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Sunday 21 March | 06 Shaban | 1442 Hijri | Vol:24 | Issue: 67 | Pages:08 | Price: `3

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3 CITY 5 BADAM VAER: ALMONDS & AURA 7 STATE SRINAGAR ADMIN ORDERS ON-SPOT FINE The other day I cannot believe that after 14 KASHMIR SIKH BODY DEMANDS FRESH years I am finally back and trying to settle PROBE INTO CHATTISINGHPORA MASSACRE FOR THOSE WITHOUT MASKS down at my native place. It was an amazing

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad THINK experience to see the better and bitter side All Party Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) Saturday chaired a meeting of Administrative and Medical of life. It provided me an opportunity to know Saturday, on the eve of the Chattisinghpora massacre Officers of the district regarding the containment of Covid 19... the world far and beyond. I cherished every... anniversary, urged the government to conduct a fresh...

Widom Imran Khan Tests COVID-19 SURGE Covid-19 Positive Centre Asks J&K To Take ‘Necessary Action’ The brightest light MeT Dept Modi Wishes Him casts the Agencies darkest shadow Speedy Recovery —Jess C. Scott Issues Weather SRINAGAR: The government of India has asked Jammu and Kashmir administration to take Warning For J&K necessary measures for creat- ing awareness among people Heavy Rainfall, Snow Likely To to follow COVID appropriate behaviour and take necessary Disrupt Traffic, Trigger Landslides action for its strict enforce- CBI Raids Petrol ment so as to fully overcome Pumps In Bandipora Observer Monitoring Desk March 21,” reads the advisory. the covid-19 pandemic. SRINAGAR: Central Bureau of Inves- It adds that another WD In this regard Union Home tigation (CBI) on Saturday raided SRINAGAR: The mostly likely to affect J&K and Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and caution. wearing of face masks, hand hy- two petrol stations located in two Meteorological Department neighbourhood from March has written a letter to Chief In terms of Guidelines, State/ giene and social distancing. different villages of North Kash- on Saturday issued ‘yellow’ 22 afternoon, will peak inten- Secretary J&K, inviting atten- UT Governments have been man- Further, these measures on mir’s Bandipora district following warning forecasting heavy sity during 22 and 23 night. Press Trust Of India tion to January 27 order by dated to take all necessary mea- COVID appropriate behavior are complaints about irregularity in the rain and snowfall in Jammu It will gradually decrease MHA, delineating guidelines sures to promote COVID-19 ap- also included in the National volume. Sources said that sleuths and Kashmir and Ladakh re- thereafter. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime for surveillance, containment propriate behaviour and ensure Directives More On P6 of CBI accompanied by local police gions from March 21 which “This may lead to tempo- Minister Imran Khan on raided two petrol stations located could lead to traffic disrup- rary disruption of surface traf- Saturday tested positive for the ammu and Kashmir on Saturday recorded 140 new coronavirus cases, including 29 travel- in Pushwari and Markundal villages tion on the highways and fic mainly on Jammu-Srinagar, COVID-19 and is self-isolating 140 New lers, taking the tally to 1,28,389, while another person died from the pathogen, officials of Sumbal. More On P6 trigger landslides and shoot- Srinagar-Leh, Mughal Road at home, his top aide on health Covid Cases Jsaid. Out of the fresh cases, 25 were from the Jammu division and 115 from the Kashmir ing stones, besides dip- and other major roads. announced, two days after he division, they said. Srinagar district recorded the highest 73 cases, including 17 travellers, fol- Canines Injure ping the day temper- Landslides and shoot- got the first shot of a vaccine. In J&K lowed by 22 in Jammu district, 18 in Budgam and 14 Baramulla districts. In all, More On P6 ature sharply. ing stones in vul- Special Assistant to the Prime Minor In Qazigund In an advi- nerable spots of Minister on National Health SRINAGAR: A two-year-old boy was sory issued here Jammu-Srinagar, Services, Regulations and on Saturday injured after he was on Saturday, Srinagar-Leh high- Coordination Dr Faisal Sultan took Delhi Court Summons Shabir GMCs To Start attacked by the stray dogs at Y K Deputy Director ways. Temporary to Twitter to confirm that Khan, Pora village of Qazigund in South Meteorological water logging in 68, has contracted the coronavi- New PG Courses Kashmir’s Kulgam district. department, Dr low lying areas,” the rus on a day when the country Shah’s Wife In PMLA Case Press Trust Of India Officials said that the stray dogs Mukhtar Ahmad said advisory reads. registered the highest number Agencies pounced upon a child identified as that in quick succession, It also urges suspension of COVID-19 cases since July last JAMMU: Signifying a ma- Salam Ahmad Bhat, son of Roauf two Western Disturbances and avoiding agricultural and year. Khan was vaccinated on New Delhi: The Delhi Court jor achievement for the Ahmad Bhat of Y K Pora, Qazigund, (WDs) are most likely to af- horticultural operations be- Thursday as part of the nation- issued summons against healthcare department, new resulting in critical injuries to the fect J&K and adjoining areas sides draining out excess water. wide anti-coronavirus vaccina- Kashmir’s separatist leader Government Medical Colleges boy. The dogs, they said, dragged from March 21 (afternoon). “Dip in day temperature tion campaign which is under- Shabir Shah’s wife Dr Bilquies (GMCs) in Jammu and the child but the More On P6 “Under the influence of expected,” the advisory said. way in its first phase. Shah while taking cognizance Kashmir have been accred- these weather systems, wide- There are four types colour Khan is reported to have on a charge sheet in a money ited for Diplomate of National Man Killed In spread moderate rain/snow is codes signifying the level of received the first shot of the laundering case related to mil- Board (DNB) courses in vari- Head-on Collision expected in Jammu, Kashmir caution: green which means Chinese-produced Sinopharm itant financing. He is currently ous departments, an official SRINAGAR: One person was killed and light rain/snow at a few no action, yellow—situation vaccine, the only anti-COVID jab lodged in Tihar jail under judi- spokesman said on Saturday. and two others sustained injuries in places of Ladakh region on to be More On P6 available in Pakistan. PM Imran cial custody. Additional Sessions Judge With this, the accredited a road mishap at Nanil Akura area in Khan has tested More On P6 According to the statement, Dharmender Rana on Saturday institutions would get two south-Kashmir’s Anantnag district Enforcement Directorate, in while takes cognizance on the PG candidates in the certi- on Saturday. Reports said that the its supplementary charge charge sheet, issued a sum- fied stream every year, the accident happened when a load New Power sheet which was filed last year mon against Dr Bilquies Shah spokesman said. carrier and bike collided, resulting Curtailment After Go Air, Indigo Starts named Shabir Shah’s wife Dr for her presence in the court Till now, 30 Super Specialty in on-spot death of a person and Bilquies Shah as a new ac- on June 9 and also issued a and Broad Specialty cours- injuries to two others. The deceased Schedule Soon Night Flight From Srinagar cused in the case. production More On P6 es have been approved has been identified as Ghulam Mo- by the National Board of hammed Parray son of Ghulam Nabi Agencies Agencies Airlines from Srinagar Airport Examinations (NBE) which Parray (56), a resident of Nanil and to New Delhi and there will be are likely to give 58 seats to the injured as Abdul Rasheed and SRINAGAR: The power curtail- SRINAGAR: Indigo, a leading no trail flights as of now, now Road To Peace Passes the Union Territory. Sadiqa (minor) More On P6 ment schedule in the Valley private airliner on Saturday the summer flight movement In new GMCs, the spokes- would likely be changed by the launched a night flight from schedule will be according to man said two More On P6 end of this month while the Srinagar International Airport, the DGCA which is expected to Through J&K: Mehbooba Charges Filed officials concerned stated that a day after Go Air started first come by next week,” Director Against 8 ‘Fraudsters’ the summer would be free of ever night flight service from Airport Santosh Dhoke said. Charges Filed In JAMMU: The Crime Branch of curtailments in Kashmir. the Valley. Divisional Commissioner Jammu and Kashmir Police on Chief Engineer of “Today another success- Kashmir PK Pole said the flights Scholarship Scam Saturday filed a preliminary charge Kashmir Power Distribution ful trail flight was oper- operated from the Srinagar sheet against eight people running Corporation Limited (KPDCL), ated by Indigo Airport were trial flights before Observer News Service a private company here over their Aijaz Ahmad Dar said that the More On P6 alleged involvement in illegally schedule would be changed SRINAGAR: The Crime Branch receiving cash deposits from the soon after the fresh weather on Saturday produced pre- general public. The case was reg- advisory issued by the con- liminary charge sheet against istered in 2017 after Deputy Gen- cerned department will end. a West Bengal resident who eral Manger, Reserve Bank of India He said that More On P6 was arrested in connection (RBI), A K Mattu sought a discreet Agencies neighbours should put Kashmir with the whopping Rs 1.34 inquiry into the More On P6 and Kashmiris front and centre. crore scholarship scam. SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Addressing a gather- The charge sheet was Party (PDP) President and for- ing of party workers at produced before the Anti- SMC Shifts Four Pak Made Rifles Found in J&K: DGP mer Chief Minister Mehbooba District Convention Kulgam corruption Court Srinagar Enforcement Officers Press Trust Of India year was huge, incomparable Mufti on Saturday reminded Mehbooba said that any re- against Selem Sheik of Malda, SRINAGAR: Srinagar Municipal Cor- to what we have seized in pre- the leadership in New Delhi newed thaw in the relation- West Bengal, who is in cus- poration on Saturday transferred SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir vious years. In all, there were and Islamabad that the route ships of the two countries is tody of the Crime Branch four of its Enforcement Officers and Police chief Dilbagh Singh 475 weapons seized last year. to peace in subcontinent tra- subservient to the progress since his arrest in January last posted them as Zonal Sanitation Saturday claimed that American The number was not even half verses through Kashmir and made towards addressing the month, an official said. The Officers respectively. assault rifle M4, which was of this in 2019," the top cop of any bonhomie between the two long pending More On P6 accused, he said, is involved According to an order issued by among the seized weapons the union territory said. in uploading fake application SMC, four enforcement officers, recently, was being illegally He said among the recov- forms on National Scholarship Urfan Hussain Mir, Incharge Enforce- manufactured somewhere in eries were pistols, AK assault ashing out at Centre government for Portal for Merit Cum Means ment officer East, Mehraj ud din Pakistan or Afghanistan. rifles, M4 rifles, narcotics and ‘Restlessness’ failing to address the grievances of Scholarship under Minority Chowdhry, I/C Enforcement officer He was giving details of the cash as well. Among People Lpeople and causing restlessness among Quota for J&K students during Central/North, Mujeeb Hussain, I/C weapons which were smug- seized by state forces along the "M4 actually is an American the people in J&K, All India Congress Com- the year 2018-19 for district Enforcement officer South, Moham- gled in from Pakistan using border during 2020. rifle but there are duplicates In J&K: Cong mittee (AICC) in-charge for More On P6 Kulgam Subsequently, fake mad Yousuf Qazi, More On P6 drones and other means but "The weapons seized last manufactured More On P6 verifications More On P6

