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Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 21

Shops and business establishments remained shut across Kashmir on Thursday, a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed in Parliament that everything was normal in Kashmir.

The shops observed a complete shutdown in all main markets and on outskirts in the Valley. A shopkeeper in Old Srinagar said they would stick to their earlier schedule of opening in the morning only as a mark of protest against Shah’s claims.

“Our opening does not mean things are normal in Kashmir, the government is forcing us to close again,” said the shopkeeper who did not want to be named.

After the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, the restrictions and curfew were slowly eased. However, the markets opened only during early morning hours and observed a day-long shutdown.

“Today, we got a message to close the shops and from tomorrow, we will open only in the morning hours as per our earlier schedule because we are facing an uncertain situation,” said another trader from Soura Srinagar.

From the last one week, the shopkeepers had started extending the opening hours from morning to evening. But again, now the shops observed a shutdown from last two days after the “threats from some unknown groups” who told the shopkeepers to stick to their morning opening schedule only.

A senior police officer said two shops and a few carts were set on fire overnight on Wednesday in the Fateh Kadal locality and Soura in the city, forcing shopkeepers to close today. There was uncertainty on Wednesday as well after rumours spread that shopkeepers were attacked in the city.

Schools witness thin attendance

Tribune News Service
Srinagar, November 21

Schools in the Valley continued to witness thin attendance for the second day after they were thrown open after two weeks of tension in Kashmir on Monday as parents feared the safety of their children.

The Tribune team checked nearly a dozen schools in Srinagar where almost zero attendance was recorded.

The parents said while the communication is completely blocked in Kashmir it would be difficult for them to know the safety of their children. “The school buses are not safe, what if a stone is pelted on them or the bus gets stuck in clashes. At least I won’t send my son to school yet,” said Shaheena, a mother.

The two sides will also be holding joint cultural performances at various border posts.

Beijing, November 22

India and China will commemorate the 70^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year with 70 celebratory activities, including cultural, religious and trade promotion events besides military exchanges, it was announced on Friday.

The events were finalised in line with the understanding reached by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their Second Informal Summit at Mamallapuram on October 11-12 this year.

“These activities will demonstrate the historic connect between the two civilisations as well as their growing bilateral relationship over the years,” an Indian Embassy press release said here.

“They will further deepen people-to-people exchanges between the two countries at all levels, including between their respective legislatures, businesses, academics, cultural and youth organisations as well as the defence forces,” it said.

Considering the ancient trade links between Tamil Nadu and China’s Fujian province, the two sides will engage in cooperative projects in studying ancient maritime links through establishment of sister-state relations between Tamil Nadu and Fujian province.

Both the countries will explore the possibility of establishing an academy to study links between Tamil Nadu and Fujian province and conduct research on maritime links between the countries.

The other activities include the two sides holding joint cultural performances at various border posts, visits of Indian naval ships as well as mid-level tri-service delegation of the Indian armed forces to China.

Besides hosting parliamentary exchanges, the two countries will conduct various activities to trace civilisational links, including China holding an International Xuanzang Forum, advancing studies related to Chinese scholar Xuanzang, highlighting the monk’s journey to India in the 6^th Century AD.

On the business and trade front, China will hold a China-India Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum in India and organise the second China-India Drug Regulation. The first forum was held in China.

India is pressing China to open its markets for Indian IT and pharmaceauticals to address the USD 57 billion trade deficit.

The total bilateral trade last year was over USD 95 billion, which is set to touch the USD-100 billion mark this year. PTI

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 20

The state government has initiated a process to enhance the monetary benefits payable to the next of kin of armed forces personnel killed in the line of duty from the present Rs 12 lakh to Rs 1 crore, a hike by around eight times.

A new policy being examined by the state’s Finance Department has recommended that the wife of martyrs from the state would be paid Rs 75 lakh and their parents would be entitled to Rs 25 lakh. In addition, a member of the aggrieved family would be eligible for a government job on compassionate grounds as per their qualification.

At present, the next of kin of martyrs are paid Rs 5 lakh as ex gratia and Rs 5 lakh in lieu of a plot of land while Rs 2 lakh is paid to parents in addition to a government job. There are still many cases from the previous wars such as the 1965 and 1971 wars, in which the next of kin have not received the promised plots. As the availability of land is an issue, this provision is being dropped from the new policy and a consolidated sum will be paid.

