growers suffered losses due to prolonged COVID-19 disruptions and adverse weather conditions, including recent hailstorms. This year, however, farmers are hopeful of better returns owing to the expected bumper harvest. Even as Kashmir has witnessed a bumper cherry crop this year, growers are a distressed lot due to low demand and falling prices, said grower Jahanzeb Alam. He said there are four major cherry varieties cultivated in KashmirAwwal Number, Double, Mishri and Makhmaliwith the latter two exported to other states. Cherries are highly perishable and have a very short shelf life, making timely marketing and transportation crucial for growers. Ganderbal district is among the highest cherry-producing districts in Kashmir and is known for producing the seasons first domestic fruit to enter the market. With nearly 1,200 hectares under cherry cultivation, Ganderbal is considered the hub of cherry production in Kashmir, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the Valleys total output. An estimated 5,000 growers are associated with cherry cultivation in the district. Major cherry-growing areas in Ganderbal include Chuntwaliwar, Gulabpora, Lar, Gutlibagh, Wakura, Dab, Batwina and parts of Kangan, where orchards had recently been in full bloom.

Kashmir witnesses peaceful Eid-ul-Adha celebrations amid heightened security

Srinagar, May 29:Kashmir witnessed a largely peaceful and festive atmosphere from Wednesday morning to Friday afternoon as people celebrated Eid-ul-Adha with religious fervour and authorities simultaneously intensified security preparations across the region. Eid-ul-Adha, one of the two most significant festivals in Islam, was observed across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, May 27, following local moon sighting in Kashmir a day ahead of several other parts of the country. Tens of thousands of devotees gathered at Masjids, Eidgahs, and shrines across Kashmir to offer special Eid prayers amid pleasant weather conditions. Major congregations were witnessed at Hazratbal shrine on the banks of Dal Lake, Eidgah Srinagar, and prominent Eidgahs and Jamia Masjids in districts including Budgam, Anantnag, Baramulla, Shopian, Pulwama, Kupwara, and Bandipora. Worshippers dressed in traditional attire exchanged greetings and offered prayers for peace, prosperity, and communal harmony. Religious scholars and clerics, while addressing congregations, highlighted the spiritual significance of sacrifice, compassion, charity, and brotherhood associated with Eid-ul-Adha. They urged people to uphold communal harmony and extend support to the needy and underprivileged sections of society. The festival passed off peacefully without any major untoward incident reported from any part of the Valley. Authorities had put in place elaborate yet low-profile security arrangements around major religious sites, marketplaces, and vulnerable locations to ensure smooth celebrations. Security personnel remained deployed at key intersections and public places, while traffic and crowd management measures were also implemented in Srinagar and other district headquarters. Markets across Kashmir witnessed brisk business in the days leading up to Eid, particularly in livestock markets where sacrificial animals witnessed high demand despite soaring prices. Traders reported increased sales of sheep, goats, bakery items, garments, and other festival-related goods. However, many residents expressed concern over rising prices of sacrificial animals and essential commodities. Public transport operated normally in most parts of the Valley, and tourist movement also continued uninterrupted during the festive period. Families visited relatives and friends while children thronged parks and markets, adding to the festive spirit. Meanwhile, sanitation workers and municipal authorities remained active throughout the festival period to manage waste generated from sacrificial practices. Local administrations in several districts had issued advisories regarding proper disposal of animal waste and maintaining hygiene around residential localities. The peaceful conduct of Eid-ul-Adha celebrations has brought a sense of relief to both residents and authorities. IRFAN RAINA REPORTS FROM GANDERBAL Eid-ul-Adha was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across Ganderbal district with thousands of people offering congregational prayers at Masjids and Eidgahs. The largest gathering was witnessed at the Central Eidgah Duderhama, where people from across the town and adjoining villages assembled to offer prayers. Similar large congregations were held at Kangan, Gund, Safapora, Lar, and Sonamarg. Hundreds of devotees gathered at the historic Markazi Eidgah Duderhama to offer Eid-ul-Adha prayers in a spiritually charged atmosphere. Special prayers were offered for peace, prosperity, brotherhood, and the well-being of humanity. A large congregation of worshippers offered Eid-ul-Adha prayers at Markazi Hanfia Jamia Masjid Sharief Gund in Ganderbal. Imams in their sermons highlighted the significance of sacrifice, compassion, and helping the needy, and prayed for peace and prosperity in J&K. Following prayers, people exchanged greetings and visited relatives and friends. The traditional sacrifice of animals was performed and meat was distributed among family, neighbours, and the poor. District administration and Police had made elaborate arrangements on the occasion. KHALID GUL REPORTS FROM ANANTNAG Thousands of people offered Eid prayers at the two main Eidgahs in Anantnag district - Hanfia Eidgah, Janglat Mandi, and Ahli Hadith Eidgah, Ashajipora, on Wednesday (May 27). People from Anantnag town and several adjoining villages reached the Eidgahs early in the morning to participate in the congregational prayers. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amod Ashok Nagpure, accompanied by other police officers, greeted worshippers outside the Eidgahs after the prayers. Police officials also distributed sweets among the devotees. Similar Eid congregational prayers were held at Bijbehara Eidgah, Mattan Eidgah, and Kulgam Eidgah, where large gatherings of worshippers participated in the prayers. Eid prayers were also offered at various Jamia Masjids and shrines across rural areas of Anantnag and Kulgam districts, including Kaba Marg, Khiram, and Syed Simnania in Kulgam. Authorities had made necessary arrangements at major prayer venues to facilitate the smooth conduct of the congregations. The prayers concluded peacefully, with people later exchanging Eid greetings and visiting relatives and friends. TARIQUE RAHEEM REPORTS FROM KUPWARA Eid-ul-Adha was celebrated across Kupwara district with great religious enthusiasm and devotion. Special Eid prayers were offered at various Eidgahs and Masjids across the district, witnessing a large turnout of worshippers. The largest congregations were held at Jamia Masjids in main town Kupwara, Dudhwan, Lalpora, Sogam, Jamia Jadeed Handwara, Zachaldara Vilgam, Kralgund, and other places where thousands of devotees offered Eid prayers. On the occasion Member of Parliament Chowdry Muhammad Ramzan offered Eid prayers at Jamia Jadeed Handwara while MLA Mir Fayaz offered Eid prayers at Jamia Masjid in Kupwara. After the prayers, people embraced each other and exchanged Eid greetings, while special prayers were offered for peace, prosperity, and well-being of people in Jammu and Kashmir and the Muslim Ummah. The occasion also witnessed enthusiasm among children, youth, and elders, as people made arrangements for the traditional sacrifice in accordance with the spirit of Eid-ul-Adha. ALTAF BABA REPORTS FROM BARAMULLA Eid-ul-Adha was celebrated with religious fervour and enthusiasm across Baramulla district with thousands of devotees gathering at various Eidgahs to offer special prayers. The largest congregations were witnessed at Eidgah Jadeed and Eidgah Qadeem, where people from different parts of the area assembled in large numbers to mark the occasion. The atmosphere was marked by devotion, brotherhood, and prayers for peace and prosperity. At Eidgah Jadeed, the Eid prayers were led by Mufti Raheem, while at Eidgah Qadeem, the prayers were led by Moulana Tariq Ahmad Nappa. During their sermons, the religious scholars highlighted the significance of Eid-ul-Adha and the spirit of sacrifice associated with the festival. They said the occasion teaches the values of obedience, compassion, patience, and selflessness, while urging people to extend help to the poor and needy. They also expressed concern over the growing menace of drug addiction among the youth. They appealed to youngsters to stay away from substance abuse and other harmful practices, and instead contribute positively towards society. Meanwhile, the district administration had made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of prayers and movement of devotees at major congregational venues across Baramulla district.

Apple growers in Shopian count losses after intense hailstorm

Shopian, May 29:Bashir Ahmad, an apple farmer, stood holding damaged apples knocked off trees by an intense hailstorm in Pehlipora village of south Kashmirs Shopian district. All my hard work was ruined in a jiffy, Ahmad said as he collected fallen apples in his pheran. For Ahmad, who belongs to the marginalised Gujjar community, and many other farmers in the village, the apple crop had appeared promising until Saturday afternoon, when a sudden hailstorm battered the area and damaged orchards within minutes. At least three villagesPehlipora, Dunaroo and Zampathriwere hit by the hailstorm, which lasted between seven and 10 minutes. The chickpea-sized hailstones spelt doom for apple orchards in the area, dashing the hopes of hundreds of farmers. The hailstorm has caused significant damage to apple orchards in these villages, MLA Shopian Shabir Ahmad Kullay told Greater Kashmir . Kullay, who visited the affected villages on Friday morning, said farmers would continue to suffer such losses unless a comprehensive crop insurance scheme is introduced. It has been a long-standing demand of farmers. The apple industry is the economic lifeline for over 80 percent of people in Shopian and contributes nearly 8 percent to the GDP, Kullay said. He demanded that farmers be provided hail nets at subsidised rates and that a crop insurance scheme be introduced without further delay. The latest weather event marks the fourth hailstorm to hit the district this season, adding to the anxieties of growers who fear further losses if adverse weather conditions persist. Farmers said the recent hailstorm has deepened uncertainty at a crucial stage of the apple season, with many fearing additional losses if erratic weather continues. They said repeated spells of rain and hail could damage fruit quality, reduce market value and affect overall returns later in the season. Shopian, one of Kashmirs major apple-producing districts, plays a key role in the Valleys horticulture economy, sustaining thousands of farming families and generating significant employment through cultivation, packaging, transportation and trade.

Open garbage dumping near Rawalpora school raises health concerns

Srinagar, May 29:A massive open garbage dumping site near Government School Rawalpora in uptown Srinagar has become a major cause of health concern for locals, commuters and students. The spot has turned into an unhygienic site emitting foul smell and attracting stray dogs. Locals said that tons of garbage is daily dumped at the spot in blatant violation of Supreme Court directives prohibiting dumping of garbage near schools. Tons of garbage has been lying unattended in the area for a long time near a vacant land causing inconvenience to pedestrians and motorists passing through the busy locality. They said the stench emanating from the waste has made it difficult for people to even walk through the area, particularly during morning and evening hours. The foul smell is unbearable. We cannot even take morning walks or evening strolls peacefully. The entire area presents a shabby look and has become a source of embarrassment for residents, said Abdul Rashid, a local resident. The problem gets compounded in summer when even leftover food from marriage functions in adjoining areas is dumped at the spot. Residents said the garbage dumping site has also turned into a breeding ground for stray dogs, posing risk to school children and elderly people who frequently use the road. Students from the nearby schools pass through this stretch daily. The growing presence of stray dogs around the garbage poses a serious threat. Parents remain worried about possible dog attacks, said Shabir Ahmad, another local. Commuters said the open dumping has badly affected the overall atmosphere of the locality and demanded immediate intervention by authorities. This is a densely populated area and such open dumping is unacceptable. Elderly people and children hesitate to move around due to the unhygienic conditions and fear of diseases, said a commuter. This garbage dump should be closed to give some sense of so-called Smart City to our area. Locals also expressed concern over possible health risks, saying the waste accumulation could lead to the spread of infections and other illnesses, especially during warmer weather conditions. The issue has also raised questions over the implementation of the Supreme Court directions regarding scientific waste disposal and the prohibition of unsanitary garbage dumping. Under the nationwide directives of the Supreme Court of India enforcing the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026, open dumping of garbage near schools is strictly prohibited. The Court mandates that local bodies ensure four-stream waste segregation at the source, actively clear legacy dumpsites, and protect sensitive public zonessuch as schools and hospitalsfrom municipal solid waste and hazardous contamination. The Supreme Court has strictly prohibited unscientific open dumping of municipal waste and directed local bodies to ensure scientific processing and disposal of garbage through sanctioned sanitary landfill mechanisms. The court has also stressed segregation of waste at source and implementation of zero fresh dumping measures to prevent creation of new dumping sites. The apex court has further held that a clean and pollution free environment is part of the fundamental Right to Life guaranteed under the Constitution. The Supreme Court has directed District Collectors and local urban bodies to prioritise sanitation, actively clear uncollected garbage from vulnerable areas including neighborhoods surrounding educational institutions and prevent any future dumping near schools. Locals alleged that despite clear guidelines and repeated complaints, authorities have failed to address the issue on the ground. A senior official from Srinagar Municipal Corporation said that the matter will be looked into. We will address the issue, and whatever necessary action is required will be ensured accordingly, he said.