Swati Joshi on the train, unknown of the place warning and since then it is under the man was taking him. When the scanner of the CWC, Ganai told ohan was brought to Kashmir he woke up he was on his way to Kashmir Observer. with the promise of a high Jammu. People believe that there is no Rpaying job. But little did he “Rohan was brought to Pulwama human trafficking in Jammu & know that he would end up as a through a consultancy firm who Kashmir, but they’re wrong, said ‘LURED household worker in southern told us that he was an adult,” said Mohammad Sharif Bhat, J&K and Kashmir’s Pulwama area. Tawseef Ahmad Ganai, a member Ladakh head of NGO, Save the Before his unwitting valley visit, of Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Children.“I’ve seen many people the minor was living in an ashram Pulwama. having minor non-Kashmiri ser- in Assam, where he used to work at When Ganai got information vants in their homes,” he said. FOR JOB’ weddings to earn his livelihood. about Rohan, he alerted the District Three years ago, Bhat came One day while returning from Child Protection Unit (DCPO) who across a minor girl from Kolkata a wedding at night, he met a per- gave the boy’s custody to the CWC. who was found on a farm in north- Inside Kashmir’s Child son who asked him if he wanted to On examination, it was found ern Kashmir’s Kupwara district. earn more money. Rohan who had out that Rohan was a student of 8th Alerted by the Information District no one in his family except his little class, when brought to Kashmir— Social Welfare Officer, the NGO Trafficking Network sister decided to go with the man “meaning that he was around 13 soon rescued the traumatized kid. in search of work. years old,” said Ganai. “I took her to the hospital and in- Exhausted by the work, he slept The consultancy firm was given a formed the concerned More On P6 To place an advertisement CALL +91-194 2502327 Monday - Saturday (9am - 6pm) Sunday| 21.03.2021 No 5- Dal Lake Boulevard Srinagar, 190001, Kashmir 2

PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE I have lost my 8th pass certificate somewhere. Now I am apply- My name in School Records has been wrongly entered ing for the duplicate of the same if anybody having any objec- as Bushan Showkat while my Correct name is Bashan tion in this regard he/she may file his/her objection in the office Showkat. Now I want the same to be corrected if any- of the Govt Middle School Rashidaab Machipora within a period body has any objection in this regard He/ She may file of seven days from the date of publication of this notice. After his /Her objection in the Office of the Principal Govern- that no objection shall be entertained. ment ML Boys Higher Secondary School Bijbehara An- Ubaid Nabi Chopan antnag within a period of seven (7) days from the date S/O Ghulam Nabi Chopan of publication of this notice. After that no objection shall R/O Rashiabad Machipora ams be entertained. Name:- Bashan Showkat The Jammu And Kashmir State S/O Showkat Ahmad Dar R/O Kanlwan Bunpora Anantnag mja Board Of School Education Branch Office, Baramulla NOTICE

The Jammu And Kashmir State The candidate whose photograph is Board Of School Education given is claiming to have lost his/her Branch Office, Baramulla marks card/s with the following par- ticulars issued by the J&K State Board NOTICE Of School Education:- The candidate whose photograph is given is Tariq Ahmad Sheikh claiming to have lost his/her marks card/s with S/O Gh Mohi-ud-Din Sheikh the following particulars issued by the J&K State R/o Pinjoora (Kawarhama ) Tangmarg Bla Board Of School Education:- Details Of Marks Certificate Lost Seerat Ali Father's Name AlI Mohd Malik R/o Nov- loori Sheraabad Pattan Baramulla Secondary school Examination ( class 10TH ) Details Of Marks Certificate Lost Roll No 373219 year and Session 2001 Higher Secondary Examination Part -II ( class 12th) D.O.B: 04-02-1985 Roll No 3122503 year and Session Bi-Annual 2019 The said candidate has applied for issuance of duplicate D.O.B: 04-02-1985 marks certificate/s in this office. Before the same is pro- The said candidate has applied for issuance of duplicate marks cessed and issued to the candidate, any body having any certificate/s in this office. Before the same is processed and issued to objection in this regard may file the same in the Board the candidate, any body having any objection in this regard may file Branch Office Magam within Seven (7) days from the the same in the Board Branch Office Magam within Seven (7) days date of publication of this notice, Besides the original from the date of publication of this notice, Besides the original marks marks card be treated as cancelled. card be treated as cancelled. Sd/- Asstt. Secretary, Sd/- Asstt. Secretary, bmg_r Br. Office, Baramulla bmg Br. Office, Baramulla

Government of Jammu & Kashmir OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER R&B CONSTRUCTION DIVISION NO.II, SGR. FRESH NOTICE INVITING TENDER NIT No.197/CDII/18242-52 of 2020-21 DATED: 18.03.2021 For and on behalf of the Lt. Governor, UT J&K, e-tenders (In single cover system) are invited on Percentage basis from approved and eligible Contractors registered with J&K State Govt., CPWD, Railways and other State/Central Governments for the following works:- S.No Name of Work Adv. Cost Cost of T/Doc. Time of M.H of Account Class of (Rs. In Lacs) (In Rupees ) completion Contractor 1 2 3 4 5 7 6 1. Fabrication of office/computer/work 1.12 200/- 10 Days 2059-M&R DEE table station and providing and fixing of partition wall in the office of Chief Engineer PMGSY. Position of AAA: Accorded Position of funds Available 1. The Bidding documents Consisting of qualifying information, eligibility criteria, specifications, Drawings, bill of quantities (B.O.Q), Set of terms and condi- tions of contract and other details can be seen/downloaded from the departmental website www.jktenders.gov.in as per schedule of dates given below:- 1 Date of Issue of Tender Notice 2 Period of downloading of bidding documents 19.03.2021 from 10.00 AM 3 Bid submission Start Date 19.03.2021 from 10.00 AM. 4 Bid Submission End Date 25.03.2021 upto 4.00 PM. 5 Date & time of opening of Bids (Online) 26.03.2021 at 11.00 AM in the office of Executive Engineer R&B Con- struction Division No.2nd, Srinagar 2. Bids must be accompanied with cost of Tender document in shape of Treasury Challan in favour of Executive Engineer R&B Construction Division No.2nd, Srinagar (tender inviting authority) (The Date of Treasury Challan should be between the date of start of bid and Bid Submission End date) pledged to Executive Engineer R&B Construction Division No.2nd, Srinagar (tender receiving authority). 3. All Bidders has to submit Bid Security Declaration Form instead of Earnest money as per the circular of Finance Department (Bid Security Declaration Form is as per Annexure “A” below) OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL TRANS- OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL 4. The 1st lowest Bidder has to produce an amount equal to 3% of contract as performance security in shape of CDR/FDR/BG within 02 Days before fixation of contract and shall be released after successful completion of work. PORT OFFICER KASHMIR TRANSPORT OFFICER KASHMIR 5. The date and time of opening of Bids shall be notified on Web Site www.jktenders.gov.in and conveyed to the bidders automatically through an e-mail mes- Notice Notice sage on their e-mail address. The bids of Responsive bidders shall be opened online on same Web Site in the Office of Executive Engineer R&B Construction Division No.2nd, Where as an application for transfer Srinagar (tender receiving authority). 6. The bids for the work shall remain valid for a period of 120 days from the date of opening of Technical bids of ownership has been received from Whereas, a joint application has been re- 7. Instruction to bidders regarding e-tendering process. Fayaz Ahmad Beigh S/o Bashir Aha- ceived from Shri Gh Mohd Mir S/o Ab Wahab 7.1. Bidders are advised to download bid submission manual from the "Downloads" option as well as from "Bidders Manual Kit" on website www.jktenders.gov. md Beigh R/o Balchipora Nowshera Mir R/o Umru Balchipora Sgr ( Transferor) into acquaint bid submission process. Srinagar (Transferor) of Alto 800 and Shri Manzoor Ahmad Tali S/o Mohd 7.2. To participate in bidding process, bidders have to get 'Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)' as per Information Technology Act-2000. Bidders can get digital bearing registration No. JK01W-8363 Sultan Teli R/o Saderbal Hazratbal Sgr certificate from any approved Vendor. chasis No: 507663 Engine No: 291217 Model 2014 in favour of (Transferee) for transfer of Maxi Cab route Permit No / 175/0 MB 7.3. The bidders have to submit their bids online in electronic format with digital Signature. No bid will be accepted in physical form. Aadil Ahamd S/o Mohammad Iqbal Khan R/o Sadipora Sophina / EA Covering Vehicle No JK01G- 9574 7.4. Bids will be opened online as per time schedule mentioned in Para-1. Kmr (Transferee). 7.5. Bidders must ensure to upload scanned copy of all necessary documents with the technical bid. Now, therefore, it is notified for general information that ob- 18. The tender / bid is liable to rejection if it does not fulfill the requirements as laid down in NIT. Now, therefore, it is notified for the information of the general, jections, if any to the proposed transfer of the said route permit 19. All other terms conditions are as per PWD Form 25 (Double agreement Form) and detailed NIT issued vide this office No. 07/CDII/2011-12/389-414 dated public that representation/ Objection, if any in connection with / vehicle shall be filled in writing in the office of the Regional 07.04.2011. proposed transfer will be received within 7 days from the date Transport Officer, Kashmir. No. 18242-52 Sd/- of publication of this notice in the daily newspaper Kashmir Ob- Within a period of 7 days from the date of publication of this Executive Engineer server to the address of undersigned. notice in the daily News Paper Kashmir Observer. Dated: 18.03.2021 R&B Construction Division IInd No, representation/ objection shall be considered unless it is Seller and purchaser identified by the authorized representa- DIPK-15354/20 Srinagar made writing it is made in the aforesaid period. tives of M/S _Haji Pee Tpt Co Namely Zahoora Ahamd Mir NOJK-RTOK 8028 Sd/- NO: JK/RTOK /8035 Sd/- Dated: 20/03/2021 Regional Transport Office, Kashmir Dated: 20/03/2021 Regional Transport Office, Kashmir Government of Jammu & Kashmir,