“The benefits are being revised to bring in parity with other states in the region and also to cater to inflation over the years,” a state government officer said. Delhi and Madhya Pradesh, for example pay Rs 1 crore to martyrs’ family, while Punjab and Rajasthan pay Rs 50 lakh.

The benefits were raised significantly after the Kargil conflict in 1999 when the ex gratia payable to martyrs’ families was just a few thousand rupees. “We had then instituted a policy and fixed Rs 2 lakh as ex gratia and Rs 5 lakh in lieu of a plot,” said Brig KS Kahlon (retd), former Director, Defence Services Welfare, Punjab. “There have been some amendments and additions to the policy subsequently but what is required is a structured policy at the national level. There are still some aspects of the policy such as job reservation in state government departments that are not being fully implemented,” he added.

Government sources said out of the armed forces operational casualties annually, on an average, 8-12 soldiers are from Punjab. The number of battle casualties in the Kargil conflict from Punjab was 57. Since the conflict, a total of 803 soldiers from the state have laid down their lives. Battle casualties include those killed in war or other notified operations such as Op Rakshak, Op Rhino, Op Hifazat, Op Falcon, Op Tuilaphal and Op Prakaram, all operations within Jammu and Kashmir or areas declared disturbed.

Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister

Chandigarh, November 20

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday condoled the death of three Army men in an avalanche at Siachen Glacier in Ladakh two days ago.

He announced a financial assistance to the tune of Rs 12 lakh each for the next of kin, along with a government job for one eligible member of each family, according to an official spokesperson. — TNS

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Tribune News Service

Fatehgarh Churian (Gurdaspur)/Sangrur, November 20

The body of sepoy Maninder Singh (28), who died in Siachen on Monday after being trapped in an avalanche, was cremated here today with senior Army and administration officers in attendance. He was a part of a seven-member group, all of whom lost their lives.

Those who were present to pay their last respects were Lt Col Manoj Somnathan, Major Sri Krishnan, chairman of Gurdaspur Zila Parishad Ravi Nandan Singh Bajwa, Batala MLA Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal and SAD Majha (Youth wing) incharge Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon.

Cabinet Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa said every type of help would be extended to the bereaved family. The deceased’s brother, Gurvinder Singh, said 12 years ago, Maninder was recruited in the Punjab regiment and for the last four months, he had been posted in Siachin.

“Yesterday evening I got a call from the Army headquarters in New Delhi that Maninder along with his companions were going to the base camp to drop a soldier of Dogra regiment as he was ill but on the way, the group was hit by an avalanche due to which five soliders, including his brother, and two civilian porters were killed,” he said. The deceased is survived by his wife Akawinder Kaur and their five-year-old son Ekamjot Singh.

Meanwhile, the body of Sepoy Veerpal Singh (22), who too was killed in the avalanche, was consigned to flames at his Gowara village in Sangrur with full state honours today. He had joined the Army around 20 months ago. “We got the information on November 18. He was the first member of our family to join the Army,” said Kuldeep Singh, elder brother of the deceased.

Meanwhile, soldier Dimple Kumar, who was killed in the avalanche, was cremated on Wednesday at his native Saidon village in Hajipur block of Hoshiarpur. The funeral pyre was lit by his cousin Harvinder. During the last rites, a contingent of the Army gave him the last salute by firing bullets in the air. Kumar had joined the Army 18 months ago.

Tribune file photo

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 20

Several war widows and their family members have approached the Congress government to fulfil its commitment to pay Rs 50 lakh grant-in-aid, in lieu of 10 acres announced in 1975. There are 100 eligible cases.

In 2017, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had directed the Sainik Welfare Department to expedite the disbursement of grant-in-aid.

After disbursing Rs 35 lakh in two instalments of Rs 20 lakh (October 2017) and Rs 15 lakh (July 2018), respectively, the state had not released the remaining payment of Rs 15 lakh over the last one year, said Gursewak Singh, a resident of Dulladi village in Nabha (Patiala). He said they had even met Finance Minister Manpreet Badal on the issue.