Ravinder Pandita receives Dharam Bandhu award in Mysuru, Citation & Rs 1 lakh prize

Srinagar, May 29:Chairman & Founder of Save Sharda Committee Kashmir Regd, Ravinder Pandita was conferred with Dharam Bandhu award by Avadhoota Datta Peetham in Mysore, Karnataka for Dharma activities in valley, The award carries a Citation and Prize money of Rs 1 lakh. The Peetham recognizing the services of Ravinder Pandita decided to felicitate him on the 84th Birthday of Guru Sachitanand Ganpathy in a jam packed auditorium of Peetham. Swami Ji while lauding the efforts of Sharda mission asked the audience to sing bhajans in praise of Sharda Devi on the occasion. We should all get united for the cause of reopening of Sharda peeth in PoK, said Ravinder Pandita in his address to thousands of devotees present. He invited all devotees to visit the newly constructed Sharda Temple at LoC Teetwal. He presented a portrait of Sharda Peeth and sharda shawl to Swami ji. Ravinder Pandita also lauded the efforts of locals in their full cooperation to visitors that have been thronging Sharda Temple in recent years after its inauguration in 2023 by Home minister Amit Shah. Ravinder Pandita has decided to donate the cash prize of Rs 1 lakh to the Save Sharda Committee, as per his statement to the press.

Stakeholders pitch for greater community role in Government schools to strengthen education system

Srinagar, May 29:Education experts and stakeholders have pitched for stronger involvement of society and parents in the functioning of government schools, saying the community participation remains crucial for building a progressive and accountable public education system. The push comes amid the fresh guidelines issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL), Ministry of Education, Government of India, aimed at strengthening School Management Committees (SMCs) in schools across the country. The guidelines stress community mobilisation and participation as a process of engaging local communities in identifying priorities, resources, needs and solutions to promote representative participation, accountability, transparency and better governance in schools. An official said the move seeks to improve enrolment, attendance, academic performance and stakeholder-led monitoring of schools while enhancing transparency in utilisation of funds and implementation of developmental works. As already reported, the Directorate of School Education has also made Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) mandatory on the 26th of every month in government schools to ensure regular interaction between parents and teachers and promote parental participation in school functioning. The officials said the initiative would help establish a two-way communication mechanism between schools and families, particularly in government institutions where parental engagement often remains limited. Government schools can progress only when society takes ownership of the education system. Teachers alone cannot transform education outcomes unless parents and communities actively participate in the academic journey of children, a senior lecturer told Greater Kashmir. The DSEL guidelines issued earlier this month read that the effective functioning of SMCs depends heavily on the knowledge, motivation and skills of members and have called for regular capacity-building programmes and orientation sessions. As per the guidelines, annual training and orientation programmes for SMC members are to be conducted within one month of constitution or reconstitution of committees, preferably in local areas and in local languages to ensure wider participation. The training modules would include provisions for equitable and quality education, preparation and implementation of School Development Plans (SDPs), academic monitoring, school performance improvement, inclusive education practices, financial management, social audits, digital literacy, educational technology, school safety and priorities outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020. The guidelines further emphasise transparent and accountable financial management by SMCs. All funds meant for SMC-related activities are to be maintained in separate joint bank accounts operated by the Chairperson and Member Secretary, it reads. According to the guidelines, SMCs can execute civil works up to Rs 30 lakh while ensuring transparency in planning, procurement and execution of works. For projects exceeding Rs 30 lakh, public tenders are to be invited under prescribed procedures, with SMC participation mandated during tender finalisation and project execution, read the guidelines. The guidelines also provide for community oversight in maintenance and repair works undertaken in schools and underline the publics right to know cost parameters of projects. The emphasis on parental involvement was also reflected during a recent Parent-Teacher Meeting in a government school where a parent publicly praised teachers for their efforts in grooming students and called for greater participation of families in childrens education. Teachers are doing their job in grooming students and parents must share equal responsibility in monitoring childrens education and behaviour, she said. The parent said that while teachers spend limited hours with students in schools, children remain with families for most of the day, making parental supervision vital for their academic and behavioural development. The parent also expressed concern that many families fail to remain connected with government schools or adequately monitor their childrens studies. Even if parents are illiterate, they must keep a close watch on the academics and activities of their children, she said, adding that teachers in government schools were making sincere efforts to guide students. She further added that parents tend to remain more concerned about children studying in private institutions because of the financial investment involved, while comparatively less attention is paid to students enrolled in government schools. Parents must visit schools regularly, interact with teachers frequently and remain actively involved in the educational journey of their children, she added. The school teachers believe that stronger coordination among schools, parents and communities can significantly improve accountability, student outcomes and public confidence in the government education system. If parents will make it a routine to visit schools, it will fill the void created over the past years. If there are any missing links between students and teachers, parents involvement will bridge the gap, the teachers said.

Security vs Statehood: A Myopic Binary

SH Mohammeds opinion piece, Security, Stability or Statehood, (Greater Kashmir, 24 May 2026), offers perhaps the clearest public articulation of the thinking that underpins the Centres position on restoring statehood to J&K. It presents a coherent, security-first case for retaining the Union Territory framework as a stabilising national-security architecture rather than a temporary administrative arrangement. The argument is neither without merit, nor without supporters at the decision-making levels. There can be no disputing his premise that J&K occupies a uniquely sensitive frontier. Indeed, it was precisely for this reason that it had a special constitutional status. Nor can the decades of insurgency, cross-border terrorism and institutional weakening which created genuine vulnerabilities be wished away. Yet the article ultimately rests on a myopic binary: security versus statehood; the former must precede any meaningful restoration of representative governance. This sequencing assumes that political aspirations can be held in abeyance while administrative control delivers order. To treat political legitimacy as subordinate to administrative control is untenable. It is also unsustainable because effective governance ultimately requires a degree of congruence between how a society organises itself socially and how power is distributed politically. When that congruence is absent over long periods, stability becomes brittle dependent on continuous external enforcement rather than self-reinforcing consent. On the ground, with every passing day, the prolonged separation of political legitimacy from administrative authority is itself eroding the foundations of durable governance and, over time, of security as well. The current UT model institutionalises a hierarchy that is difficult to sustain in a democratic polity. An elected government possesses popular legitimacy through assembly elections yet remains structurally subservient to a central apparatus whose authority is derived from New Delhi. Ironically, this asymmetry is not new. For most part of seven decades till 2003 (except for 1977) elected governments operated under heavy central influence even while the formal shell of Article 370 remained intact. After Sheikh Abdullahs dismissal, subsequent regimes were widely perceived locally as enjoying greater legitimacy in Delhi than among significant sections of the population. The practical autonomy promised at accession was progressively diluted through constitutional orders and political engineering. That period is widely recognised as one of the deeper sources of the legitimacy crisis that later metastasised. The present UT structure reproduces this core problem in more explicit form: an elected layer with popular mandate subordinated to a non-elected, centrally directed authority. The difference is that today the arrangement is constitutionally entrenched rather than operating while maintaining the facade of a special status. Past elected regimes also carried their own legitimacy deficits dynastic tendencies, corruption and occasional suppression of dissent. The consequences extend beyond electoral sentimentality and emotional constitutionalism. They manifest in a growing mismatch between social capital and political capital. As a result, Kashmiris are experiencing a fundamental disconnect in their ability to influence or hold accountable the structures of power. This is leading to governance gaps, political alienation, and often suboptimal collective outcomes. The inability of the social resources to influence the state policy and accountability is perceived as disempowerment. The social resources exist but fail to articulate into political power or responsiveness. This creates amoral familism or enclave dynamics with weak links to broader institutions. Indeed, social capital in Kashmir is getting divided into ethnic, caste, clan, religious, or regional lines which reduces the possibilities of inclusive political formation, including coalitions. Politics in Kashmir has reinforced exclusion, clientelist or identity-based patronage which doesnt generate broad based accountability. This situation can stabilize regimes in the short-term but risks backsliding, legitimacy crises, or sudden eruptions, be it populism or unrest. People in Kashmir increasingly experience governance not as something done for them but to them. This renders even well-designed development schemes vulnerable to suspicion. What is needed in Kashmir today is a framework in which political parties, inclusive movements, and linking institutions articulate social resources into political influence. The column contends the elected UT government already wields substantial powers and points to civic issues such as urban development, garbage management, flooding, and illegal construction. This framing conflates two distinct levels of government. By focusing on municipal administration failures and citing Chandigarh and Delhi as examples of effective governance under UT or limited status, the author reduces the expectations of an elected UT administration to those of a municipal corporation. In doing so, he employs a rhetorical sleight of hand: he blames the elected side for shortcomings that fall within a municipalitys limited remit, while arguing that the UT framework itself imposes no real constraint on governance. It is a deliberate oversimplification that serves the argument for delaying statehood until stability and governance credibility are established. Yet the analysis underplays how centralised control has distorted the entire developmental design. The developmental policy has nothing to do with the local economy. Kashmir, despite its singular economic uniqueness import dependent export oriented artisanal economy with a vibrant horticultural sector is being treated like any other state, like Bihar or Orissa. Blaming local incompetence without examining the architecture that limits local ownership misses the deeper governance challenge. Historical patterns further complicate the security first, statehood later sequence. Periods of relative calm in the Valley during the early 2000s and 2010s coincided with active political processes in which elected governments exercised meaningful, if imperfect, autonomy even under Article 370. To be sure, consent-based arrangements have historically proved more resilient than control-based ones. Conversely, prolonged political vacuums and perceptions of disenfranchisement have repeatedly correlated with spikes in radicalisation and unrest. The Pahalgam attack itself, under the UT framework, demonstrated that kinetic superiority and central coordination alone do not eliminate vulnerabilities when local intelligence, community trust and rapid political signalling are weak. Fiscal arguments in the original piece also require scrutiny. To be clear, J&K economy doesnt depend on central transfers, the government of J&K does. The security costs are high, but this does not mean statehood would automatically sever central support. Indias federal practice has long accommodated asymmetric arrangements for strategically important regions. Social capital itself is not uniformly cohesive; it contains strong bonding ties alongside fractures that can be exploited. More than the security threats to the integrity of the state, which cannot be discounted, Jammus regional aspirations, Ladakhs separate status and the unresolved displacement of Kashmiri Pandits add further complexity. it is imperative that a realignment of political authority must incorporate robust safeguards for national security, minority protections and deradicalisation. These are non- negotiables. An alternative reality for Jammu and Kashmir envisions statehood not as a reward for perfect stability but as an instrument to achieve it: by restoring agency to elected representatives, rebuilding trust across communities, and aligning local aspirations with national security imperatives. The choice is not between security and statehood, but between a stability engendered by control and stability deepened by consent. Postscript: By labelling demands for statehood restoration as electoral sentimentality, and emotional constitutional politics, the article delves a deep and devastating blow to the foundational principles of the Constitution of India. What is being suggested is that that popular will expressed through elections or constitutional claims can be overridden by expert or security-driven reasoning. This reframes the Constitution itself as something that can be operationalised selectively, based on assessments of security rather than on the principles of a federal democracy and popular sovereignty that the document enshrines. It also moves toward a managerial constitutionalism, where the Constitution is administered from above rather than continuously legitimised through political participation and consent. The Constitution must be viewed as a framework for managing diversity and political contestation through consent, and not as a tool for achieving and retaining administrative control. The author is a Contributing Editor of Greater Kashmir.