Government of Jammu & Kashmir, Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir Tel:0194-2315378, Fax 0194-2479548, e-mail: [email protected] Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir Sub: - Application for registration of Hotels “The Vista”, located at Sonamarg, Kashmir. Tel:0194-2315378, Fax 0194-2479548, e-mail: [email protected] PUBLIC NOTICE Sub: - Application for registration of Hotels “The Sheen”, located at Sonamarg, Kashmir. Whereas, Mr. Ajaz Ahmad Wani S/o Ghulam Mohammad Wani R/o Kangan, Ganderbal has approached this PUBLIC NOTICE office for grant of registration for their hotel under name and style “The Vista” situated at Sonmarg with 26 rooms; Whereas, Mr. Tariq Ahmad Hafiz S/o Mr. Mohammad Maqbool Hafiz R/o Kangan, Ganderbal has approached this office Whereas, the applicant has submitted documents viz. Sale deed of land, Land revenue documents, Building permission, NOC from Sonamarg Development Authority, NOC from Fire and Emergency Services, for grant of registration for hotel under name and style “ The Sheen” situated at Sonmarg” with 26 rooms; PHE, PDD, Character certificate of the applicant with Adhar card/PAN Card, and “Consent to operate” issued Whereas, the applicant has submitted documents viz. Sale deed of land, Land revenue documents, Building by JK PCB; permission, NOC from Sonamarg Development Authority, NOC from Fire and Emergency Services, PHE, PDD, Character Whereas, the applicant has submitted latest revenue extract of land appurtenant and underneath certificate of the applicant with Adhar card/PAN Card, and “Consent to operate” issued by JK PCB; hotel; Whereas, the applicant has submitted latest revenue extract of land appurtenant and underneath hotel; Whereas, the proposed hotel was inspection by the Committee of officers and it has been observed Whereas, the proposed hotel was inspection by the Committee of officers and it has been observed that hotel that hotel has been completed in all respects and all the facilities are available as per norms laid down under has been completed in all respects and all the facilities are available as per norms laid down under the Act; the Act; Whereas, issuance of registration certificate for the hotel is purely for purpose of running operation manage- Whereas, issuance of registration certificate for the hotel is purely for purpose of running operation ment of the said hotel and do not confer any right of ownership upon the applicant on the hotel or land appurtenant; management of the said hotel and do not confer any right of ownership upon the applicant on the hotel or Now, therefore, in exercise of powers conferred on me under section 10 of J&K Registration of Tourist Trade Act land appurtenant; 1978/82/2011/2012, before issuance of registration certificate in favour of Mr. Tariq Ahmad Hafiz S/o Mr. Mohammad Now, therefore, in exercise of powers conferred on me under section 10 of J&K Registration of Tourist Trade Act 1978/82/2011/2012, before issuance of registration certificate in favour of Mr. Ajaz Ahmad Wani Maqbool Hafiz R/o Kangan, Ganderbal, the matter is hereby notified for information of General Public/Financial Institu- S/o Ghulam Mohammad Wani R/o Kangan, Ganderbal, the matter is hereby notified for information of Gen- tions/ Banks/ Development Authorities/ PHE Department/ Electric Department that in case of any objection, the same eral Public/Financial Institutions/ Banks/ Development Authorities/ PHE Department/ Electric Department should reach the office of undersigned within a period of 07 days from the date of publication of this notice. No objec- that in case of any objection, the same should reach the office of undersigned within a period of 07 days from tions beyond period of 07 days will be entertained and the request of the applicant will be considered under rules, after the date of publication of this notice. No objections beyond period of 07 days will be entertained and the submission of requisite documents. request of the applicant will be considered under rules, after submission of requisite documents. Sd/- Sd/- Deputy Director Tourism, Deputy Director Tourism, Registration DIPK-15324/20 Registration No: Reg/1277/1608/DTK Dated: 18.03.2021 DIPK-15322/20 No: Reg/1291/1609/DTK Dated:18.03.2021

DISCLAIMER: KASHMIR OBSERVER MAKES EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT THE INFORMATION CARRIED IN DISPLAY/ CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS, APPEARING IN THE NEWSPAPER IS CORRECT. HOWEVER THE NEWSPAPER TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY NOR DOES IT NECESSARILY ENDORSE THE CONTENTS OF THESE ADVERTS. THE READERS ARE THEREFORE REQUESTED TO VERIFY THE CONTENTS BEFORE ACTING THEREUPON. MANAGEMENT

AJ J CITY Sunday| 21-03-2021 03

DIAL-EMMA Srinagar Admin Orders On-spot • TRAFFIC POLICE : 9419993745, 01998-266686 • PCR: 0194-2452092,2455883 • PDD: 0194-2450213 • FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES : 2479488,2452222,2452155 Fine For Those Without Masks • CAPD: 18001807011 • SMC HEALTH OFFICER: 9469409081 AIRPORTS Observer News Service tive cases is a matter of serious con- cern and adequate administrative, SHIEK UL ALAM AIRPORT: 01942303311 SRINAGAR: Deputy Commissioner Sri- as well as medical measures, are re- nagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad Saturday quired to remind the public that the RAILWAYS chaired a meeting of Administrative and deadly virus has not vanished yet • SRINAGAR: 0194-2103259 Medical Officers of the district regarding instead various strands of the virus • ANANTNAG: 01932-228243 the containment of Covid 19 virus, at DC have emerged all over the world. He • BARAMULLA: 0194-102029 office, here. exhorted on the officers present to • BIJBHERA: 01932-228243 The meeting was attended by ADC, reactivate functionaries for the con- • PAMPORE: 01933-294132 Syed Haneef Balkhi, ADC, Khursheed tainment of Covid virus. • PATTAN: 01954-293507 Ah Shah; Joint Director Planning Sri- Further, he impressed on the • QAZIGUND: 01951-296153 nagar, Assistant Commissioner, Sri- identification of containment zones nagar, Nodal Officer Covid, Dy CMO, and the adoption of the required Co- HIGHWAY STATUS Medical Superintendent, BMOs, ZMOs vid protocol. • Sgr-Jammu highway - ( Open ) and other officers. He directed officers to fine those per- • Mughal Road - (Closed) Concerned over the resurgence of sons who have relinquished wearing of • Srinagar- Leh- (Open) Covid 19 virus, Aijaz Asad said the virus masks, added that the person should be is very much present here and chasing tested for Covid on spot. us. He stressed strict enforcement of Besides, Aijaz said that the vaccina- Covid SOPs including the compulsory tion. He said those found roaming at ing in the interest of the community at tion process needs to be intensified on wearing of masks, maintaining social public places without masks shall be large. full swing to develop preventive immu- PRAYERS distance, use of sanitisers and sanitisa- fined and subject to Rapid Antigen Test- He said the recent spike in posi- nity in the masses. FAJR 5: 11 Covid SOP’s Go For A Toss As Tourism Dept HIJRI ZUHR 12: 40 Organises Cultural Programme In Badamwari CALENDAR ASR 4:58 Observer News Service Srinagar city. the opening of the garden for Magrib 6:45 Hundreds thronged the the general public. Tourism 06 SHABAN Srinagar: Hours after Dis- famous Badamwari garden secretary Sarmad Hafeez and ISHA 8:06 trict Magistrate Srinagar located in Old City area of Director Tourism Dr. GN Itoo 1442 issued strict directions for Srinagar without adhering to were present on the occasion. adherence to Covid-19 SOPs Covid SOPs and the majority Eyewitnesses said that due to a surge in positive cas- of the people were seen roam- no thermal scanning was es, the SOPs went for a toss ing without wearing masks. done prior to the entry in This Day In History during a cultural programme The programme was or- the garden and there was organised by the Tourism ganised by the Department huge jumbling inside as • 1942 - Convoy QP9 departs Great Britain to Murmansk Department at Badamwari in of Tourism J&K to announce well. (KDC) • 1943 - Assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler fails • 1945 - During WW II Allied bombers begin 4-day raid over Germany • 1958 - USSR performs atmospheric nuclear test • 1962 - Yogi the bear becomes the 1st creature to be ejected SDA Evicts Illegal Occupants From Bemina at supersonic speeds by the US military testing ejection seats • 1965 - US Ranger 9 launched; takes 5,814 pictures before Observer News Service initiated against the persons who had illegally lunar impact occupied the SDA/Govt land at Parimpora • 1975 - Ethiopia abolishes its monarchy after 3,000 years Srinagar: The Srinagar Development Author- Bye- Pass road side and restored the original • 1979 - Egyptian Parliament unanimously approve peace ity on Saturday launched yet another demoli- position. treaty with Israel tion drive near Kargil house and evicted ille- Authorities have warned the people resid- • 1990 - Namibia becomes independent of South Africa, gal occupants. ing within SDA jurisdiction that any illegal Sam Nujoma becomes president Witnesses said that the shopkeepers had construction/encroachments on Government • 1991 - 27 lost at sea when 2 US Navy anti-submarine planes collide constructed concrete tiles pedestals on main land. They said that demolition drive against • 1991 - UN Security Council panel decided to lift the food road and illegally grabbed the Govt/SDA such construction and encroachments shall embargo on Iraq land. In a swift action against the illegal en- continue in future."The demolition drive was • 1992 - Pakistan scores 6-264 to overhaul NZ in exciting croachers, the pedestals on main road were successfully executed as per the directions of World Cup semi removed and subsequently action was also Vice Chairman", said the officials. (KNS) • 1994 - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) enters into force after being ratified by the required number of nations • 1999 - Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones become the first to circumnavigate the Earth in a hot air balloon. • 2002 - In Pakistan, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh along with three other suspects are charged with murder for their part in the kidnapping and killing of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. • 2006 - Immigrant workers constructing the Burj Dubayy in Dubai, The United Arab Emirates and a new terminal of Dubai International Airport join together and riot, causing $1M in damage. • 2012 - Five former Guatemalan paramilitaries are sen- tenced to 7,710 years in jail for their role in the Plan de San- chez massacre in 1982 • 2012 - Greek Parliament votes in favour of an interna- tional bailout deal • 2013 - 42 people are killed and 84 are injured by a bomb- ing in a mosque in Damascus, Syria • 2013 - At least 45 people drown and 60 are missing after a Nigerian boat sinks off the shore of Gabon • 2013 - 24 people are killed and 100 are injured by a tor- nado and hail storm in southern China • 2013 - The European Space Agency reveals new data that indicates that the universe is 13.82 billion years old • 2014 - ussia formally annexes Crimea amid international condemnation • 2018 - Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg admits they "made mistakes" after data on 50 million users is harvested by Cambridge Analytica • 2018 - Nigerian government confirms 101 out of 110 schoolgirls kidnapped from Dapchi returned • 2018 - Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski offers his resignation amid vote-buying scandal • 2018 - Palestinian teenager Ahed Tamimi accepts plea deal for 8 months in prison after slapping Israeli officer • 2018 - Suicide bomber kills 31 in crowd celebrating Persian New Year in Kabul, Afghanistan From KO Archives Student Killed, 10 Hurt In Baramulla School Blast Observer News Service

RINAGAR: A student was killed and ten others were in- jured when a powerful blast rocked a school, which also housed troops of Rashtriya Rifles in Baramulla district of North Kashmir on Friday, official sources said. SThe blast followed by several firing shots took place at Gov- ernment High School, Nadihal, 55 Km’s from here, killing a 10th class student Mohsin Dawar Lone and injuring ten other boys, the sources said adding condition of two students was critical. The incident took place at 1:05 PM when the students were leaving the school, the sources said adding today being Friday the school observes half day to facilitate the students the stu- dents to offer prayers. The cause of the explosion was not known, the sources said adding that it was either grenade or IED explosion. Rashtriya Rifles troops who were camping in the school, fired several shots in air after the explosion rocked the area, the sources said. A police party from Bandipora police station immediately rushed to the scene and the whole area was cordoned off, they said. Immediately after the incident panic-stricken villagers rushed the school to inquire about the welfare of their wards. Several thousand people gathered outside the school and were protesting against the presence of the troops inside the educational institute, the sources said. Reinforcements had been rushed to the area to maintain law and order, the sources said. (Kashmir Observer, 21 March, 2005) Sunday | 21.03.2021 Opinion,Think! Analysis, Essays 4