As per the government decision, the grant-in-aid was applicable to the dependants of martyred soldiers, besides permanently disabled soldiers of the 1962 Indo-China war, 1965 Indo-Pak war and 1971 Indo-Pak war.

“We belong to poor families and are tired of repeatedly visiting the government offices in Chandigarh. Since the family needs have grown with time, the government should release the remaining payment at the earliest,” said Surjit Kaur, a war widow from Bathinda.

The officers on special duty at the CM’s residence refer them to the office of Senior Adviser to the CM Lt Gen TS Shergill (retd). But it has also not helped them to get the remaining compensation.

The Punjab Government had in the past decided to give compensation in cash but it was rejected by the families since the amount was calculated at the rates prevalent in the mid-1970s. It came to around Rs 20 lakh per family. The residual agricultural land available for allotment is either locked up in litigation or in unauthorised possession, which rendered it practically impossible for the war widow allottees to take possession of.

Meanwhile, AAP Leader of Opposition Harpal Cheema said the Congress government should be sincere towards the war widows and their family members in disbursing the entire amount promised to them. “It is because of them, we are free,” he added.

Policy introduced in 1975

• The policy for land to war widows or other legal heirs of defence forces personnel was announced in 1975.
• Over 1,500 war widows who applied in time were allotted up to 10 acres of rural farm land or cash.
• A grant of Rs 5 lakh in lieu of one acre, with the maximum of Rs 50 lakh for 10 acres as per individual eligibility, was approved by the government.

Pragya Singh Thakur. File photo

New Delhi, November 21

A controversy erupted after Malegaon blast accused and BJP MP from Bhopal Pragya Singh Thakur was nominated to the parliamentary consultative committee of the Ministry of Defence.

According to the government notification dated October 21, the 21-member parliamentary consultative committee is headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Thakur, who defeated Congress heavyweight Digvijaya Singh in the Lok Sabha election earlier this year, also featured in the committee.

The 21-member Parliamentary Consultative Committee also includes the likes of opposition leaders Farooq Abdullah, TMC’s Sougata Roy, DMK’s A Raja and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.

Ahead of the Lok Sabha election, Thakur had courted controversy with her remarks on a number of occasions.

She had landed in a major controversy when she called Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, a patriot.

The BJP had issued a showcause notice to Pragya over the remarks.

Thakur had also stirred a controversy by saying that then Mumbai ATS chief Hemant Karkare had died during the 26/11 terror attack because of her “curse”. IANS

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah has been included in a 21-member consultative committee on defence.

New Delhi, November 21

Detained under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) after being accused of having “tremendous potential to create public disorder”, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah has been included in a 21-member consultative committee on defence.

The name of the 81-year-old National Conference leader, in detention at his Srinagar home for over 100 days, tops the list of members of the panel headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The committee’s other members include former defence minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, according to a notification issued by Parliamentary Affairs Ministry. Also in the list is controversial BJP MP Pragya Thakur, whose inclusion has been slammed by the Congress party.

Abdullah was detained on August 5, hours before the Union government scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two union territories.

His son and former chief minister Omar Abdullah and another ex-chief minister Mehbooba mufti were also detained along with more than 5,000 others across the state.

Abdullah was slapped with the stringent PSA on September 17 on the eve of a Supreme Court hearing on a habeas corpus pertaining to his detention filed by MDMK leader Vaiko.

The National Conference chief and three-term chief minister has been booked under the ‘public order’ provision of the PSA under which a person can be kept in jail from three-six months without a trial.

Abdullah, the PSA order stated, “has tremendous potential for creating an environment of public disorder within the district (Srinagar) and other parts of the Valley”.

It also accuses him of being a person seen as fanning the emotions of general masses against the country. —PTI

A fast intercepter craft (FIC) from naval ship Kardip in Kamorta island rescued the woman from the village after getting information about need for medical assistance. File photo

New Delhi, November 21

In a swift medical relief operation, the Navy on Thursday rescued a pregnant woman in emergency labour from a remote village in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, officials said.

A fast intercepter craft (FIC) from naval ship Kardip in Kamorta island rescued the woman from the village after getting information about need for medical assistance.

The woman delivered a baby on the FIC and later both were admitted to a community health centre on arrival in Kamorta jetty, officials said. PTI