RSS@100

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has a defining history in Kashmir the various facets of which have already been published in previous columns of this author. It needs to be retold that the accession of the state of Jammu & Kashmir with the Indian Union in 1947 has a great and archival RSS connection. The then chief of the RSS, M.S.Golwalkar paid an urgent visit to Kashmir in October 1947 (having concurrence of Sardar Patel, Union Home Minister) and met the then Maharaja of the state, Hari Singh in his Stately home called Karan Palace at Srinagar. He discussed with him the whole gamut of accession in presence of Mehar Chand Mahajan, the then Prime Minister of the state who was instrumental in arranging the historic meeting. As a follow-up measure, some swayamsevaks of RSS in Jammu and Kashmir were also told to be ready to help the State authorities and the Indian forces to help the Indian Air Force to land their planes at Srinagar on 26 and 27 October, 1947. Accordingly, hundreds of RSS activists at Srinagar helped the army in preparing a temporary airport at a very short notice and created a history of immense political relevance. RSS was banned thrice in its journey of one hundred years of existence. The first ban was executed by the government of India headed by Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1948 consequent upon the murder of Mahatma Gandhi. In 1975, as an aftermath of Emergency, RSS was again banned by the Indira Gandhi regime. In 1992, ban was imposed, for the third time, upon the RSS by the Government of Narsimha Rao as a fallout of the demolition of the Ramjanambhumi-Babri disputed structure in Ayodhya. All the three times, the ban on the organisation was lifted by the same governments that imposed them. The bans had their deep impact on the organisation throughout the country including Kashmir. The most regressive and the eventful ban was experienced by the activists of RSS during the Emergency era from 1975 to 1977. Here, it becomes obligatory to mention that during the first and the second ban in 1948 and 1975 respectively, Jammu and Kashmir state was ruled by Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah. His political equation with Nehru and Indira Gandhi is well known to all and forms an important part of political history. The NC government of Sheikh Abdullah didnt leave any stone unturned to terrorise the RSS activists in the state during the 1948-50 ban on the organisation. There are gory incidents to mention about it. Various activists of the organisation were issued orders to the effect to leave the state itself and it included besides others the key activists like Makhan Lal Harkara, Omkar Nath Kak and Avtar Krishen Kaw. Prominent swayamsevaks of the RSS were handcuffed by the police with grass-made rope and paraded through the streets of the town before being taken to the respective police stations. These included Madan Lal Wali, Devki Nandan Nakhasi and Brij Krishen Miyan. Balraj Madhok, the chief organiser, was forced to go underground along with a few other RSS functionaries like Jankinath Dhobi and Somnath Ogra. In 1975, things were altogether different in the valley. Prominently, sets of two generations of activists were involved in the working of the organisation at grass-roots level in the entire Kashmir region and all the activists had earned their place in the society with their honest and committed feats. Most of the swayamsevaks in Kashmir were the government & semi-government employees; and also students of colleges and universities. All of them rose from ranks both in the social as well as in their professional identity. RSS turned out to be a stark reality despite the first ban and the following strictness of the government/s against its members; and it became possible only with the sheer hard work, investment of time, daring deeds and the application of intellect by its dedicated cadres. The sudden ban following the declaration of emergency took everyone by surprise and immediately an alternate way of working was evolved by the organization. It might take volumes to describe the whole saga of the emergency era and its impact on RSS in Kashmir. However, in these columns, we can have a glimpse of it. The police in a midnight swoop in the last week of June, 1975 made arrests of top leadership of RSS in Srinagar. They picked up Amarnath Vaishvavi, Pushkarnath Karnail and Amarnath Ganjoo from their homes immediately after the declaration of emergency. However, the police was not able to get hold of the other prominent faces of the organisation like Tikalal Taploo, D. P. Kaul and others. The police also picked up Hardey Nath Bhat from his home in Rainawari, Srinagar. Sensing more arrests and detentions, the core team of the organisation held a couple of secret meetings in Habbakadal and Amirakadal areas of Srinagar and took some vital decisions. The most important decision taken was about the prominent figures in the organisation who were active on the ground. All such figures were asked to go underground for some time. Thus those who went underground in the district of Srinagar included among others Ashok Braroo, Bal Krishen Seeru, Ashok Kaul (now Col. Retd.), Utpal Kaul, Ramesh Handoo, Pramod Durrani, Bharat Bhushan Bhat, Rajinder Raina, Inder Krishen Zutshi, Maharaj Krishen (Rajan) Kaul, Roshan Lal Kaul and this author. Besides them, Hira Lal Chatta, Niranjan Nath Kaul, Omkarnath Raina, Prem Nath Bhat and Harji Lal Jad in the districts of Baramulla and Anantnag were also advised to follow suit. Some of us went to our relatives living in far-flung areas of Kashmir valley and a few even went outside the valley. For example, D. P. Kaul went to Jammu where one of his brothers was posted, Ashok Braroo (against whom warrant under MISA was issued) went to his mothers parents house in Kanikadal area, Ashok Kaul took refuge in the house of his cousins at Purshiyar-Habbakadal; Utpal Kaul along with Ramesh Handoo & Pramod Durrani went to village Wadipora in the bordering district of Kupwara. This author went to Ajas-Bandipora where my mothers younger sister would reside. RSS had an office in the Ganpatyar-Badiyar area in the house of Gurtoos. In the darkness of one night in the last days of June 1975, we took away all materials in the office and especially the books of the library to one of my close relatives house which was otherwise locked for the last one year. All these measures were employed to incur minimum loss to the organisation and the activists of the organisation as the government was seen hell bent upon to finish the organisation. With the passage of time, the dust settled to some extent and the activists returned to their homes after a few months. The reins of the organisation were handed over to the young Bharat Bhushan Bhat as the Kashmir Vibhag Karyavah. Simultaneously, the central leadership of the organisation appointed young Vivek Kumar Gupta as the Kashmir Vibhag Pracharak in addition to his duties in the erstwhile district Doda. By the end of the year 1975, a new set-up and the organisational structure took shape under pseudo-nomenclature. Badminton & Rubber-Ring courts were organised at a number of places in the valley, indoor clubs were set up where chess, carrom and Chausa were introduced as the games, Bhajan-mandalis and Bhaagwat-katha programmes were organised, Yogasan & Surya-Namaskar centres were given birth at a few venues and Cricket clubs also came up under different names. These were the new formats of daily Shakha of RSS in Kashmir valley. This author was incharge of three such clubs in Srinagar, i.e., Arbindo Ghosh club in my home out-house, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose club in the Gurtoos compound and Adarsh Cricket club in the DownTown area of Srinagar city. Recitation of nationalist songs was a part of the daily routine in these centres of activity; and past and current socio-political scenarios were also discussed and debated in these clubs etc. During the latter part of the year 1975, the core team of the RSS in the valley gathered confidence and courage and went ahead to even provide shelter to some most-wanted by the government RSS functionaries of other states in the valley. These included among others Bapurao Moghe, Thakur Ram Singh, Narayan Dass, Dr. Om Prakash Mengi, Dr. Subhash Chandra Gupta & Satyapal Gupta. There were some young activists of RSS-ABVP-BJS on the hit-list of the government and they also ventured into the Kashmir valley. In order to avoid arrest and detention, a few like Ramesh Arora and Dinesh Khanna also lived in the valley in a disguised fashion for some months. It is surely a long and interesting story, the parts of which have already been published earlier. A number of dare-devil acts like organising camps, meetings and outings of the activists, despite crackdown by the government, was a special feature of the dark era. Kashmir, like other parts of India, lived up to its promise and became a part of the efforts to ultimately defeat the government at the centre when it (the Cong. government) lost the elections in March 1977, followed by lifting of Emergency and the consequent ban on the RSS. Jai-Hind....! The author is a senior BJP and KP leader

After Sacrifice, Responsibility.

Eid-ul-Adha is among the most profound occasions in the Islamic calendar. The festival is not merely about the ritual of Qurbani. It is about humility, compassion, discipline and responsibility. The act of sacrifice carries a spiritual message that extends far beyond the slaughter itself. It asks believers to reflect on their duties towards society, fellow human beings and the world around them. In Kashmir, Eid-ul-Adha has always been observed with deep devotion and community spirit. From the early morning prayers to the distribution of meat among relatives, neighbours and the underprivileged, the festival reflects generosity and togetherness. Yet in recent years another side of Eid has increasingly become visible across towns and villages of the Valley. Hours after the sacrifices are completed many roads, streams and public spaces begin to tell a troubling story. Animal remains, hides and offal are often seen dumped in nearby water bodies, open fields, drains and overflowing dustbins. In several localities the stench lingers for days while stray dogs scatter waste across streets and residential areas. Every year social media platforms are flooded with photographs and videos showing bloodied drains, heaps of discarded animal waste and polluted streams after Eid-ul-Adha. Some posts spark outrage while others invite ridicule from outside the Valley. Many users blame municipal authorities while others criticise citizens for irresponsibility. The debate resurfaces annually only to fade away until the next Eid arrives. Unfortunately, little changes on the ground. The issue is not merely about aesthetics or civic embarrassment. It is deeply connected to public health, environmental sustainability and religious ethics. Islam places extraordinary emphasis on cleanliness and responsible conduct. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described cleanliness as half the faith. Islamic teachings encourage believers to avoid causing inconvenience or harm to others. Scholars have repeatedly stressed that the remains of sacrificed animals must be disposed of properly and respectfully. Polluting water sources or public spaces contradicts the very spirit of a festival rooted in sacrifice and compassion. The scientific implications are equally serious. Animal waste dumped into streams and drains contaminates water bodies with bacteria and pathogens. During warmer weather decomposition accelerates rapidly producing foul odours and increasing the risk of disease transmission. Open disposal also attracts stray animals and insects which further spread contamination. In densely populated urban areas blocked drains mixed with animal waste can worsen sanitation conditions and create long-term environmental stress. Kashmirs fragile ecosystem makes the matter even more concerning. The Valleys lakes, streams and wetlands are already under pressure from pollution, encroachment and unregulated waste disposal. Adding tonnes of untreated animal remains during Eid only intensifies the burden. Water bodies that communities depend upon for irrigation and daily use should not become dumping grounds in the name of celebration. At the same time placing the entire blame on citizens alone would be unfair. Municipal authorities and local administrations have often failed to prepare adequately for the scale of waste generated during Eid-ul-Adha. In many areas there are no designated disposal sites, no proper awareness campaigns and insufficient waste collection services. Sanitation workers are overburdened while garbage vehicles fail to reach localities in time. The absence of organised systems forces many people to resort to unsafe disposal practices. The government therefore owes citizens more than temporary advisories issued a day before Eid. Authorities must develop a coordinated and scientific waste management strategy specifically for Eid-ul-Adha. Designated collection points should be established in urban and rural areas alike. Municipal bodies must ensure timely lifting of waste through additional sanitation staff and special transport arrangements. Veterinary and public health departments should also issue clear guidelines on safe disposal methods. Awareness campaigns are equally important. Mosques, local committees and educational institutions can play a meaningful role in spreading messages about responsible Qurbani practices. Religious leaders possess immense influence within communities and their guidance can help people understand that cleanliness and environmental care are part of faith itself. Sermons before Eid should emphasise that irresponsible disposal is not merely a civic lapse but also a moral failure. Citizens too must recognise their responsibilities. The spirit of sacrifice cannot coexist with negligence towards shared spaces. Families should avoid throwing remains into rivers, streams or roadsides even if proper systems appear inadequate. Communities can organise local collection arrangements and coordinate with municipal workers instead of treating waste disposal as somebody elses problem. Hides and reusable animal by-products should be handled through organised channels rather than abandoned in open spaces. There is also a need to rethink how social media is used during Eid. While exposing civic failures is necessary constant circulation of disturbing images without constructive engagement achieves little. Public outrage should lead to community action and policy reform rather than becoming an annual cycle of anger and embarrassment. Social media users can instead promote awareness campaigns, responsible practices and examples of neighbourhoods managing Eid waste effectively. Eid-ul-Adha teaches believers that sacrifice is inseparable from responsibility. The festival asks individuals to rise above selfishness and act with consciousness towards others. In todays context that consciousness must include care for the environment, public hygiene and civic ethics. Kashmir cannot continue to celebrate the spiritual essence of Eid while ignoring the damage caused to its streets, water bodies and public spaces immediately afterwards. The Valley prides itself on its culture, hospitality and spiritual traditions. Preserving that dignity requires collective effort. Government agencies must provide infrastructure and planning while citizens must display responsibility and discipline. Faith and science in this matter are not in conflict. Both demand cleanliness, care and respect for the environment. Perhaps the true meaning of sacrifice today lies not only in what is offered during Qurbani but also in the willingness to change harmful habits for the greater good. Only then can Eid-ul-Adha remain a celebration that reflects both devotion and responsibility. Peerzada Mohsin Shafi hails from Anantnag and writes on infrastructure related issues.