NO HOLDS BARRED KASHMIR

Printed & Published by Sajjad Haider on behalf of the Ironically, these democratic States have Kashmir Observer LLP employed democratic methods to undermine individual Published from: # 5- Boulevard, Srinagar-190001 rights. The countries claim that the burqa hampers social Printed at: KT Press Pvt. Ltd, Rangreth Ind Area, Srinagar. integration and poses a threat to national security. Social RNI Registration No: 69503/98 integration should not mean forced assimilation, coercion Postal Registration No-L/159/KO/SK/2014-16 to abandon religion and cultural practices will dampen this project of social integration that these democratic Editor-in-Chief : Sajjad Haider countries are pursuing Legal Counsel: Tasaduq Khwaja Switchboard: (0194) 2106304 Editorial: (0194) 2502327 Email editorial: [email protected] Burqa Ban: Islamophobia Disguised ri Lanka has grabbed a political publicity campaign global headlines after its with strong xenophobic under- public security Minister tones, Switzerland is joining Dr. Weerrasekera an- the small number of countries Snounced in the parliament that where actively discriminating Dania Sheikh he had signed a paper proposing a against Muslim women is now ban on wearing burqas in public sanctioned by law”, which is places and shutting down some “deeply regrettable.” Ironically, 1000 madras to eradicate religious these democratic States have The proposed extremism in the nation.This bill, employed democratic methods if proposed, by the government to undermine individual rights. ban legitimizes the will most likely be implemented The countries claim that the since the Mahindra Rajapaksa burqa hampers social integra- unfounded hostility government enjoys a two-thirds tion and poses a threat to nation- majority in the parliament. al security. Social integration against burqa-clad Weerasekara’s statement should not mean forced assimi- has perturbed and outraged lation, coercion to abandon reli- the Muslim community who gion and cultural practices will women and threatens perceive it as an attempt to fur- dampen this project of social in- ther marginalize the country’s tegration that these democratic to alienate the Muslim Muslims who constitute 10% of countries are pursuing. the 21 million population of Sri Imposing a ban on wearing population and fan Lanka. Sri Lanka has been un- a burqa is bad as its compul- der the scrutiny of UNHCR for sion. Penalizing people for their communal tensions. human rights violations against that has evolved recently, and by resorting to islamophobia, trick in the bag to stir up xeno- choice of clothes is an assault on its minorities. The Rajapaksa therefore imposing a ban on its maligning Islam and Islamic phobia.The majority appease- human rights, it is condescend- The Institutionalisation government is infamous for its use will not be an infringement practices is not an antidote for ment and violation of human ing and reverses the progress hostility towards Muslims and of freedom of religion but it is terrorism. People have to be rights poses a bigger threat to made by the feminist movement. of religious intolerance Tamils. The current govern- an outright infringement of free- treated with dignity. Deprivation national security than a piece As far as national security ment has been censured by the dom choice. of a safe political and social space of clothing ever can. is concerned these states have global watchdogs and interna- The government has held is unjust and denies them the The UNHCR has been criti- done little to curb the gun vio- does irreversible tional media outlets for forced that this ban is necessary to right to practice their religion cal of several European nations lence which has surged rapidly cremation of the Muslims who tackle the growing fundamen- and culture freely. The proposed which have imposed a ban on in the past few years. Similar damage to a country’s died because of covid. The in- talism in the country which ban legitimizes the unfounded wearing burqas in public spaces. enthusiasm hasn’t been shown ternational fury pressurised the provides a breeding ground for hostility against burqa-clad Recently, Switzerland held a ref- to ban the acquisition and pos- social fabric government to take down the terrorism. Anti-Muslim senti- women and threatens to alienate erendum in which 51% of the session of firearms. The starkly compulsory cremation policy. ment surged in the country af- the Muslim population and fan population voted in favour of out- different response towards ter- This plan to propose a ban on ter the Easter bombings in 2019 communal tensions. The Institu- lawing the burqa in public places. ror attacks carried out by non- the burqa should be seen in this which was carried out by ISIS tionalisation of religious intoler- UN Human Rights Council criti- Muslims reveals blatant Islamo- context of the harsh treatment and claimed the lives of about ance does irreversible damage to cised the Swiss ban as “discrimi- phobia. Religion and ethnicity meted out the country’s Muslim 258 people. The country’s Mus- a country’s social fabric. natory” and “deeply regrettable”. become irrelevant when the per- populace to understand the ulte- lim population since then has The ban is being viewed by The Office of the UN High petrator of the mass shooting rior motive behind this ban. been at the receiving end of the many political analysts as an Commissioner for Human Rights isn’t a Muslim. The public health minister angst and hatred, immediately attempt to stoke communal ten- (OHCHR) said in a statement: Weerasakeera claims that im- after the attack, several Muslim sions and to appease the major- “Vague justifications on how the Views expressed in the article posing a ban on the burqa is nec- shops and houses were gutted ity Buddhists population of the wearing of face coverings would are the author’s own and do essary to safeguard the national down. The punitive measures country for electoral gains. The be a threat to safety, health or the not necessarily represent the interest. The government is try- being taken against an entire fact that the minister made this rights of others cannot be consid- editorial stance of ing to justify the legality of the community expose the bias and announcement from a temple ered a legitimate reason for such Kashmir Observer ban by claiming that the Quran prejudice of the establishment makes his motive explicit. Es- an invasive restriction of funda- doesn’t mandate women to wear against the Muslims. tablishing a link between Is- mental freedoms.” The author can be reached at a burqa, it’s a cultural practice Terrorism cannot be tackled lam and terrorism is the oldest It added that “in the wake of [email protected]

n February 7, a Himalayan gla- al rivalries, the hydropower projects in the cier broke and caused a flash Indian Himalayas pose a significant threat flood in the North Indian state to the region’s ecology and the wellbeing of of Uttarakhand. The avalanche Hydropower projects are local communities. Despite repeated warn- Osmashed two hydroelectric dam projects ings from experts, local authorities and and killed more than 200 people. A total of government agencies involved in these 205 people were reported missing in the di- hydroelectric projects have failed to enact saster, but so far only 74 bodies and 34 sepa- wreaking havoc in the Himalayas proper safeguards. rate body parts have been recovered from Even after last month’s deadly flash the debris. Local authorities have declared flood, then Chief Minister of Uttarakhand those still unaccounted for as “presumed The deadly February 7 flash flood in Uttarakhand Tirath Singh Rawat refused to acknowl- dead” and initiated the process of issuing edge the role the massive hydropower proj- death certificates for them. ects in the region has played in bringing Environmentalists who have been should not be blamed on ‘nature’s fury’ alone. about this tragedy. Instead of committing studying Himalayan glaciers for decades to take the necessary precautions to pre- have linked this deadly disaster, like many Prakash Kashwan | Neelima Vallangi vent its repeat, the chief minister called others before it, to climate change, adding the incident a “natural disaster” and re- weight to the growing calls for aggressive tive impact of those project components like eral times between 2008-2016. None of these part of a national plan to cut emissions iterated his commitment to hydropower climate action in the region. dams, tunnels, blasting, muck disposal, min- incidents led to the project’s suspension. In linked to the energy sector. If and when development. The central government, Attributing the blame for the flash ing, deforestation, etc. on the ecosystem has the summer of 2019, the residents of Raini these plans are fully realised, the disaster- meanwhile, merely read out a statement flood solely or mainly to the ongoing cli- yet to be scientifically examined.” village, world renowned for the role they prone Indian Himalayas will have one dam announcing the number of dead and miss- mate crisis, however, risks obfuscating Indian governmental agencies, how- played in the Chipko (Hug the Trees) move- every 32 kilometres. ing persons in parliament. the failure of national and international ever, refused to heed these warnings and ment of the 1970s, filed a public interest But, as the fate of the Rishiganga proj- More than 550 hydroelectric projects agencies involved in construction projects continued their efforts to build dams on Hi- litigation (PIL) in the Uttarakhand High ect clearly demonstrated, building car- are under construction or being planned in the region to act on the lessons learned malayan rivers. Today, there are plans to Court, calling on the district magistrate of bon offset projects in fragile ecologies is a throughout the Himalayas in China, In- from past disasters. build over two dozen medium and large hy- Chamoli and the state government to re- dangerous and misguided endeavour. The dia, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan. Without Less than 10 years ago, in 2013, flash dropower projects in Uttarakhand alone. view the environmental and social impact Rishiganga project was approved under discounting the potential benefits of small- floods left more than 5,700 people dead in Dozens more are planned in other parts of of the Rishiganga Hydroelectric Project the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) scale hydropower projects, national and Uttarakhand. Back then, experts quickly the Indian Himalayas. site. The PIL also did not lead to any con- of the United Nations Framework Conven- international agencies active in the region drew links between the disaster and the Environmentalists argue that the con- structive action. tion on Climate Change. It was anticipated should put in place ecological and social numerous hydropower construction proj- struction of the Tapovan Vishnugad hydro- Those behind the hydropower projects that once fully operational, the project protection measures to ensure these proj- ects in the high mountain valleys in Utta- electric project, one of the two damaged by in the Indian Himalayas long defended would deliver emission reductions equiva- ects do not cause more harm than good. rakhand, arguing that these projects had the February 7 flash flood, likely increased their efforts against criticism from envi- lent to 49,585 metric tonnes of CO2 per an- That such measures have not been put exacerbated the intensity of the floods. the damage caused by the disaster. This ronmentalists by arguing that these hydro- num. Those anticipations were washed in place despite thousands of deaths in doz- “The disaster is a costly wake-up call,” Pe- dam was being built by India’s National power plants would reduce India’s harm- away, quite literally, in part because of the ens of disasters that have struck the region ter Bosshard, the policy director at Inter- Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), with ful emissions and the detrimental effects damage that the project likely caused to the over the past two decades, is a damning national Rivers, said in the aftermath of the financial backing of the Asian Devel- of climate change on the local population. local ecology and geology. indictment of the failure of international that deadly flood. “It shows that nature will opment Bank (ADB). Both the NTPC and Indeed, the construction of hydroelectric The rapid expansion of hydropower and national environmental governance. strike back if we disregard the ecological ADB were undoubtedly aware of the warn- dams in the Himalayan river valleys is projects in the region is not fuelled only by International and multilateral agencies, limits of fragile regions like the Himalayas ings environmental groups and other agen- a desire to produce clean energy, either. such as the World Bank and the Asian through reckless dam building and other cies have been issuing about hydropower The continuing “water war” between In- Development Bank, and national energy infrastructure development.” development in the area since at least 2013. More than 550 dia and China is also a motivating factor corporations, must be held to account for After the 2013 flash flood, the Supreme Their apparent decision to ignore these hydroelectric projects are under behind the mushrooming of these projects these major lapses. Court of India also mandated a national warnings cost the lives of hundreds of peo- construction or being planned in the Indian Himalayas. In November 2020, To avoid tragedies similar to the Febru- panel of experts to investigate the policy ple working on the project site on the fate- throughout the Himalayas in China, the Power Construction Corporation of ary 7 flash flood in the future, the question failures responsible for the disaster. After ful morning of February 7. Had it not been India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan. China, a Chinese state-owned company, an- of climate action should be debated in tan- conducting an investigation, the panel called a Sunday, the number of fatalities on the Without discounting the potential nounced plans to develop a massive hydro- dem with the broader question of adopting for hydropower development in this “disas- site would have been significantly higher. benefits of small-scale hydropower electric project, with production capacity of an ecologically-sensitive model of develop- ter-prone” region to cease, arguing that it The second project affected by last projects, national and international up to 60 gigawatts, on the lower reaches of ment. To achieve this, we should stop attrib- significantly amplifies the damages caused month’s flash flood, the Rishiganga Hydro- agencies active in the region should the Yarlung Zangbo river. India responded uting the blame for such disasters solely to by natural disasters. It also asked for the in- electric Project, was not merely damaged by announcing plans to build a 10-gigawatt “nature’s fury”, and start holding national stallation of a flood warning system. Later, but completely swept away by the violent put in place ecological and social project on the Siang, the main tributary of and international agencies and policymak- two Supreme Court justices noted that they surge. And the disaster did not hit that con- protection measures to ensure these the same river, to “offset the impact of the ers accountable for their failings. “are very much concerned about the mush- struction without warning, either. projects do not cause more harm hydropower project by China”. rooming of a large number of hydroelectric The Rishiganga project site was struck than good Whether they are built solely to pro- Al Jazeera projects in Uttarakhand […] The cumula- by a cloudburst, floods and landslides sev- duce clean energy or in response to region-

ORTY-eight years after the 1971 war, which led to the in- dependence of Bangladesh, each country involved in the conflict has institutionalised a distinct memory of the events of that year. In Bangladesh, the war is remem- Fbered as the Bengali people's struggle against an oppressive Pakistan army. In India and Pakistan, the war is often remembered as the 5 Sunday | 21.03.2021 Opinion, Analysis,Think! Essays

NAUROZ: A Festival Of Life

Kashmir belongs more to Central Asia than to South lovely mother. phers and scientists who have considered Nauroz “The Asia, owing to its glorious ties with the region in terms of first day of creation, when God, in ancient Persians my- geography, culture, traditions, religion and much more. He/She Is Now Called Back To The Kind Embrace Of His thology created the universe”. However the bitter fact is that the rich Central Asian or to Loving Mother With The Magical Spell Of Nauroz. There, They What a beautiful story it is. Even prettier than re- be precise Persian influence in Kashmir is on decline. It is Will Together Joyfully Celebrate This Happy Reunion. ality itself! Doesn’t every human being honestly feel where the significance of Nauroz, an annual celebration The careless child will find out about his/her own that the first day of spring is the first day of creation across Central Asia, has increased manifold in Kashmir. origin in the kind embrace of his/her mother, and the repeated again? Nouruz is the festival of spring celebrated across mother’s face will bloom in finding back her lost child, Central Asia. Nouroz starts at the exact moment of the shed tears of happiness for this happy occasion, cry joy- If God Set A Beginning For Life On Earth, That Day Must Have vernal equinox, commencing the start of the spring. In fully in spring thunders, get young and pretty another Doubtlessly Been The Nauroz Day. Surely, Spring Has Always Kashmir however, the festival has sadly attained sectar- time, and briefly speaking, like the Prophet Yaqub(AS), Been The First Season Of The Year. God Must Not Have Ever Made ian connotation and this has decreased its significance who regained his lost sight after smelling the scent of Summer, Winter Or Fall The First Season Of The Year, Nay! for the general public. Yusuf’s (AS) shirt, will be bestowed a sharp sight to see The fist grass on earth must have surely started Below we reproduce excerpts from an article written her dear child once again. sprouting on the first day of spring, the rivers must have by renowned Iranian scholar, Dr Ali Shariati, underlin- started running then, and the buds blooming which ing the significance of this great festival. -Editor The More Complex Or Heavier Our Artificial, Technical means Nauroz must have always been on the first day Nauroz is a great Civilization Will Become, The More Urgent The Need To of spring, simultaneous with the renewing of creation. auroz is celebrated every year, and talked Reunion With And Return To The Nature’s Embrace. “Soul” must have surely been created in this sea- chance for about each year again. Much has been said Thus, unlike traditions, that get old and incom- son. Love’s first bow must have stricken a heart on its about it, and you have heard a lot in this re- petent, and sometimes even useless as time goes by, first day, and the sun risen for the first time on the very recollection of lots of gard. So is there no point in talking about it Nauroz gets younger, prettier and stronger with the same day, marking the start of the clock of the universe. great memories. Nonce again? passage of time, and that is because Nauroz is a third Of course there is! Do we not renew Nauroz each way for reconciling between the two sides of the long Islam, Which Wiped Off All The Discrimination And Colors Memories of relationship year. So let us also hear about it repeatedly as well. It cultural aware that has been going on since the era of Of Racism And Tribalism, And Changed The Form Of Many is boring and even nonsense to repeat a scientific or a Lao-Tso and Confucius until the recent days of Roseau Traditions, On The Contrary Polished The Beautiful Facade between man and nature, literary text. Wisdom rejects repetition, but sensations and Walter. Of Nauroz. It Approved Of This Glorious Tradition, Let Its which is renewed each welcome it. Nature too, likes repetition, and the societ- Nauroz is not merely a good chance for relaxing Sapling Continue To Grow And Get Stronger… ies need it. and being happy, but a bare need of the society and the The two great events of appointing Ali (AS) as year. This forgetful child Nature is basically made up of repetition. A soci- vitally needed spiritual food for a nation. the Prophet’s spiritual inheritor (Shah-e-Vilayat) and ety is strengthened through repetition, sensations gain What else is capable of brightening up cold hearts, in choosing him as the Calif of the Muslims and Emir of of nature who has got their life from it and Nauroz is a beautiful, repetitious a dark world, based upon ever-ongoing changes, revolu- all the believers (Amirul Mu’menin) have both been on story in which the nature, sensations and the society tions, separation and loss, disintegration and dissolving, Nauroz day and surely what a great coincidence! himself so much engaged are all engaged, yet it never gets old or boring. where the only thing that is stable and never subject to This glorious celebration, which had begun its life in artificial affairs and Nauroz, which has for long centuries been the mas- change is ever-renewing itself and instability? with the ancient soul and love of a nation, was now ter and most gracious of all the national ceremonies What else can make a nation invulnerable in the doubly fortified with the holy spirit of a great religion, pre-scheduled around the world, maintains its young, strong, lively engagements, that he/ existence, because it is not an imposed, an artificial or a political ceremony. . Even prettier than reality itself! Doesn’t she has even totally It is the ceremony of the universe, the happiness What a beautiful story it is day of earth and the birthday of the sun and the skies. every human being honestly feel that the first day of spring is the first day forgotten his own lovely The glorious day when every natural phenomenon evolves, blooms and resolutes filled with the sweet anx- of creation repeated again? mother. iety of many “startings”. The national ceremonies of the other cultures often encourage men and women to leave their workshops, farms, deserts, alleys and streets, gardens and pastures, cruel path of the carriage of time, which destroys any- Islam, as well. and then gather up in rooms under the ceilings, behind thing in its path, breaks and crashes any pillar and de- The main prophesy of Nauroz yet, is to polish the closed doors. molishes any base? stains of sadness and hopelessness off the betrayed They gather in such surroundings as bars, danc- No nation is formed within a night, one genera- hearts.., and blow the soul of jubilance in the corpse of ings, cellars, saloons and houses.. in places that are tion’s era, or even two. A nation can be described as the this land and its people. heated with gas, lit with light bulbs, filled with smoke, continuous string of many generations that time, this And yet that is not all. Nauroz is responsible for made pretty with artificial colors, decorated with pa- pitiless, thoughtless sword of nature, separates their strengthening the ties between the present generation per or plastic flowers and ornaments, scented with physical connections along the course of their history. and all our wise ancestors in the past on the one hand, perfumes or burning herbs… Nauroz, on the contrary, Unfortunately, we cannot have a two-way corre- and strengthen the ties of these all with mother nature grabs the people’s hands kindly and pulls them joyfully spondence with our ancestors those who have formed on the other hand. along with it out of their small surroundings in rooms, the soil of our nation. And we, in these happy moments, light the.. fire of behind closed doors, under ceilings, from among tall The horrendous, deep valley of history is dug. The Nauroz once again, and deep in our conscience, tread buildings and cement pavements in and around towns long, hollow centuries have formed a great impassable the black death-stricken deserts of hollow centuries, into the glorious vast pastures, green areas and the gap between us and them. It is only our traditions that and get ready to celebrate Nauroz along with all the broad, kind embrace of nature, where everyone feels speaking away from the sharp eyes of the cruel time men and women. free and jubilant. executioner, can kindly take our hands and convey us Thus, we proudly proclaim our lively existence as a The kind spring sun warms them and brightens spiritually to the other side of this terrifying valley, happy wise nation, standing tall amid the heavy winds their day, the glory of witnessing renewing of creation thus reconciling between us and our glorious past, our of horrendous incidents which are capable of uprooting and themselves excites them, the wind and the spring ancestors. any strong tree, but not our nation’s. rain beautifully designs new scenes which are already It is in the holy face of these traditions that we can We announce that we are alive and we will contin- background with bloomed buds of various colors and feel their presence by our side today, and Nauroz cel- ue our proud existence on this land till the end of the scented with: ebrations are among the steadiest, most gracious of time, even in this dark century when our enemies, and “Smell of rain, these traditions. particularly the usurper West, are fiercely determined smell of spearmint, It has never been an excuse to be “careless, cheap to make us foreign with our own culture, so that we will smell of soil. and forgetful”, but a pretext to announce the lively de- be their obedient slaves, with no personality of our own And smell of boughs that are wet of gentle spring termination of our nation to be and to continue to be to rely on. rain and shining clean”… and maintain strong ties with a glorious past, which So let us renew our alliance with all our ancestors the time factor and the invaders of different races have and with all the different races of our nation, as well Nauroz is a great chance for recollection of lots of always tried in vain, to wipe off the scene of existence. as with our mythology in this historical intersection of great memories. Memories of relationship between Nauroz has always been so dear. To Zoroastrian time, beliefs and traditions. man and nature, which is renewed each year. This clergies, to sagacious old men in ancient history, to Mus- Let us borrow the precious inheritance of love from forgetful child of nature who has got himself so much lims and to Persian speaking people all over the world. them and promise to be faithful inheritors of it. Let us engaged in artificial affairs and pre-scheduled engage- Everyone has considered Nauroz a beloved one, promise as a nation, never to die. ments, that he/she has even totally forgotten his own and talked about it sympathetically. Even the philoso- Contd. From Front Page Sunday | 21.03.2021 1006 Eight members of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Moreover, he said 28 more departments attitude of the BJP government. Brar of Punjab, Umeshwar Jha of Uttar MeT Issues Assembly had also been infected with the of District Hospitals and GMCs have been as- “On the one hand BJP govt is adamant over Pradesh, Lekh Raj of Himachal Pradesh, and watched), amber –government agencies coronavirus. sessed by the NBE and their accreditation is not to reverse the price hike and on the other Vinod Kumar Raina and Rajesh Peshin of need to be prepared for severe weather and awaited. hand it is appealing people to vote for it, now Jammu, for illegally receiving cash deposits red –action needed by the agencies. Centre Asks J&K For meeting the Indian Public Health It is the sole responsibility of the voters to from the public as a non-banking financial Meanwhile, barring famous tourist resort for COVID-19 Management, which have to Standards (IPHS) norms in DNB districts, NHM respond to BJP’s terror tax and price hike on company (NBFC). of Pahalgam in South Kashmir’, mercury re- be strictly followed throughout the country, J&K has got additional sanction of staff nurses everything especially petrol, diesel and essen- On receipt of the complaint, a preliminary in- mained above normal in the Kashmir Valley. the letter reads. for DNB institutions and currently 42 addition- tials,” Mir said. quiry was conducted by Crime Branch, Jammu A meteorological department official said “After the steady decline in COVID-19 cases al nurses have also been provided to each dis- in which it was found that the company was that Srinagar recorded a low of 6.0 degree for about 5 months, for the last few weeks, trict hospital implementing DNB programme, After Go Air, registered with the Registrar of Companies, Celsius against 5.8 degree Celsius on the pre- the number of COVID cases are showing an in- the spokesman said. which the airlines seek the approval from NCT-Delhi and Haryana at New Delhi, and its vious night. The minimum temperature was creasing trend in several parts of the country. It He said additional beds along with the ac- the DGCA. objective was to raise infrastructure. 1.3 degree Celsius above normal for this time has been observed that it is largely due to laxity cessories and monitors have been provided to “DGCA is going to revive the report and all It, however, had no authority to collect de- of the year in the summer capital of J&K, the in the observance of COVID appropriate behav- these hospitals by NHM. the deliberations are to be made by DGCA if posits from public as the company was regis- official said. iour by the people, especially in the crowded The Centre has also approved establish- there is any intervention required. With that, tered with the RBI as an ‘A’ category NBFC and Qazigund recorded a low of 4.4 degree places,” Bhalla underlined in the letter. ment of eight-bedded Hybrid ICU in each DNB the flight period is going to extend which will was authorised to collect deposits only within Celsius against 5.7 degree Celsius on the pre- Keeping in view the fresh surge of cases and district hospital, the spokesman said. He said also result in increase in flight movements at the state of Punjab, the spokesperson said. vious night while mercury settled at minus upcoming festivals, it will be important to en- these measures are expected to drastically im- Srinagar Airport”, he said. During investigation, computers of the com- 0.2 degree Celsius against 0.7 degree Celsius sure compliance of the guidelines and to strict- prove the health care services in the far-flung Earlier, after getting the approval from pany were seized and other material evidences on the earlier night at Pahalgam. It was minus ly enforce COVID appropriate behaviour, such districts and would improve the services in the the DGCA for trail night flights from Srinagar -- oral, documentary and circumstantial -- 0.3 degree Celsius below normal at the famous as wearing of face masks, hand hygiene and tertiary care institutions as well. Airport, the safety teams of Go Air and Indigo were collected which proved that the accused resort. social distancing among people, he said. “This is also expected to markedly bring Airlines had arrived in the valley to check out have committed criminal breach of trust, he Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded “I would, therefore, urge you to take neces- down the referral from the far flung districts the feasibility while operating the night flights added. (PTI) a low of 4.3 degree Celsius against previous sary measures for creating awareness among to the already overburdened tertiary care in- from Srinagar Airport after which the report night’s 6.0 degree Celsius, the official said. people to follow COVID appropriate behaviour stitutes of the Union Territory, the spokesman is also to be submitted to DGCA and approval SMC Shifts Four The minimum temperature settled at 2.8 and simultaneously take necessary