A Leader in Reckoning

The resolution of the Chief Ministerial uncertainty in Karnataka once again underlines an important political reality within the Congress party: while many leaders occupy positions of authority, it is Rahul Gandhi who increasingly emerges as the decisive political force capable of steering the party through difficult and often delicate situations. The manner in which the leadership issue in Bengaluru and CM transition was handled reflects not merely organisational intervention, but a carefully calibrated political exercise driven by patience, consensus-building and strategic clarity. For several weeks, political circles were rife with speculation regarding tensions within the Karnataka Congress leadership. Rumours of dissatisfaction, competing ambitions and internal pressures had created an atmosphere of uncertainty. The opposition attempted to amplify these differences, projecting the Congress government as unstable and vulnerable. Yet, despite the noise and political theatre, the party leadership chose restraint over reaction. At the centre of this calibrated approach stood Rahul Gandhi. What distinguishes Rahul Gandhis political style today is his ability to allow democratic processes within the party to unfold while retaining the final authority to shape outcomes. Unlike the politics of abrupt intervention or public assertion of dominance, Rahul Gandhi increasingly relies upon consultation, observation and strategic timing. The Karnataka issue demonstrates this transformation clearly. Rather than permitting factionalism to deepen, he ensured that dialogue remained open between stakeholders, senior leaders and organisational channels. This not only preserved the unity of the state government but also reinforced the message that the Congress remains capable of internal democratic management. The eventual resolution of the issue reflects political maturity. It prevented a potentially damaging confrontation while simultaneously reaffirming the authority of the central leadership. Rahul Gandhis role was neither theatrical nor overtly commanding; instead, it was subtle yet decisive. He set the process in motion, allowed consultations to mature and finally ensured that a workable political balance prevailed. That ability to quietly influence outcomes without creating public ruptures is increasingly becoming one of his defining political strengths. In many ways, Rahul Gandhi today occupies a unique space in Indian politics. For years, critics attempted to portray him as politically inexperienced or hesitant. However, over the last few years, his political evolution has become visible even to many detractors. His leadership during national campaigns, his sustained ideological positioning and his growing engagement with grassroots politics have gradually reshaped public perception. The Karnataka development adds another layer to this transformation. It demonstrates that Rahul Gandhi is no longer merely a campaigner or symbolic figurehead; he has become the principal political arbiter within the Congress system. The significance of this development extends beyond Karnataka. Regional satraps and state leaders across the country increasingly recognise that Rahul Gandhis political judgement carries decisive weight within the organisation. His ability to balance competing interests without humiliating stakeholders gives him credibility as a consensus-builder. In a party historically known for strong personalities and regional power centres, maintaining equilibrium is never easy. Yet Rahul Gandhi appears to understand that durable political authority in a democratic party emerges not only from formal power but from moral and political legitimacy. Another notable aspect of the Karnataka episode is the message it sends to the opposition. For years, political adversaries thrived on the perception that the Congress lacked coherence and central direction. Any internal disagreement was projected as evidence of institutional decline. However, the management of the CM issue reveals a different reality. The Congress under Rahul Gandhi is learning to absorb pressures without implosion. Internal debates are no longer immediately seen as existential crises. Instead, they are increasingly managed through dialogue and political accommodation. Rahul Gandhis growing influence also stems from his consistency in articulating a broader ideological vision. Whether speaking about constitutional values, social justice, economic inequality or democratic institutions, he has sought to frame politics beyond immediate electoral calculations. This has helped him cultivate an image of a leader driven not merely by office, but by larger political convictions. Consequently, when organisational crises arise, his interventions are viewed within a framework of institutional preservation rather than personal ambition. The Karnataka developments further reveal his understanding of coalition management within the Congress ecosystem itself. Modern Indian politics is no longer defined solely by charismatic command structures. It requires negotiation, emotional intelligence and the capacity to maintain alliances within parties as much as outside them. Rahul Gandhis role in Bengaluru reflected precisely these qualities. He neither allowed indiscipline nor encouraged confrontation. Instead, he facilitated a process through which competing ambitions could coexist within a broader political framework. Importantly, this episode also indicates a shift in the Congress partys internal culture. Decisions are no longer perceived as unilateral decrees emerging from closed rooms. Consultative politics, though often slower and more complicated, creates greater ownership among party leaders. Rahul Gandhi appears increasingly comfortable with such an approach. His style may not resemble the centralised command politics visible elsewhere, but it reflects a different model of leadershipone rooted in persuasion rather than imposition. At a national level, this evolution carries implications for the future trajectory of opposition politics in India. The Congress remains the only national party with the organisational spread capable of mounting a serious challenge to the ruling establishment across multiple states. For that challenge to remain credible, stability within Congress-ruled states is essential. By resolving the Karnataka issue with political sensitivity and organisational discipline, Rahul Gandhi has demonstrated that he understands the strategic importance of governance stability in shaping national perception. The Bengaluru episode, therefore, is not merely about a state leadership matter. It is about the emergence of Rahul Gandhi as the central political mind within the Congress partya leader whose authority is increasingly derived from political judgement, organisational patience and ideological consistency. His ability to prevail finally, after allowing democratic processes to operate, reflects confidence rather than insecurity. Beyond organisational management, Rahul Gandhis political rise today is also rooted in his ability to connect politics with public sentiment and democratic accountability. Through sustained public outreach, nationwide interactions and direct engagement with ordinary citizens, he has gradually repositioned himself as a leader willing to listen as much as to lead. His political journeys across the country were not merely symbolic exercises; they helped create an image of accessibility, empathy and ideological conviction. This growing emotional connect with sections of youth, farmers, civil society and middle-class voters has strengthened his standing within the party as well. Leaders increasingly recognise that Rahul Gandhi is not only shaping Congress strategy internally but is also emerging as one of the principal national voices articulating an alternative political narrative centred around constitutionalism, social harmony and inclusive development. In contemporary Indian politics, where aggressive rhetoric often substitutes for substance, Rahul Gandhis evolving leadership style offers an alternative model: quieter, consultative and strategically patient, yet ultimately decisive. The resolution of the Karnataka CM issue may appear a regional political development on the surface, but in reality it signals something largerthe consolidation of Rahul Gandhi as a leader truly in reckoning within national politics.

Hosting Security Dialogue

The 11th Foreign Ministers meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) was hosted by India on May 26 in Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chaired the meeting. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Toshimitsu Motegi, Foreign Minister of Japan participated in it. Prima facie the participation of all the ministers gives the impression that all four countries, including the US, are serious about the group but doubts remain because questions have been raised about President Donald Trumps commitment to QUAD. As the US was the prime mover in setting up this group and is by far its most powerful member without its Presidents dedication to move it purposefully forward QUAD has the danger of losing steam, if not becoming moribund. The US Secretary of State is an important political personality in that countrys system but he/she cannot give it the direction or the impetus to make QUAD into a group that will inspire confidence in Indo-Pacific countries. These countries are facing great Chinese pressure and need confidence that they can rely on the worlds pre-eminent power and other major Indo-Pacific states to provide countervailing and reliable support to resist such pressures. Without the US full and energetic participation they may find it convenient to go along with China. One way to remove doubts about Trumps commitment to QUAD was to give an indication about the period when the next QUAD summit would be held. It is difficult to spell out the precise dates for a multilateral summit but it can always be indicated if it would be held, say, towards the end of a year or the first or second half of the following one. That was not mentioned in the Joint Statement issued after the Delhi meeting. The relevant portion stated We look forward to the convening of the Quad Leaders Summit, the next Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting, and continuing our engagements that advance peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Following the Delhi meeting some QUAD members sought to dispel the notion about a lack of seriousness on their part about the future of the group. That was good but it was not sufficient. That seriousness will be dispelled only when dates of the next stand alone summit are announced and it is made clear that Trump would attend. This is natural because QUAD was conceived by the US as a group of Indo-Pacific democracies which would counter Chinas growing influence in the region. That logic remains because China is moving ahead in the Indo-Pacific with increasing vigour. What is unclear is how Trump wishes to counter it. Does he wish to retreat into fortress America drawing a moat around the Western Hemisphere? It is this scenario that fills many Indo-Pacific countries with dread. As the QUAD meeting was held at a time when the Strait of Hormuz is closed it was natural that the ministers would have focused on the need for unimpeded commercial flows through the seas and oceans. In this respect they noted: We discussed the situation in the Middle East/West Asia and reaffirm our support for ongoing diplomatic efforts and hope for lasting peace in the region. We reiterate the importance of adhering to international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) with respect to navigational rights and freedoms, and the safety and uninterrupted flow of global commerce through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. We condemn the attacks on commercial shipping vessels and oppose any future measures that are inconsistent with UNCLOS, including imposition of tolls. No one can disagree with this formulation but nor should the origin of this Iran war which led to the current situation be overlooked. The Delhi meeting sought to give greater coherence to QUAD by spelling out four areas where the four countries would cooperate. Their interaction would be useful for themselves but also assist the Indo-Pacific countries. The four pillars are: maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technologies, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response. The first pillar is significant to ensure that the freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific, including the South China Sea, is not impeded. However, it is the third pillar which is of great importance for India. Under its rubric the Joint Statement notes The Quad welcomes Pax Silica as a pillar of our shared economic security agenda. We recognize that AI represents a transformative force for our long-term prosperity and reliable supply chains are indispensable to securing its benefits. We welcome efforts to deepen partnership across the full technology stack, from critical minerals and advanced manufacturing to compute, semiconductors, and trusted networks. Together, we welcome efforts to advance a comprehensive economic partnership grounded in trust, technological complementarity, and a shared commitment to lasting prosperity . Quad partners reaffirmed the importance of biomanufacturing and committed to strengthening collaboration with trusted stakeholders to ensure strong and resilient key pharmaceutical supply chains. Indias economic strength is rising but it is a fact that the US is the worlds most advanced scientific and technological power and Japan has great strengths in these areas too. It is vitally important for India to develop not only scientific and technological expertise in these areas but also set up a manufacturing base for the full range of products in these areas. This has to be done in a dynamic way so that Indian industry can adapt to manufacturing the latest equipment as innovation takes place. It is only through this process that India will become a truly great power.

Delhi High Court seeks centres reply on plea against blocking of CJPs X account

New Delhi, May 29: The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the Union government and social media platform X on a plea filed by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke challenging the blocking of the partys X account, according to Bar & Bench. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, however, declined to immediately restore the account, observing that the matter involved far-reaching issues and wider ramifications that required hearing the Centres stand first. The Court directed the Union government to file a comprehensive response within four weeks and listed the matter for hearing on July 6. It also ordered a review of the blocking order by the review committee constituted under the relevant rules governing online content blocking. According to the report, the Centre had ordered the blocking of the satirical collectives X account under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act after intelligence inputs raised national security concerns. The advocates appearing for Dipke, argued that the account was pure satire and sought interim restoration of the handle. The Court, however, said the law on such issues was still at a nascent stage and declined interim relief for now.