action for said. from the DGCA is also expected to come in next I/C Enforcement officer West shall be degree Celsius in Kupwara against 6.6 degree its strict enforcement, so as to fully overcome week for summer Schedule flight operations at deemed to have been relieved from their pres- Celsius on the previous night, the official said. the pandemic,” he said, adding, Further, neces- Charges Filed Srinagar Airport. ent place of postings and will look after as I/C Gulmarg recorded minimum temperature sary orders/guidelines, issued by the respec- were conducted from the institutes which Commissioner Secretary Tourism Sarmad Zonal Sanitation Officers of respective areas, of 0.5 degree Celsius against minus 0.0 degree tive Slate Governments/UT Administration in did not exist in the states mentioned in the Hafeez said this is a positive Development as reports said. Celsius on the previous night, the official said. this regard, should be widely disseminated to application forms. A case (FIR No. 04/2020) far as the air connectivity between the valley The temperature at the world famous skiing the public and to the field functionaries for U/S 420, 468,120-B, 201 RPC and 66 (D) IT Act and rest of the country is concerned. ‘Lured resort which received nearly 3ft fresh snowfall implementation.” stands registered against him, he said. Pertinent to mention the flight operations authorities,” said Bhat. “It was later found out last week is minus 2.3 degree Celsius normal According to the official, the accused in con- at Srinagar Airport were only day bound, and that the girl was suffering from tuberculosis.” for this time of the year, the official said. (With 140 New Covid nivance with others have shown the fake ben- with the successful trial night flights from As per the records of Save the Children, a agency inputs) there were 29 travellers who had tested pos- eficiaries to be the residents of district Kulgam Srinagar Airport by Go Air and Indigo Airlines, majority of minors are trafficked to Kashmir itive in the past 24 hours. and got deceitfully verified by the district so- the Summer Flight Schedule is expected to from Jharkhand. However, according to a study Imran Khan Tests While 11 districts did not report any fresh cial welfare officer Kulgam and managed to come by next week. by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in positive for Covid-19 and is self isolating at cases, five other districts had cases in single transfer the amount of RS. 1.34 crores from 2019, most incidents of children missing are home, Sultan said in a tweet. digits. The number of active cases was 1,191, the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government New Power reported from Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Khan’s spokesman Dr Shehbaz Gill said that while 1,25,218 patients have recovered so far, of India into the Bank accounts of 463 fake possibly the power scheduled will be altered Delhi and Bihar. the prime minister has just a slight fever and the officials said. beneficiaries of District Malda, West Bengal by the end of the ongoing month, saying that The common causes of trafficking were cough. The death toll rose to 1,980 after one fresh maintained in various branches of State Bank the schedule would have been changed in case forced marriages, child labour, domestic help The report of Khan contracting the coronavi- death was reported from Kashmir division in of India, Bank of Baroda, United Bank of India the people could have cooperated with the and sexual exploitation, among others, men- rus came on a day the country reported 3,876 the union territory in the past 24 hours, they (Now PNB), Allahabad Bank, IDFC Bank and department. tioned the study. cases in the past 24 hours, the highest number added. (PTI) Bangiya Vikas Gramin Bank. “We are supplying the electricity at par with As per the data of 2011 Census, India had since July last year. On July 2 last year, 4,432 the demand,” he said. 10.13 million child labourers, between the age cases were reported. Delhi Court Road To Peace Asked about the upcoming summer months, of 5-14, with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Pakistan started its COVID-19 vaccination warrant for Shabir Shah who is currently political and democratic demands of people the Chief Engineer KPDCL stated that the sea- Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh being the drive in February after the first arrival of China- lodged in Tihar Jail in the matter. of Jammu and Kashmir. son would be free of curtailment, adding that most affected states. gifted vaccine doses, with frontline health Advocate Naveen Kumar Matta, represent- “Recent statement of Pakistan army chief the electricity may get affected only when Kashmir receives many minors through workers given the priority for inoculation, ing ED had submitted that Dr. Bilquies Shah calling for burying the hatchet and moving there is any bottleneck. consultancy firms who are employed as house while on March 10, the country started vac- along with Shabir Ahmad Shah had received the Indo-Pak relationship forward is a positive workers. cination for the general public, starting with an amount of Rs. 2.08 Crore from Mohd. Aslam development. But we must be reminded that Pak Made Rifles A majority of such helpers are employed in people aged 60 and above, Geo News reported. Wani (co-accused, currently on bail). aiming for low hanging fruit like movement of somewhere in Pakistan or Afghanistan,” he Srinagar, said Farooq Ahmad, a Srinagar CWC Issuing a clarification on Khan’s vaccina- ED stated that, Mohd. Aslam Wani in his goods and people through Wagah border or giv- claimed. member. Minor girls exceed boys in the city, he tion, the Ministry of National Health Services, statements recorded under Section 50 of PMLA, ing India a passage to Central Asia via Pakistan Singh said drugs are being smuggled in from added, and their number is only increasing. Regulations and Coordination said that anti- 2002 had admitted that all the amounts were and Afghanistan while putting Kashmir issue Pakistan using drones and other means. Recently, Farooq came across two-three mi- bodies develop two to three weeks after the in cash and were handed over to Shabir Ahmad at the back burner is akin to missing wood for “If I say the gift of narcotics substance is com- nors who were brought to the valley through 2nd dose of the 2-dose COVID-19 vaccines. Shah and on three occasions to Dr. Bilquies the trees,” Mehbooba said. ing from there (Pakistan), it will become clear consultancy agencies. One of them was a mi- Prime Minister Imran Khan was not fully vac- Shah. She received the said amount know- “If they are really sincere and mean business to you -- be it the Kashmir border, Rajouri- nor girl from West Bengal whose mother had cinated when he contracted the virus. He only ing fully well that her husband had no known they must know that the process of reconcili- Poonch or Jammu Kathua Samba border. For died and her father, a drunkard, sold her to the got the 1st dose and merely 2 days ago which sources of income and this money could not ation has to begin with Kashmir. While state- some time now, narcotics are being dropped agency which brought her to Kashmir, Farooq is too soon for ANY vaccine to become effec- have been obtained through illicit means. ments back and forth indicate a movement using the drones. told Kashmir Observer. tive. Anti-bodies develop 2-3 weeks after the Chargesheet stated that it clearly implies forward but people of Jammu and Kashmir The quantity of narcotics that has been Due to the pandemic, the minor girl was kept 2nd dose of COVID vaccines, it said on Twitter. that Dr. Bilquies Shah was an active accomplice continue to be shrouded in the veil of darkness seized is unprecedented. We are making our at a shelter in Srinagar for some time, before On Sunday, he was scheduled to interact of Shabir Ahmad Shah in his illicit criminal without any reprieve in sight,” she added. best efforts to counter this menace in an organ- sent to the West Bengal CWC. with the public via telephone calls. However, activities. She did not file Income Tax Returns Addressing the convention senior party ised manner,” he said. However, the condition in other districts Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senator Dr Faisal during the period preceding the year 2013 as leader Dr Mehboob Beg lauded the steadfast- Singh said a new wing -- anti narcotics task of Kashmir is relatively better. According Javed said that a new time and date will be an- she had no other income except meagre in- ness and resolve of party president Mehbooba force -- has been set up in the Crime Branch to to Fahmeeda Maqbool, Chairperson CWC nounced soon. come from private practice, besides her salary Mufti for her constant advocacy of resolution deal with the drug menace. Ganderbal, the number of cases of non-Kash- “Due to PM Imran testing positive for to declare. of Kashmir issue despite the full frontal assault On the infiltration of militants from Pakistan, miri minor helpers is quite less in her district. Covid-19, a new date for live interaction with ED stated that Shabir Ahmad Shah is the on the party and its leadership. the DGP said he would like to believe that it On being asked how the CWC handles such the public will be announced soon. Lots of main accused and is the conspirator who had “Our leaders are languishing in jails, party will remain low during this year as well. cases, Maqbool said that at first the date of prayers for everyone and PM Imran, he said in devised the whole scheme of money laun- president is constantly in the eye of the storm “I can’t say whether it will rise with changing birth is checked and if it does not comply with a tweet. dering so as to obtain illicit funds from out- but PDP as an institution refuses to buckle un- weather because the security grid is working the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Javed added that Khan was experiencing side India to further the nefarious designs of der pressure and continues to be the people’s effectively. But I believe that it will stay low as Act 1986, the child is taken under the care of “mild symptoms” and will continue to work causing unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. Shabir movement as envisaged by party founder there is a complete stop on ceasefire violations CWC, and strict action is taken against the from home over video conferencing. Ahmad Shah was in regular touch with Hafeez Mufti Mohammed Sayeed,” Beg said. since the dialogue was resumed. We don’t have offender. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his Sayeed, a global terrorist, head of Jamat-ud- any information about infiltration. If there are The Child Labour (Prohibition and best wishes to his Pakistani counterpart for a Dawa, an organization banned under UNSC ‘Restlessness’ Among such attempts, we are geared up to deal with Regulation) Act 1986 prohibits employing chil- speedy recovery from COVID-19. resolution no. 1267 Shabir Ahmad Shah was in Jammu and Kashmir Rajni Patil on Saturday it,” he added. dren below 14 and 15 years, but there is no Modi tweeted his wishes to Khan, “Best regular touch with Mohd. Shafi Shayar, based said developmental process in the Jammu and About the list of militants active in Srinagar procedure laid down in any law for deciding in wishes to Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI for a in Pakistan, whose Pakistani phone number Kashmir has received a major setback. and the reasons for that, the DGP said that which employment children are banned. speedy recovery from COVID-19.” was provided by him to Mohd. Aslam Wani Patil was reviewing the current situation, some youth have joined militancy in Srinagar The Act was first amended in 2016, and then Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar said for collecting the crime money in Delhi on his besides organizational affairs and activities in and that is because of the fact that “radicaliza- again in 2017. The current Act prohibits the em- that the vaccine develops more than 80 per behalf. Pulwama and Srinagar Districts during her five tion is taking place by the elements who are ployment of children below the age of 14, but cent immunity two weeks after the second Shabir Shah, in his defence earlier stated that day’s tour in J&K, according to a statement is- not happy with the peace.” they can work in family business/enterprises, injection. there is no evidence of any nature connecting sued here. “Situation is not alarming. We have an eco- only if they are non-hazardous. Furthermore, no cabinet minister, including the Shabir Shah with Aslam Wani. JKPCC President G.A. Mir and other senior system where we deal with such issues. As far Advocate Shah Faisal, J&K director of Human the Prime-Minister, nor any of their relatives He is a respectable person and is a known leaders held interaction with party workers as other districts, we will have to put our heads Right Law Network (HRLN), told Kashmir jumped the queue or violated the priority or- political leader. He is a chairman of the and also reviewed the party activities in both together where religious leaders, social activ- Observer that he comes across numerous cases of der to receive the vaccine, he said. Democratic Freedom Party and allegations lev- the districts. ists have to play a role to ensure youth are kept minors being held by people without their will. Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar elled against him are motivated and based on Rajni Patil interacted with party cadres in away from the gun,” he said. “There was this case of a child from West said that the recent spike in COVID-19 cases falsehood, he added. (AGENCY) Pulwama District, then visited Srinagar Party He said last year, three dozen youth, who Bengal who wanted to go back home but the and positivity rate is alarming and we all need Office and urged workers to gear up for the had joined militancy were brought back while household where he was working didn’t let to be extra careful and strictly follow safety GMCs To Start challenges ahead, besides putting a united 12 youth surrendered at live encounters. him leave,” Faisal said. protocols!! seats have been granted by the NBE to GMC- fight against the anti-people and wrong poli- Asked whether there is a policy for those “After I filed a complaint against the family Supporters and ministers of Khan, a for- Doda in the department of Anesthesia, GMC- cies of the government, “which is responsible who lay down their arms, he said: “Those who to the Chief Magistrate, the child was brought mer captain of the Pakistani cricket team, Kathua has been granted two seats in the de- for the economic losses, restlessness among surrender will get all the dividends of good immediately and proper action was taken started sending messages of goodwill soon partment of Community Medicine and two the people in J&K.” life,” he said. against the family.” after the news of his diagnosis was shared seats in Pediatrics, while two seats have been She said the developmental scenario in J&K On the missing army jawan Shakir Manzoor Another case which the advocate recalled is with #ImranKhan becoming the top trend on granted to GMC-Anantnag in the department got set back, unemployment has risen consid- from Shopian district, Singh said “We don’t of a 15-year-old Rohingya girl who was sold in Twitter. of Dermatology, and provisional accreditation erably; people have suffered huge economic know where he has been killed and buried. We Delhi at Rs 70,000 to a Kashmiri, who married Minister for Science Fawad Chaudhry said has been granted to GMC-Rajouri in the de- losses. are trying to trace his whereabouts. When we her soon after arriving in the valley. that the people of Pakistan are praying for their partment of Orthopedics. “Unfortunately the rising trend of people’s get to know something we will share it with his The girl’s uncle contacted Faisal and a writ leader. “May God return him to good health Additionally, GMC-Jammu has also grievances have even failed to invite the atten- family.” petition was filed to rescue her. soon.” been granted accreditation in Hospital tion of the government which is a big source of According to the advocate, the consultancy Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi Administration and Psychiatry departments, disappointment and anguish among the peo- CBI Raids Petrol agencies which bring minors to Kashmir vio- said that the premier will recover soon and be the spokesman said. ple, who have realized that their voices are not They said, the raid was conducted follow- late many norms. They provide a fake list, filled back to work “in a flash”. He said the GMC-Srinagar has been grant- being heard by the BJP government rather they ing complainants that these petrol pumps are with fake numbers of parents of the minors, Khan had been active until Friday when he ed accreditation in DrNB Neuro-Surgery and are being suppressed aiming to cover up the cheating customers on quantity. Faisal said. “While most of the agencies claim visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and inaugurated a SKIMS Srinagar in Anatomy and Physiology de- wrong doings on the part of BJP Govt,” she said, The petrol station at Markundal belongs that the child does not have a birth certificate, highway and an academic block of a university. partments and two seats have been approved adding, “Mere making tall claims and prom- to Abdul Hamid and another at Pushwari they consider them above 18.” He urged the citizens to ensure the full im- in each of these accredited departments. ising sky won’t change the reality, the fact of Naidkhai belongs to Khursheed Ahmad. (KDC) Even the families hiring minor helpers jus- plementation of norms to prevent the surge in The DNB courses have been introduced in the matter is that BJP government has utterly tify themselves by saying that without their as- cases of coronavirus. the district hospitals and new GMCs besides failed to address people’s problems, It is an es- Canines Injure sistance the child would starve, he said. Pakistan officials last week said that the old GMCs and SKIMS in order to strengthen the tablished fact, that government has not come locals managed to evacuate the child to “But money paid by the families is not paid country was hit by the third wave of the institutions, decongest the GMCs and to ad- up with any programme or policy with regard Emergency hospital Qazigund where from doc- to the minor but to their agents,” asserted the pandemic. dress the shortage of specialists in the Union to development, curbing unemployment and tors referred him to GMC Anantnag—(KNO) advocate. “This is totally an inhuman act which According to the Johns Hopkins University’s Territory, the spokesman said. resolution of other issues concerning people in should be tackled strongly.” coronavirus tracker, Pakistan has so far report- In March 2020, the District Hospital Gandhi J&K”. Man Killed In ed 623,135 cases and 13,799 deaths. Nagar Jammu became the first hospital in Union On this occasion AICC in-charge send a clear Rasheed with serious inju- In July last year, Foreign Minister Shah Territory to get six seats for DNB courses in the signal to party workers and leaders across J&K ries was immediately evacuat- Mahmood Qureshi was treated for the department of Medicine and Anesthesiology. to get united to strengthen the party further at ed to a medical health facility. coronavirus. A total of 42 seats were granted to the insti- grass root level, as that, the Congress Party is PHC Mattan while confirm- Last year, several Pakistani lawmakers tutions of Jammu and Kashmir and 21 candi- committed to safeguard the rights of the peo- ing the incident to local news contracted the coronavirus, with promi- dates have already joined the various accred- ple, won’t compromises on its stated position agency GNS said that they had nent among them being Muttahida Qaumi ited streams, he said. of working and serving people to the best of its received a person injured in Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) leader and Under the dynamic leadership and con- ability, which is the party’s legacy. the incident and was later Federal Minister for Information Technology certed efforts of the Financial Commissioner, Speaking on the occasion, JKPCC President on referred for advancement and Telecommunications Syed Aminul Haq, Health and Medical Education Department, laid emphasis over highlighting the issues con- treatment. Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Atal Duloo and Mission Director, NHM, J&K, cerning people especially economic crisis and spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, Railways Choudhary Mohammed Yasin, eight district other important issues like rising unemploy- Charges Filed Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed. hospitals and all GMCs and SKIMS had applied ment and huge losses caused to JK’s economy functioning of ‘Kim Future Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan for DNB courses to the NBE. after revoking special status of J&K, as that, Vision Services Limited/Kim Abbasi, PTI Member of the National Assembly “A total 129 applications were submitted people have witnessed only restrictions, com- Infrastructure and Developers (MNA) Jai Prakash, Minister of State for by the institutions, out of which 23 applica- munication gag, besides the Covid 19 made the Limited’ located near Ghumat Narcotics Shehryar Afridi and PTI’s chief whip tions of old GMCs/SKIMS, five applications of situation more complex for the people, irony here, a spokesperson of the in the National Assembly Aamir Dogar had also new GMCs and two applications of District is that Centre government is ignoring every Crime Branch said. been diagnosed with COVID-19 last year. Hospitals have been approved by NBE and a to- genuine issue in order to hide its failures on all He said the charge sheet In June, MNA Munir Khan Orakzai died, days tal of 58 seats have been granted to the accred- fronts. was filed against Ravinder after recovering from the coronavirus. ited departments consequent to the concerted Mir also hit out at the Centre for unprec- Singh Sidhu and Kanchan National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser was efforts and hard work of teams of the institu- edented price hike on petroleum products Kumar Dutta of New Delhi, also infected but recovered. tions,” the spokesman said. and essentials and expressed surprise over the Palvinder Singh and Sukhpal STATE Sunday | 21.03.2021 07 ‘Vaccination Is Kashmir Sikh Body Couple Arrested For Safe, Important To Demands Fresh Probe Into Duping Man Of Rs 50 Eliminate Virus’ Lakh In Jammu Observer News Service safety and good health. They termed rumours associated with the vac- Chattisinghpora Massacre Observer News Service SRINAGAR: The Divisional Admin- cine as baseless and appealed to istration Kashmir Saturday held people to get themselves vaccinated Observer News Service JAMMU: Crime Branch officials a vaccination drive for various without any doubt. They said the on Friday said that a couple was Ulemas and Muftis, who were ad- vaccine is safe and important to SRINAGAR: All Party Sikh Coordi- arrested for allegedly cheating ministered vaccine shots against eliminate the virus from Kashmir. nation Committee (APSCC) Satur- a man and duping him of Rs 50 Covid-19 at SKIMS Soura, here. Scholars further urged people day, on the eve of the Chattisingh- lakh under the garb of getting a Among others, Director, SKIMS to follow the covid SOPs religious- pora massacre anniversary, urged franchise for opening a medical Soura, Dr A.G Ahangar, CEO Mus- ly and not to lower the guard even the government to conduct a fresh laboratory in Jammu. lim Waqf Board, Mufti Farid-ud- if the situation has improved. probe in the killings so that cul- According to the sources the din, In-charge Divisional Covid Director SKIMS Soura, A. G Ah- prits are nabbed and justice is pro- crime branch Jammu arrested Control Room, Kashmir, Tahir Ah- angar while speaking on the oc- vided to the families of the victims. Harmohinder Singh, COO (Chief mad Magray, State Surveillance casion deliberated on the impor- In a statement, the chairman Operating Officer) SERA CUE Labs Officer, Dr Talat Jabeen were also tance of vaccination and said that of APSCC Jagmohan Singh Raina Pvt Ltd and his wife Gurpreet Kour ing the lab under SERA brand at present on the occasion. On the though the Covid-19 has taken urged the government to go for a in the duping case of Rs 50 lakh. Jammu, the officials added. occasion, around a dozen imams ugly shape in most of the parts of fresh probe into the incident and While divulging the details “The accused couple further and muftis from various Waqf the world, however, with the dedi- allow the Justice Pandan Com- about the case, Crime Branch said told the complainant that an Board associated Shrines and Ma- cation of all frontline workers the mission to further investigate the five have been caught and killed hard evidence that they were in- that the accused were not coop- amount of Rs 50 lakh has to be paid sajids were administered jabs and virus has been controlled to spread incident as Brackpura and Chattis- which later proved wrong. volved — leaving many in Kashmir erating in the investigation of the for appointing the complainant as put under observation by a team further in the valley. inghPora cases are interlinked. “The killed persons which the to question whether the security case and constantly evaded arrest franchise and opening medical of doctors and para-medical staff. He said that today's vaccina- Raina in the statement said that police claimed to be ‘militants’ officials in the troubled region re- by changing their locations for laboratory under SERA Brand and Speaking on the occasion, schol- tion drive has been held under even after the passing of 21 years were actually innocent residents ally knew who killed the men of the last two years. an amount of Rs 35 lakh would be ars expressed their gratitude to the the directions of Divisional Com- the people of Jammu and Kashmir of Brakpora proved by judicial in- Chattisinghpora.” In a statement, Crime Branch paid as franchise fee, which would Divisional Administration for vac- missioner Kashmir, Pandurang K especially the Sikhs of the valley quiry of Justice Pandan Commis- “So far the Committee made said that during the investigation, be non-refundable and Rs 15 lakh cination and urged people to come Pole where various scholars have are waiting for justice and urged sion,” the statement added. by the Government to find out it has been found that they were security deposit, which would be forward to get vaccinated for their been administered vaccine shots. the state and central governments “Also their bodies were burnt the culprits, has failed to solve involved in duping and cheating refundable” they said. to nab the culprits. and hastily buried in a nearby vil- the mystery of killings of Sikhs in many people on the same pre- The statement further men- He said that the Indian Govern- lage. The drama created by the of- Kashmir. Now we urge the UT and text for which six criminal cases tioned that an agreement was ment has blamed the militants for ficials was fake and melodramatic the Central government to go for a stand registered against them in executed between the company Body Of 35-Year-Old the massacre and also has claimed that on their behalf they said that fresh probe in the killings of Sikhs. different states, including Crime through them and the complain- to have killed at least five of the the militants were caught in a If they fail to do so then, we will Branch Jammu, Gurgaon, Mohali, ant, which has been duly regis- Found In Poonch men who carried out the brutal burning house during a gun battle consider it as a huge injustice with Jalandhar Punjab, Alwar Rajast- tered by sub-registrar Jammu. massacre. “But so far India is yet to and their bodies were charred be- the Sikhs of Kashmir.” han and Vikaspuri Delhi. That in pursuance of the said Observer News Service recovered the body. present hard evidence backing up yond recognition,” the statement After the massacre, the then CM They said that a written com- agreement, the complainant has After preliminary investiga- its claims,” the Committee said in said. — Dr Farooq Abdullah publicly as- plaint was lodged by the victim, paid an amount of Rs 50 lakh on POONCH: Body of a 35-year- tion, they said, the person was the statement. APSCC questioned whether the sured that the culprits will be soon Naman Singh, alleging therein different dates. old man was Saturday found in identified as Basharat Khan, a The statement said that accord- men killed on that day were actu- arrested as they had some clue and that the accused couple visited They were produced before Surankote area of Poonch district. driver by profession, son of Lal ing to the police, nearly 20 mili- ally involved in the Chattisingh- assured all assistance. “But till date the house of the complainant the court of law and their police Officials said that the lo- Khan of Drogian sector Buffliaz. tants carried out the massacre at Pora killings or not. “So far the the promises made by the former and persuaded and allured him remand has been sought for fur- cals of Draba Qureshi Mohalla The body has been shifted to Chattisinghpora and so far only police have failed to produce any CM have proven a hoax.” for getting a franchise for open- ther investigation. (CNS) spotted the body on the road SDH Surankote for post-mortem. during the intervening night of SHO Surankote Mohammad March 19 and 20. Rashid said Police has filed an They informed police sta- FIR under the relevant sections DC Shopian Assures Four Booked For Allegedly Raping Woman In Rajouri tion Surankote. Later a police of the law and further Investi- party rushed to the spot and gations are going on. (CNS) Action Against Observer News Service village of Sunderbani Tehsil of Rajouri her repeatedly. district and went missing in October On the basis of investigation and vic- RAJOURI: Jammu and Kashmir Police on last year after which a missing report tim's statement, a case under FIR num- Erring Doctor Saturday booked four men hailing from was lodged. ber 27/2021 under sections 366, 376-D, J&K BJP Asks People To Observer News Service Kangan area of Kashmir's Ganderbal dis- Officials said that a few days ago, the 342, 34 IPC was registered in Sunderbani trict for allegedly kidnapping and raping a woman informed police and her family police station and further investigation Follow COVID-19 Protocol SHOPIAN: The District Development Commissioner woman. members that four men from Kangan area is underway to ascertain the facts of the (DDC) Shopian, Sachin Kumar Vaishya Saturday paid a The victim is a resident of Barnara of Ganderbal kidnapped her and raped case. (CNS) Observer News Service adhering to various protective visit to District Hospital Shopian where he interacted measures that were mandated for with the parents of an infant who was administered JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir every citizen. expired injections. He assured them of stringent action unit of the BJP on Saturday expressed "The BJP appeals to the people under rules against the erring doctor after an enquiry concern over the spike in coronavi- to remain vigilant and strictly ad- report is submitted by the Chief Medical Officer Shopian. rus cases in the union territory and here to the COVID-appropriate be- It was reported on Friday that Bazila Iqbal Katari, appealed to the people to religiously haviour in view of a large number daughter of Muhammad Iqbal Katari, a resident of Dev- follow COVID-19 protocol to avoid of fresh cases being reported from pora was being administered expired injections for the resurgence of the viral disease. many states including our neigh- last 4 days in District Hospital Shopian and demanded BJP spokesperson Brigadier bour Punjab... there has also been immediate action against the negligent doctor. The (retd) Anil Gupta said the vacci- a sudden spike in our Union Terri- CMO Shopian was immediately directed to conduct in- nation drive in progress, people tory as well during this week," he depth inquiry in the matter and submit factual reports have become careless and stopped said in a statement here. so that action is initiated against the erring doctor.