Kashmir apple growers skeptical of proposed crop insurance scheme

Srinagar, May 29:Apple growers in Kashmir have reacted cautiously to a proposed crop insurance scheme announced by the Jammu and Kashmir government, saying previous assurances failed to provide relief when weather-related disasters damaged orchards. The response comes days after Agriculture Minister Javed Ahmad Dar said the administration was likely to roll out a crop insurance scheme across J&K within two months. During a visit to hailstorm-hit orchards in Rafiabad and Sopore on May 23, Dar said the tendering process would begin June 1 and that the scheme could be implemented within six to eight weeks. The government plans to introduce the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS), under which compensation would be linked to adverse weather events rather than crop yield. Premium costs would be shared by the Centre, the J&K administration and farmers. The announcement follows widespread damage to orchards across Kashmir after repeated hailstorms over the past two months. Growers in Shopian, Kulgam, Rafiabad, Bandipora, Lolab, and Ganderbal reported heavy losses, with some estimating damage at more than 80 percent. We have heard such promises before, said Zahoor Ahmad Rather, president of the Apple Federation Kashmir. Rather said apple and saffron growers were excluded when the Pradhan MantriFasalBimaYojana was extended to Jammu and Kashmir in 2017, while crops such as paddy, wheat, maize and oilseeds were covered. A brief hailstorm can destroy the livelihood of a small farmer, he said. If the government is serious, it should first conduct a proper study and then bring insurance companies on board. Fayaz Ahmad Malik, president of the Sopore Fruit Mandi Association, said growers were questioning the timing of the announcement. If funds had already been allocated, the scheme should have been rolled out earlier in March only, Malik said. After the losses suffered this year, it is difficult to see how growers will benefit from it immediately. He said insurance companies had previously been reluctant to participate without adequate guarantees from the government. G M Banday, president of the Fruit Growers Association in Kulgam, said growers would wait for the formal notification before assessing the scheme. We have seen assurances in the past that did not materialize, Banday said. The lack of crop insurance has compounded losses from increasingly erratic weather, growers said. Ghulam Nabi Bhat, a 70-year-old orchardist from Nihama in Kulgam district, said hail damaged his seven-kanal orchard while the trees were in bloom. We spend lakhs on sprays and fertilisers through Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans. One hailstorm wipes out everything, Bhat said. This year it hit during flowering. Last year it came when the fruit was ready. Growers said weather patterns in Kashmir have become increasingly unpredictable, with untimely hailstorms, thunderstorms and heavy rainfall damaging orchards during critical stages of flowering and fruit development. Hailstorms and lightning occurred earlier too, but not this frequently, said Abdul Rashid, an orchardist from Shopian. There was a time when rain continued for days without causing much damage. Now almost every rainfall brings destruction. Kashmir's horticulture sector, driven largely by apple cultivation, supports thousands of families across the Valley and contributes significantly to the region's economy. Bhat said growers would wait to see whether the government's latest promise translates into relief on the ground.

IMD predicts below-normal monsoon rainfall for India in 2026

New Delhi, May 29:The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the country is likely to receive below-normal southwest monsoon rainfall during the June-September season this year, while warning of above-normal heatwave days in several states during June. In its updated long-range forecast issued by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the IMD said the monsoon seasonal rainfall during 2026 is likely to be around 90 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), with a model error margin of plus or minus 4 percent. The LPA for the monsoon season based on 1971-2020 data is 87 cm. According to the forecast, there is an 84 per cent probability of below-normal or deficient rainfall across the country during the monsoon season. The IMD said below-normal rainfall is most likely over most parts of the country, except some areas of northwest and northeast India, eastern parts of peninsular India and adjoining east-central regions, where normal to above-normal rainfall is expected. The weather agency warned that below-normal rainfall may create challenges for agriculture, drinking water supply, hydropower generation and ecosystem sustainability. It may also increase the risks of drought and heat stress in several regions. For June 2026, rainfall across the country is also expected to remain below normal at less than 92 percent of the Long Period Average. However, some parts of northwest and northeast India and several areas of south peninsular India are likely to receive normal to above-normal rainfall. The IMD further said above-normal heatwave days are expected during June over many parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. Isolated regions of Maharashtra, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are also likely to witness more heatwave days than usual. However, Rajasthan and Jharkhand are expected to see below-normal heatwave days during the month. The Ministry of Earth Sciences said above-normal maximum and minimum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country during June. The IMD noted that neutral El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions over the equatorial Pacific are currently transitioning towards El Nino conditions, which are likely to develop during the southwest monsoon season. Neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions are expected to continue during the monsoon period. The weather office advised state governments and district administrations to take necessary preparedness measures to deal with possible heatwave conditions, including ensuring safe drinking water, operational cooling shelters and stronger health surveillance systems. The IMD also urged people to remain hydrated, avoid exposure during peak afternoon hours and take special care of vulnerable individuals, including children, elderly people and outdoor workers. The department said it will issue the forecast for July rainfall in the last week of June 2026.

Massive security build-up for AmarnathYatra

Srinagar, May 29:The Centre has kicked off comprehensive security preparations for the upcoming AmarnathYatra 2026, with large-scale mobilisation and deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) set to begin in July. According to a top officials in security establishment , paramilitary troops have already started moving towards J&K as part of a robust multi-layered security grid for the sacred pilgrimage, which attracts lakhs of devotees every year to the 12,756-feet-high Amarnath Cave shrine nestled in the Himalayas. This time, the yatra will have additional layers of security in view of the prevailing threat environment, a senior officer said. Official communications reviewed confirm that the government has ordered the deployment of around 700 companies of CAPFs to J&K until the successful completion of the AmarnathYatra 2026. The deployment is being carried in a phased manner to ensure seamless coverage. In the first phase, 115 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are scheduled to be inducted into J&K by May 31, 2026. Of these, 95 CRPF companies are already present in J&K on a short-term deployment basis, while 20 additional companies will be freshly inducted to strengthen ground presence ahead of the pilgrimage. The communication regarding the induction has already been issued to the concerned authorities. Security establishment officials said a comprehensive strategy that will not leave any gaps. The security grid will cover both traditional routes to the cave shrine the Pahalgam route (longer but more traditional) and the Baltal route (shorter but steeper). Special focus will be placed on base camps, transit camps, assembly points, and critical stretches along the tracks. Advanced surveillance, drone monitoring, and intelligence-based operations are expected to form key components of the security architecture. Further details of the overall deployment plan, including the role of the Indian Army and J&K Police, are likely to be made public closer to the start of the Yatra. The annual AmarnathYatra, held in the month of Shravan (July-August), is one of the most revered Hindu pilgrimages in India. In recent years, the yatra has seen record footfall, with the administration aiming for smooth and safe conduct while balancing security challenges in the sensitive region. Last years yatra witnessed heavy security deployment and passed off peacefully with record participation. The 2026 edition is expected to follow a similar or even larger scale deployment, with authorities keen to ensure zero tolerance towards any security lapses.

Swiss Ambassador to India calls on CM Omar

Srinagar, May 29:The Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to India, Maya Tissafi, on Friday called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to discuss areas of mutual interest and cooperation. The meeting explored opportunities for the exchange of best practices in sustainable tourism, hospitality, vocational education and training, horticulture, dairying, and eco-friendly food processing. During the interaction, the Chief Minister emphasised the importance of adopting best practices in these sectors to further strengthen Jammu and Kashmirs socio-economic development and ensure long-term prosperity for its people. He highlighted the governments vision of integrating innovative and sustainable approaches into regional planning and human development frameworks aimed at creating employment opportunities, enhancing productivity, and improving the overall quality of life. Ambassador Tissafi, who is on a visit to Kashmir, appreciated the natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and immense economic potential of Jammu and Kashmir. She expressed interest in exploring avenues for greater collaboration and knowledge sharing. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of cooperation in promoting sustainable development and inclusive growth.

Trump weighs final call on Iran ceasefire deal

Washington, May 29:US President Donald Trump said Friday he's holding a White House Situation Room meeting with his advisors as he looks to make a final determination on moving forward with a deal to extend the Iran ceasefire. Trump confirmed the high-level White House talks the day after The Associated Press and other news outlets reported that US and Iranian negotiators had come to terms on a tentative agreement. The deal would extend the fragile ceasefire by 60 days as new talks are held on Iran's disputed nuclear programme. US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the sides continued to debate a couple of language points and he couldn't say whether Trump would approve the proposal. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad BagherQalibaf said Friday on X that his country has no trust in guarantees or words, only actions, and no step will be taken before the other side acts. We do not gain concessions through talks, but through missiles. In negotiations, we only make them understand that, wrote Qalibaf, who was involved in negotiations in Qatar this week. He added: The winner of any agreement is the one who is better prepared for war the day after it is signed. According to a US official familiar with the matter, the tentative agreement would continue the ceasefire in the 3-month-old war by 60 days and start a new round of talks on Iran's nuclear programme. Among the first issues to be negotiated during the 60-day ceasefire would be what will happen to Iran's highly enriched uranium, said the official, who was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Islamic Republic has 440.9 kilograms of uranium that is enriched up to 60 per cent purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Vance said Thursday evening that the sides were going back and forth on a couple of issues on the nuclear stuff, the highly enriched stockpile, and also the question of enrichment. The vice president suggested negotiators were trying to strike general terms on the uranium issue in the tentative agreement, with the specifics to be hammered out in the ensuing talks. Though Trump and his team said from the start of the conflict that one of their prime objectives was to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, Vance framed the war's accomplishments as something far less definitive. We're in a position where we could substantially set back their nuclear programme, not just during the term of this president but over the long term, Vance said. That's a very very good thing for the American people. Iran, which has long maintained its nuclear programme is peaceful, has not publicly committed to giving up the stockpile. It is believed to be buried under a trio of nuclear sites that were badly damaged by US airstrikes last year. Nuclear analysts have said that Iran might consider China or Russia, which have close relations with Tehran, to be a potential acceptable third party to take possession of the enriched uranium. But Trump said Wednesday that he wouldn't be comfortable with such a plan. The proposed memorandum makes clear that Iran will not be able to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran will have to remove all mines from the vital waterway within 30 days, according to the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. During the war, Iran has effectively closed the strait, which had been the conduit for about a fifth of the world's traded oil and natural gas. Its closure has sent oil prices skyrocketing around the world. Iran has said it's letting some commercial vessels pass about two dozen daily in recent days, compared with more than 100 a day before the war. But the Islamic Republic also has charged tolls for at least some ships and established a formal gatekeeper agency earlier this month, spurring a new round of US sanctions this week. Under the tentative agreement, the US would gradually lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports and would also agree to relax sanctions, allowing Iran to sell more of its oil. Yet even as word of the potential deal emerged, the US Treasury Department imposed additional sanctions on the Iranian military's oil sales arm. The new penalties, first reported by The Associated Press, extend the Trump administration's economic pressure campaign on the Islamic Republic. Iran has insisted that any deal must include an end to Israel's military operations in Lebanon against the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. Tensions deepened Thursday in Lebanon as Israel conducted an airstrike on a southern suburb of the capital, Beirut, and other strikes in the southern coastal city of Tyre. At least 14 people were killed across the country's south. Since the ceasefire began about seven weeks ago, the US and Iran have traded strikes and accusations of ceasefire violations. But they have not returned to full-scale hostilities and have kept negotiating.

The coolest ideas are often the oldest

We need to think about what can be changed and what we can do without

Dear IPL, we didn't mean to fall in love

Older cricket fans, Baby Boomers and Gen X-ers, are drawn to the IPL's excitement. They watch with a mix of nostalgia and analytical observation. This generation remembers cricket's past, from transistor radios to neighborhood gatherings around a single TV. They appreciate the sport's evolution and the spectacle it has become.

AI in literature debate: Does the book still matter?

The debate over AI-written stories is missing the point. Literary awards must now focus on what truly matters in a book. The final work's impact on the reader is the key. AI is just another tool, like editors or beta readers. Authors who use it intelligently will produce better work.

'Op Sheruwali' enters day 7 in Rajouri, another anti-terrorist operation launched in Poonch

Jammu, May 29: Security forces continued 'Operation Sheruwali' for the seventh consecutive day on Friday to hunt down two to three Pakistani terrorists believed to be hiding in the forests of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, while another anti-terrorist search operation was launched in neighbouring Poonch district, officials said. The forces targeted specific suspected terrorist hideouts with heavy firepower as the ultras continued shifting positions across the difficult terrain, valleys and gorges in the Dorimal-Gambhir Moghla belt of the Manjakote area, the officials said. Joint teams of police and security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Surankote region of Poonch district on Friday after receiving intelligence regarding suspected terrorist movements. There were reports about the presence of two to three individuals, which prompted a thorough search of the area, they added. Operations were still ongoing when the last reports were received. In Rajouri, the search operation continued following reports of movement of terrorists in the Dorimal-Gambhir Moghla belt after security forces carried out fire assaults on suspected hiding places, they said. Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti and a CRPF Inspector General visited the area on Wednesday and reviewed the ongoing anti-terror operation in the dense forests. On Thursday, heavy firing and multiple grenade launcher assaults by security forces resulted in visible plumes of smoke rising from the forested area, indicating successful strikes on targeted locations during the operation, officials said. Security forces have been diligently tracking the movement of the suspects, following blood stains believed to have been left by the fleeing terrorists on Monday. They successfully uncovered a hideout after a brief exchange of fire while strengthening their cordon in the area where the blood stains were found, they added. Backed by helicopters, drones and sniffer dogs, joint teams of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and paramilitary forces have been conducting extensive searches in the adjoining areas. The cordon around the operation zone has also been reinforced through the deployment of additional troops, officials informed. As part of enhanced security measures, vehicle checks on roads connected to the operation area have intensified, and more reinforcements have been dispatched into the forests of Dori Maal in the Gambhir Moghla region. Operation Sheruwali began last Saturday after an encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in the Dorimal-Gambhir Moghla belt following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the Singhpora-Chatroo area. A joint team of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a massive cordon-and-search operation in the area based on specific information about the movement of suspected terrorists. The operation led to a brief exchange of fire after contact was established with the terrorists, prompting security forces to continue extensive searches in the rugged and heavily forested terrain. According to preliminary reports, two to three Pakistani terrorists, including a commander, are believed to be hiding in the area.

Arrest Warrant Issued in Gurez Musk Deer Poaching Case, Hunt On for Others

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Department has issued an arrest warrant against one identified hunter and launched a manhunt to trace others involved in the killing of an endangered male musk deer in the forests of Gurez in north Kashmirs Bandipora district. Wildlife officials said the animal was allegedly killed for extraction of its []

Hajj pilgrims anxious as J&K Hajj Committee says luggage from Ahmedabad to reach Srinagar by road

Srinagar, May 29: Hajj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir have expressed deep resentment after the J&K Hajj Committee announced that most luggage arriving from Ahmedabad to Srinagar would be transported separately by road due to operational restrictions linked to a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen). In a notification issued on Friday, the Jammu and Kashmir Hajj Committee said Hajj flights carrying pilgrims from Saudi Arabia would begin arriving in Srinagar from June 2, 2026. However, citing instructions regarding landing aircraft with heavy loads at Srinagar Airport, the Committee said pilgrims would travel by air from Ahmedabad to Srinagar while the bulk of their luggage would be sent separately by road. The notification said immigration and customs clearance of all pilgrims would be completed in Ahmedabad before their departure for Srinagar. Under the revised arrangement, each pilgrim will only be allowed to carry one hand baggage weighing up to seven kilograms and check-in baggage of five kilograms on the Ahmedabad-Srinagar flight. Any additional luggage, up to a maximum of 30 kilograms per pilgrim, will be transported to Srinagar by road, the notification added. Pilgrims travelling in the same cover group have also been advised to keep their check-in baggage together to facilitate easier transportation and handling. The Committee further directed that no single piece of luggage should weigh more than 22 kilograms. According to the advisory, the road-transported baggage can later be collected from Hajj House Srinagar after arrival. The decision, however, has triggered concern among many returning pilgrims and their families, who fear inconvenience, delays and possible damage to belongings during the long road journey from Ahmedabad to Srinagar. Several pilgrims expressed worry that essential items brought from Saudi Arabia, particularly dates, Zamzam water containers and other perishable goods, could be damaged or spoiled in transit. Some pilgrims also voiced resentment over the additional hardship, alleging that despite paying among the highest Hajj package charges in the country, they were now being forced to face logistical inconvenience during the final leg of their journey home. We already undergo a long and tiring pilgrimage. After paying such high costs, we expected smoother arrangements for our return, a pilgrim said. The Hajj Committee has urged pilgrims to strictly follow the baggage guidelines to ensure smooth operations and avoid delays at Ahmedabad airport.

Farooq Abdullah Demands Thorough Probe Into NEET Paper Leak, Strict Punishment For Culprits

SRINAGAR, May 29: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday demanded a full-fledged investigation into the alleged NEET paper leak and said the five states where the leak took place are governed by the BJP. Had there been no shortcomings, then would this have happened? Abdullah asked while talking to reporters here. He was responding to a question about the possible shortcomings in the system as Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has now sought the help of the Army and Indian [] The post Farooq Abdullah Demands Thorough Probe Into NEET Paper Leak, Strict Punishment For Culprits appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Gold rebounds Rs 1,600; silver rallies Rs 5,000 on US-Iran deal hopes

New Delhi, May 29: Gold prices rebounded by Rs 1,600 to Rs 1.62 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday, tracking firm global trends amid optimism over a preliminary US-Iran deal and expectations of seasonal demand in the domestic market. According to local marketmen, the yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity appreciated Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,62,900 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) from Wednesday's closing level of Rs 1,61,300 per 10 grams. Silver prices also strengthened sharply, jumping Rs 5,000 to Rs 2,74,700 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes). The white metal had settled at Rs 2,69,700 per kg in the previous session. Bullion markets remained closed on Thursday on account of Eid-ul-Azha. Gold and silver prices have edged higher as markets assess US-Iran ceasefire developments and the US Federal Reserve's interest rate outlook following recent inflation data, Hareesh V, Head of Commodity Research, Geojit Investments Ltd, said. The precious metal prices in the domestic market remained firm amid expectations of seasonal demand, he added. We do not foresee significant selling pressure in the near term, as underlying fundamentals continue to provide support. Silver is also likely to track gold's trend, aided by both safe-haven demand and industrial outlook, Hareesh said. In the international markets, spot gold gained nearly 1 per cent to USD 4,530.72 per ounce, while silver was trading flat at USD 75.52 per ounce. Spot gold rose nearly 1 per cent in the overseas trade as talks of a preliminary deal between the US and Iran have reduced downside pressure on the yellow metal. However, lack of details of the deal will keep it range-bound, Praveen Singh, Head of Commodities at Mirae Asset ShareKhan, said. According to reports, the US and Iran have agreed to a preliminary understanding that would extend the ceasefire by 60 days. As part of the proposed memorandum of understanding, Iran is expected to normalise traffic through the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days, while both countries are likely to continue discussions on contentious issues, including Tehran's nuclear stockpile and uranium enrichment, during the ceasefire period. However, the final text of the agreement is still awaited, with neither US President Donald Trump nor Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei publicly commenting on the deal so far. According to Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst - Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities, market participants are closely watching developments surrounding the proposed US-Iran agreement and awaiting further comments from Trump, which could provide the next major trigger for bullion prices.

J&K: Massive Forest Fire In Poonch; Locals Help Bring Flames Under Control

JAMMU, May 29: A massive forest fire broke out in the upper reaches of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, but prompt action from the forest department, aided by residents, helped bring the fire under control, officials said on Friday. The blaze ignited along the Mughal Road, damaging forest areas and causing temporary panic among commuters as flames and thick smoke billowed close to this historic route connecting Poonch with Shopian district. Officials confirmed that the Mughal Road remains safe [] The post J&K: Massive Forest Fire In Poonch; Locals Help Bring Flames Under Control appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Govt mulling expansion of BSF's operational mandate: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced plans to expand the Border Security Force's (BSF) role, under which a new 'territorial security' concept will be introduced to enhance border protection. Work on securing vulnerable areas along the Pakistan border is nearing completion. The government is investing significantly in advanced technology and infrastructure to fortify India's borders.

Farooq Abdullah Calls for Dialogue, Says Situation Has Not Improved After Abrogation of Article 370

Govt mulling transporting NEET papers on IAF aircraft shows its incompetence & ineptitude: Iltija Mufti

Srinagar, May 29: PDP leader Iltija Mufti on Friday said the Centre exploring the possibility of using Indian Air Force aircraft to transport NEET-UG question papers to ensure foolproof conduct of the retest on June 21 reflected its incompetence and ineptitude. Now Air Force planes will transport NEET papers. Imagine the sheer level of corruption, incompetence and ineptitude. But as long as Muslims become lynch bait , click bait and rage bait, general public is happy! Iltija said in a post on X. The option to use IAF aircraft to transport NEET papers was explored at a meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and attended by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in New Delhi on Thursday. However, as of now, no final decision has been taken, and the option would be placed before Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a final view, sources said. On May 12, the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET, held on May 3 for medical admissions amid allegations of paper leak. A re-examination has been scheduled for June 21. The paper leak allegations are under investigation by the CBI.

BJP workers protest against delay in shopping complex opening in Banihal

Banihal, May 29: BJP workers led by District General Secretary Mohammad Saleem Bhat on Friday staged a protest in Banihal town against the alleged failure of the government, the Public Works Department (PWD), and the Municipal Committee Banihal in opening the multi-storey shopping complex in the town. The protesters said that the multi crores worth shopping complex was completed several years ago, but has not been made functional so far as the concerned contractor has allegedly not been paid by the authorities. Addressing the protesters, Mohammad Saleem Bhat said that the delay in commissioning the complex has caused losses worth lakhs of rupees in the form of rent and business opportunities. He demanded that the shopping complex be opened without further delay and the shops allotted to unemployed youth on a rental basis to help generate livelihood opportunities in the area. The BJP leader also urged the administration to resolve the payment issue of the contractor at the earliest and make the complex operational for public benefit.

Mirwaiz expresses concern over growing normalisation of restrictions on religious rights

Srinagar, May 29: Addressing the Friday congregation at Jama Masjid Srinagar, Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr. Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq expressed deep concern over the continued restrictions on Eid prayers at Eidgah and Jama Masjid and warned against the growing normalisation of what he described as abnormal circumstances. Mirwaiz said that this year, as on previous occasions, Eid prayers were not allowed at Eidgah and Jama Masjid. While the disappointment and hurt caused by such restrictions were real, he said he wished to draw attention to something even more troubling. The greatest danger to any society is when abnormal things begin to appear normal, Mirwaiz said. He observed that when a people are repeatedly denied the opportunity to gather peacefully for prayer, year after year, there is a risk that future generations may begin to think that this is how things are supposed to be. It is not, he asserted. Mirwaiz said there is nothing normal about a historic Eidgah remaining silent on Eid morning. There is nothing normal about a Jama Masjid being closed to worshippers on one of the most sacred days of the Islamic calendar. There is nothing normal, he said, about a community being separated from traditions that have defined its religious life for centuries. He said what concerns him is not only the action of those who impose such restrictions, but also the growing silence around it. While acknowledging that avenues of expression, both individually and collectively, are severely impaired by enforced gags, bans, threats and arrests, Mirwaiz said that silence is not an option. He particularly termed the silence of those elected by the people as completely unacceptable. Watching as mere spectators, pleading powerlessness, yet benefitting from their positions, he said, they cannot remain silent when the religious institutions and rights of the majority that elected them are under assault. It is their basic duty, he said, to stand up to it and at least raise their voice. Mirwaiz remarked that in every democratic society, institutions are judged not by how they respond to easy issues, but by how they respond when fundamental freedoms and deeply held public sentiments are affected. Silence may be convenient, he said, but it hollows out institutions, disempowers people and adds to their sense of loss. Referring to the repeated restrictions on Eid prayers, Mirwaiz said they pose a serious question before the people. The issue, he said, is whether the religious, cultural and historical identity of a people is respected and accommodated, or whether it is expected to quietly adjust to every restriction placed upon it and gradually get dissolved. The issue is of our basic existence as a people, Mirwaiz said, adding that it demands serious thinking by one and all. He posed the question: What should we do? He said that whatever is decided as a people, the guiding principle in shaping the collective response must remain rooted in upholding dignity and preservation. At the same time, Mirwaiz urged people not to allow disappointment to turn into despair. He said the beautiful faith of Islam provides hope and strength even in difficult times. The history of this land, he said, teaches that despite repeated onslaughts, institutions have endured because people continued to cherish and protect them in their hearts and memory. As long as that faith remains alive within, no restriction can erase it, he said. Concluding his address, Mirwaiz prayed that Allah guide the people, strengthen them, and help them preserve their faith, values and institutions with wisdom and steadfastness.

Delegation of GKPD calls on LG Sinha, briefs him about 'Kashmir Heritage Tour'

Srinagar, May 29: A four-member delegation of Kashmiri Pandits under the banner of Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) met the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, at his residence in New Delhi on this Wednesday. The delegation comprised Utpal Kaul, International Coordinator-GKPD, Kashi Akhoon, National Coordinator, Dilip Matto and Priytosh Wali. The delegation apprised the Honble Lieutenant Governor about the preparations underway for the forthcoming Heritage Tour to Kashmir to commence from 6th of June 2026. LG Sinha was very gracious and gave a patient hearing to the delegation. A bouquet and a copy of the book 'Lal Vakhs' were presented to the Honble Lieutenant Governor. The Honble Lieutenant Governor expressed optimism regarding the revival of devotees visits and the strengthening of cultural and spiritual activities in Jammu & Kashmir. He also felt satisfied about Kashmiri Pandits taking lead in introducing their age-old civilization to their future generations. The Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) has been conscious of the proud heritage of Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir and proposes to organise the first of its kind 'Heritage tour of Kashmir' in the month of June 2026. The tour was initially going to be organised in September 2024 but due to the elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the will couldn't be executed in the year 2024. In the year 2025, the Pahalgam terror incident in which 26 Hindus were killed compelled the organisers to postpone it by one year. The GKPD has finally decided to make it happen this year in the month of June from 6th June to 14th June. On 13th and 14th June 2026, a two-day Conclave will be held in Srinagar and will be attended by a number of dignitaries who are who's who in their own capacity in the society. International delegates of GKPD are also expected to participate in the whole programme.

Nadigam railway crossing in Budgam to remain closed for 4 days

Budgam, May 29: The railway level crossing at Nadigam Halt in Budgam has been closed for vehicular traffic for four days due to track upgradation works, officials said. According to a public notice issued by Northern Railways, the crossing, located between Budgam and Mazhom, will remain closed for all vehicular traffic from today till Monday, June 01 at 8:00 PM, for a period of 96 hours. The notice said the closure is necessary for the installation of a modern rubberised level crossing surface aimed at ensuring smoother and safer movement for commuters. Commuters have been advised to plan their journeys in advance, allow extra travel time and cooperate with traffic police and railway staff deployed at the site.(KNO)

India committed to fighting terrorism with all might: NSA Ajit Doval in Russia

Juvenile apprehended in minor girl sexual assault case in Rambans Ukhral

Banihal, May 29: A juvenile has been apprehended by police following the alleged sexual assault of a minor girl in the Bingara area of Ukhral in Jammu and Kashmirs Ramban district, officials said on Thursday. According to police officials, action was initiated immediately after the victims family lodged a formal complaint. Following the complaint, a case bearing FIR No. 44/2026 was registered under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the juvenile suspect was subsequently apprehended, police said. Police officials said the minor girl was taken to District Hospital Ramban, where her medical examination was conducted as part of the investigation process. Further investigation into the case is underway, police added.

Continued incarceration of Engineer Rashid weakening bridge between New Delhi and Kashmir: visiting MP delegation

Srinagar, May 29: Several Members of Parliament today visited Mawar Langate in north Kashmirs Kupwara district, the residence of Member of Parliament Baramulla, Engineer Rashid to offer condolences and express solidarity with the bereaved family during this difficult time. The parliamentary delegation included MPs Umesh Bahubhai Patel and Sudhakar Singh along with other political leaders from different states. The visiting MPs interacted with family members, party leaders and scores of people gathered at the residence. While speaking to the media on the occasion, the visiting MPs said that there is no dearth of voices across the country who genuinely feel the pain and sufferings of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. They maintained that democratic engagement and sincere dialogue are essential for lasting peace and reconciliation in the region. Leading the delegation, MP Sudhakar Singh from Bihar said that there is no doubt that the people of Kashmir have suffered immensely and their voices must be heard with sincerity, dignity and seriousness. He appreciated the consistent concern shown by Engineer Rashid in Parliament regarding the political and human rights issues of Jammu & Kashmir. He further stated that the Modi Government, by not engaging meaningfully with the people of Jammu & Kashmir, is further deepening the sense of alienation. He added that the continued incarceration of Engineer Rashid is weakening the bridge between New Delhi and Kashmir and demanded his immediate release so that he can continue to serve the people who have overwhelmingly reposed faith in him. The visiting MPs also interacted with people from different walks of life and assured them that the people of India are not enemies of Kashmiris. They said that all those commitments and agreements which form the basis of the relationship between New Delhi and the people of Jammu & Kashmir must be respected and honoured in letter and spirit. The delegation reiterated the need for dialogue, reconciliation and democratic engagement to address the aspirations and grievances of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.

SC Directs HCs To Pronounce Judgement Within 3 Months Of Reserving Order

NEW DELHI, May 29: Observing that delay causes irreparable loss to litigants, the Supreme Court on Friday directed high courts across the country to pronounce judgements within three months from the date of reserving order. Underlining that faster decisions are required in cases of personal liberty, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Baghchi said that orders in bail applications should be pronounced the same day, and if they are reserved, they must be pronounced and uploaded [] The post SC Directs HCs To Pronounce Judgement Within 3 Months Of Reserving Order appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Swiss Ambassador Maya Tissafi calls on J-K LG Manoj Sinha

Srinagar, May 28: Swiss Ambassador to India Maya Tissafi on Thursday called on Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha here, an official spokesman said. Tissafi, who is on a visit to Kashmir, has also met J-K Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and People's Conference chief and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone. The ambassador of Switzerland to India called on the Lieutenant Governor at the Lok Bhavan here. The spokesman gave no further details of the meeting. The breathtaking mountains of #Kashmir feel wonderfully familiar to a Swiss. In #Srinagar, I had insightful discussions with Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and former Minister @sajadlone on the region's development priorities and future opportunities, Tissafi said in a post on X. The ambassador said the Swiss expertise is already contributing to Kashmir's growth story -- from infrastructure projects and hydropower technology to innovation in high-altitude climate studies and dairy farming. We also explored opportunities for future collaboration in vocational training, hospitality, food processing and tourism. A memorable introduction to the spirit of Kashmir, including the beautiful Nishat Garden, she added.

Freezing vacant govt posts cruel joke on unemployed youth: J&K Cong

Jammu, May 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee on Thursday criticised the government's decision to freeze the creation of all vacant posts as part of its austerity measures, calling it a cruel joke on the educated unemployed youth of Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a public gathering at Channi Himmat in Jammu, working president of JKPCC, Raman Bhalla, said that the decision would further aggravate the unemployment crisis in the Union Territory and shatter the hopes of thousands of qualified youth aspiring for government jobs. The move to freeze the creation of all vacant posts in government is a cruel joke on the educated unemployed youth of Jammu and Kashmir who are already grappling with limited employment opportunities, he said. On Saturday, the Jammu and Kashmir government issued a circular directing all departments to execute austerity measures, labelling them as economy and austerity measures for the rationalisation of expenditure. The order also specified that no new posts would be created. Bhalla urged the government to immediately review and withdraw this decision, emphasising that austerity measures should not come at the cost of job creation. The burden of austerity should not be placed on the shoulders of unemployed youth. If the government is serious about reducing expenditure, it should begin by curtailing unnecessary spending by the ruling elite and senior bureaucrats rather than blocking employment opportunities for deserving candidates, Bhalla said. Highlighting the growing challenge of unemployment, the Congress leader noted that unemployment among educated youth has become one of the most pressing socio-economic issues in Jammu and Kashmir due to the limited opportunities. Unlike many other states where industries and private enterprises provide large-scale employment, Jammu and Kashmir has a relatively weak industrial base. For decades, government service has remained one of the principal sources of stable employment for educated youth. Any decision to freeze recruitment or keep posts vacant will only deepen frustration among job seekers, he said. Bhalla warned that prolonged unemployment could have serious social and economic consequences, including growing distress among the youth and a slowdown in the region's overall development. He said employment generation should remain a priority area of governance rather than a sector subjected to expenditure cuts. The former minister also pointed out that thousands of vacancies across various government departments remained unfilled despite staff shortages in sectors such as education, healthcare, public administration and rural development. Filling these vacancies, he said, would not only strengthen public service delivery but also provide much-needed employment opportunities to qualified youth. Calling for a long-term solution to unemployment, Bhalla demanded a comprehensive employment policy tailored to the needs and aspirations of Jammu and Kashmir's youth. He said the policy should focus on accelerating recruitment to vacant government posts, promoting industrial investment, encouraging entrepreneurship, supporting start-ups, enhancing skill development programmes and creating opportunities in sectors such as information technology, tourism, agriculture and allied industries. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir do not seek charity; they seek opportunities. The government must create an environment where educated young people can secure dignified employment and contribute to the economic growth of the region, he said. Bhalla reiterated that addressing unemployment should remain at the centre of public policy and urged the administration to engage with stakeholders, youth organisations and experts while framing employment-related initiatives. The future of Jammu and Kashmir depends on its youth. Any policy that limits employment opportunities will only widen the gap between aspirations and opportunities. The government must reconsider its decision and take concrete steps to provide jobs and hope to the younger generation, he added.

Former Chief Justice A M Magrey empanelled as senior panel counsel with Supreme Court Legal Services Committee

Srinagar, May 29: Former Chief Justice of the J&K and Ladakh High Court, Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey , has been empanelled as Senior Panel Counsel with the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC). Justice (retd) Magreys name figures in the panel of 164 senior advocates empanelled with the SCLSC pursuant to a unanimous decision taken by the Executive Committee in its 72nd meeting held on March 12 this year. The senior advocates, who render their services to the Committee entirely on a pro bono basis, stand empanelled with the SCLSC with effect from May 15, 2026. Justice Magrey is already a designated Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court. He is also an arbitrator with the Delhi International Arbitration Centre and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. Besides this, he serves as visiting faculty at the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, and the Maharashtra Judicial Academy, Mumbai. He is also associated as visiting faculty with K.R. Mangalam University, Delhi, and is a member of the universitys advisory board. Justice Magrey was appointed as a permanent judge of the High Court on March 8, 2013. Born on December 8, 1960, in Wattoo village of Damhal Hanjipora in south Kashmirs Kulgam district, he received his school education in his native village and completed his graduation and LL.B (Honours) from the University of Kashmir . He was enrolled as an advocate in 1984 and initially practised in district courts, including revenue courts and tribunals.

CRPF ASI dies after collapsing at camp in Shopian

Srinagar, May 29: An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) died after falling unconscious at a camp in Zainapora Shopian district on Friday. Official sources said that the ASI, posted at the Horticulture Camp in Zainapora area of south Kashmir, suddenly collapsed inside the camp. He was immediately taken to the Community Health Centre (CHC) Zainapora, where doctors declared him brought dead on arrival, they said. The deceased was a resident of Rajbagh area of Kathua district. Police have taken cognisance of the incident and started further proceedings, they added.(JKNS)

25-year-old youth found dead in Kulgam, probe on

Srinagar, May 29: A 25-year-old youth was found dead at his residence in Chimmer area of DH Pora in South Kashmirs Kulgam district. Officials said that the deceased, a mechanic by profession and a graduate, was found hanging inside his home. After completion of medico-legal formalities and postmortem examination, the body was handed over to the family for last rites. Cognizance has been taken and further investigation is underway. (JKNS)

J&K Govt issues June 2026 secretariat roster for ministers

Jammu, May 29: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has notified the roster of Ministers who will remain available at the Civil Secretariat, Jammu, during June 2026 to oversee official work and address public and administrative matters. According to Government Order No. 1017-JK(GAD) of 2026 dated May 28, 2026, issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), the ministers have been assigned specific periods during the month to remain stationed at the Civil Secretariat, Jammu.Satish Sharma, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Science & Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services & Sports and ARI & Trainings, will be available from June 1 to June 5, 2026.Javed Ahmed Rana, Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, will remain available from June 8 to June 12, 2026.Sakeena Masood (Itoo), Minister for Health & Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education and Social Welfare, will be available from June 15 to June 19, 2026.Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Deputy Chief Minister, J&K, will remain stationed at the Civil Secretariat from June 22 to June 30, 2026. The order was issued by Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department, M. Raju, IAS, and has been circulated among senior administrative and security officials for necessary action.(KNC)

MHA approves deployment of 670 CAPF companies for Amarnath Yatra security

Jammu, May 29: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir administration, has approved the deployment of 670 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to ensure foolproof security for the upcoming 57-day Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, scheduled to commence on July 3 and conclude on August 28. According to official sources, this will be the largest-ever deployment of paramilitary forces for the annual pilgrimage, reflecting the Centres commitment to ensuring the safety of lakhs of devotees expected to visit the holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva in the South Kashmir Himalayas. Sources said the security plan has been finalized after extensive consultations between the MHA and senior security officials in Jammu and Kashmir. The CAPF personnel will be deployed across the pilgrimage route, beginning from Lakhanpur, the entry point to Jammu and Kashmir, up to the Amarnath cave shrine. The deployment will cover key locations including the twin pilgrimage routes of Baltal and Pahalgam, the base camps at Baltal and Nunwan, Yatri Niwas Jammu, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the Pathankot-Jammu highway, and other vital areas frequented by pilgrims. Officials said additional paramilitary units will start arriving in Jammu and Kashmir in the first week of June, with the entire deployment expected to be completed by June 25, nearly a week before the yatra begins. The Indian Army will also play a crucial role by securing strategic heights along the pilgrimage routes and around the holy cave shrine. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Police will remain actively involved in maintaining security and coordinating operations throughout the yatra period. Sources emphasized that security arrangements have been planned in a manner that will not affect ongoing anti-terror operations across the Union Territory. Special focus will remain on the Baltal and Chandanwari routes, the cave shrine, and major transit camps. Security at Baltal, Nunwan and Yatri Niwas Jammu will be further strengthened, while Road Opening Parties (ROPs), area domination patrols and regular surveillance will be intensified along the highways. Authorities are also enhancing security along the Jammu-Srinagar railway corridor, particularly in view of the increasing number of pilgrims expected to travel by Vande Bharat Express trains. The railway route passing through Udhampur, Katra, Reasi, Banihal and Qazigund will remain under heightened security during the pilgrimage. More than 3.5 lakh pilgrims have already registered for this years Amarnath Yatra since the registration process began on April 15 through designated bank branches across the country. The number of registrations continues to rise. The annual pilgrimage will commence simultaneously from the Baltal-Sonamarg and Nunwan-Pahalgam routes on July 3 and will conclude on August 28, coinciding with the festivals of Raksha Bandhan and Sawan Purnima. Registration for the yatra is being conducted through designated branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Yes Bank across India.(KNC)

India's AIF industry grows up: What comes after the boom?

India's AIF sector is maturing. Pension funds may soon provide long-term capital, increasing governance expectations. AI will likely aid regulators in market surveillance. New structures like permanent capital vehicles are emerging. Mutual funds and AIFs face product differentiation challenges. Leverage limits in private markets will be re-examined as the industry grows.

Industrial Bong for the Buck: A blueprint for West Bengals evolution from an entrepot to a production hub

West Bengals hopes of an industrial revival face structural challenges despite strong manufacturing growth over the past decade. A NITI Aayog report showed the states share in Indias GDP fell from 6.8% in 1990-91 to 5.8% in 2021-22, while per-capita income remained below the national average. However, manufacturing growth between 2013-14 and 2022-23 outpaced the national average, driven largely by informal micro-enterprises rather than large formal industries.

Drones hit 3 'shadow fleet' oil tankers off Turkiye's Black Sea coast

Istanbul, May 28: Three oil tankers were attacked by drones Thursday off Turkey's Black Sea coast, a shipping agency said. The ships all appear on Western sanctions lists as part of a shadow fleet exporting Russian oil and petroleum products and evading Western sanctions on Moscow because of its war in Ukraine. One was previously targeted in March. Tribeca Shipping said the Palau-flagged ship James II was sailing 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Turkeli district in Sinop when it was attacked. It was not carrying any cargo. The Altura and Velora, both flagged to Sierra Leone, were targeted while carrying out ship-to-ship operations in a nearby area, according to a statement from the agency cited by Turkish media. The crews of all three ships were unharmed. Turkish coast guard vessels were dispatched to assist. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, and Turkish officials were unavailable for comment. The Altura was previously struck by a naval drone on March 26 as it approached the Black Sea entrance to the Bosporus, damaging its bridge and engine room. The Altura and Velora belong to Turkey-based Pergamon Shipping, according to the OpenSanctions website, which tracks people or organisations involved in sanctions evasion. The James II is owned by the Marshall Islands-registered James Navigation. In November, the Turkish government condemned Ukrainian drone attacks on two oil tankers in the Black Sea as posing serious risks to navigation, life, property and environmental safety in the region. Ukraine has carried out successful naval strikes against Russian shipping during the war, particularly using explosives-packed marine drones. However, Ukrainian missions were previously largely limited to the waters of the northern Black Sea.

APEDA, Fruit Master Agro Fresh organise capacity development programme for farmers

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in collaboration with Fruit Master Agro Fresh Pvt. Ltd. organised a Farmers Capacity Development Programme in Kashmir to enhance the capabilities of farmers for export of fresh fruits from the region. The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) across Jammu & Kashmir along with individual progressive farmers. The initiative focused on building awareness regarding export opportunities, international quality standards, modern farming practices, and challenges faced by growers in accessing global markets. During the interactive session, farmers engaged with experts from APEDA and discussed various on-ground challenges related to export readiness, quality management, market access, and infrastructure requirements. Ms. Sehreena, Regional Head, APEDA J&K, addressed the participants and highlighted the important role of APEDA in promoting agricultural exports from the region. She informed farmers about the various support mechanisms and export promotion initiatives available through APEDA and encouraged them to focus on producing high-quality fruits suitable for international markets. She assured the farming community of APEDAs continued support in strengthening fresh fruit exports from Jammu & Kashmir. Mr. Izhan Javeed, CEO of Fruit Master Agro Fresh Pvt. Ltd., while interacting with the farmers, emphasised that produce from Jammu & Kashmir has the potential to compete globally provided there is consistent focus on quality, productivity, and reliability in supply. He highlighted the importance of reducing production costs and adopting modern farming techniques to make farmers export-ready and enhance their incomes sustainably. Technical sessions during the programme were conducted by experts from Orchardly, who focused on sustainability, export-oriented cultivation practices, and improving quality standards in fresh produce. The experts stressed the importance of producing MRL-compliant fruits for export markets and guided farmers on addressing quality-related challenges to meet international standards. The programme was also attended by officials from the District Industries Centre (DIC), Agriculture Department, and Department of Horticulture & Horticulture Planning & Marketing, J&K, who interacted with farmers and discussed various government initiatives aimed at strengthening the horticulture ecosystem in the region.

Dori Maal encounter in Rajouri enters Day 6, fresh gunshots and explosions heard

Fire breaks out at Al Mustafa colony in Baramulla

PDD worker dies after fall during power restoration work in Bandipora

Srinagar, May 28 : A 52-year-old worker of the Power Development Department (PDD) lost his life after falling from a ladder during power restoration work in the Kaloosa area of north Kashmirs Bandipora district, officials said on Thursday. The deceased has been identified as Muhammad Yousuf Shah, a Permanent Daily Labourer (PDL) posted at Electric Sub Division Kaloosa. He sustained critical injuries after slipping from a ladder and was rushed to a hospital in Srinagar, where he later succumbed, officials added. A senior officer of the PDD ruled out electrocution, stating the power supply to the area had been switched off prior to the incident. He slipped from the ladder and suffered serious injuries. Protective gear has been provided to all employees for safety during field operations, the concerned Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) told KNS. The officer further disclosed that Shah had undergone eye surgery a few months ago, following which he had been advised against duties involving live wires or risky operations. We were not allowing him to work with live wires after his eye operation. Unfortunately, a consumer called him for some work, and during the process, he slipped while electricity was already off, the AEE added. The incident has sparked concerns over safety protocols for field staff, with some employees pointing to inadequacies in working conditions, particularly during harsh weather. Meanwhile, locals have urged the administration to strengthen safety measures for frontline PDD workers. (KNS)

Deploy additional manpower to crack down against narco-terror ecosystem: J-K LG

Srinagar, May 28: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has directed the administration to intensify the crackdown against the narco-terror ecosystem operating in the Union Territory. The LG, who chaired a high-level meeting with the senior officials at Lok Bhavan Srinagar on Wednesday, was apprised about the progress of the Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan, an official spokesman said. The LG directed the Director General of Police to further strengthen the Anti-Narcotics Task Force by deploying additional manpower, the spokesman said. Reviewing the rehabilitation measures for drug abuse victims, he directed for scaling up the number of police and health department-run de-addiction and rehabilitation centres across the UT, ensuring regular monitoring by health officials for proper counselling and treatment. Sinha directed monitoring of vulnerable locations like abandoned buildings and river bunds to prevent their misuse for narcotics-related activities. The LG called for wider public disclosure of high-profile drug peddlers to deter narcotics-related crimes and create greater public awareness. He entrusted the School and Higher Education Departments to organise sports tournaments and youth engagement programs to steer youth away from drug abuse, the spokesman added.

CPI(M) terms SC verdict on electoral roll revision a body blow to democracy

New Delhi, May 28: The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday sharply criticised the Supreme Court verdict upholding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, calling it a travesty of justice and a body blow to democracy. In a strongly-worded statement, the CPI(M) alleged that the apex court had granted constitutional legitimacy to a process that led to large-scale disenfranchisement, exclusion and intimidation of vulnerable sections of society across several states. The judgement delivered by the Supreme Court upholding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a travesty of justice, the party said, accusing the court of compromising its role as the guardian of democratic rights and constitutional guarantees. The CPI(M) said the petitions before the court raised a fundamental issue of whether the right to vote could be subjected to arbitrary bureaucratic suspicion and mass documentary scrutiny. According to the party, the SIR exercise resulted in deletion of names of poor people, migrants, minorities, Dalits, Adivasis, landless citizens and other marginalised sections from voter lists because many lacked the required documents. The Left party also alleged that the entire process lacked transparency and claimed that legitimate voters were removed without adequate notice while burdensome verification procedures created barriers for vulnerable groups. Referring to West Bengal, the CPI(M) criticised the use of the concept of logical discrepancy, alleging that software-based algorithms classified more than one crore voters as doubtful. It claimed that nearly 27 lakh people eventually lost their voting rights despite judicial remedies. The party further argued that the verdict effectively made voting rights contingent upon possession of acceptable documents, despite citizens already possessing Aadhaar cards, voter identity cards and access to welfare schemes through other forms of identification. The CPI(M) also expressed concern over what it described as a surreptitious introduction of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), saying the court had directed the Election Commission to submit names deleted through the SIR process to authorities for citizenship verification. Despite categorically stating that determination of citizenship is beyond the powers of the Election Commission, the broad endorsement of the ECs conduct defeats that very assertion, the statement said. The party further accused the judiciary of failing to address growing concerns over the neutrality and independence of the Election Commission of India . The CPI(M) said its recently concluded Central Committee meeting had decided to launch a nationwide campaign to defend voting rights and demand comprehensive electoral reforms. The party said it would seek to mobilise like-minded political parties and democratic forces for the campaign.

Fix the ABC of IBC: Why we should re-engineer the bankruptcy code further

The recent litigation around Jaypee has once again unleashed a raging debate over arbitrary decision-making by financial creditors, lack of transparency, subjective selection criteria for cherry-picking a winning bid as well as the possible conflict of interest of the committee of creditors. After a decade of IBC, its time to empower the resolution professional and make bidding simple and transparent.

Indias solar crisis has been failure of planning, coordination and infrastructure: Swaminathan Aiyar

Indias rapid solar expansion is creating an unusual crisis where electricity prices on the Indian Energy Exchange briefly fell to zero in May because solar generation exceeded demand and grid capacity. Rajasthan, which holds 27% of Indias solar capacity, has been forced to curtail up to 80% of solar output due to weak local demand, lack of battery storage and insufficient transmission infrastructure to move surplus power to other regions.

Mehbooba criticises govt for placing Mirwaiz under house arrest on Eid-ul-Adha