Sundar Pichai vs Satya Nadella: Google, Microsoft SPORTS Sunday | 21.03.2021 08 New Zealand Defeat Bangladesh 3 Shooters, Including 2 From By 8 Wickets In 1st ODI With Only Pride At Stake, Indian Pistol Team, Test Positive Agencies ter 10 overs and posted their 50, with For COVID-19 At ISSF World Cup three wickets down, in the 16th over. Real Kashmir Take On DUNEDIN: New Zealand needed Thanks to Guptill, New Zea- Press Trust of India In all, four shooters have al- just over 21 overs Saturday to over- land’s 50 came without a wicket ready been afflicted by the dread- take Bangladesh’s total of 131 and down and in only five overs, and it NEW DELHI: Three shooters, in- ed virus since the teams started win the first of three one-day crick- reached 100 in the 16th over. Punjab In I-League Today cluding two from the Indian pistol arriving for the tournament, et internationals by eight wickets. Bangladesh had lost all 28 of men's team, have tested positive for which started on Friday at the Dr Bangladesh, recently out of its previous ODIs against New COVID-19, National Rifle Associa- Karni Singh Shooting Range. managed isolation, were never Zealand in New Zealand, mainly tion of India (NRAI) sources said on Countries have been allowed to comfortable in unfamiliar bat- because of the discomfort of its the second competition day of the field their MQS (Minimum Qualifi- ting conditions at the Univer- batsmen in conditions which fa- ISSF World Cup here on Saturday. cation Score) shooters in place of the sity Oval and were bowled out by vor the bowlers and the problems The shooters are currently ones ruled out from the main teams New Zealand in only 41.5 overs. its bowlers have had in adapting self-isolating in their team ho- owing to contracting the virus. Mahmudullah’s 27 from 54 balls to those conditions. tel. Those who were sharing the The roommates of the three was its highest score. The tourists felt they had a chance rooms with the three shooters shooters will be allowed to take After Martin Guptill crashed 38 to break that losing streak on Satur- as well as their other teammates part in the tournament as their test runs from 19 balls with three fours day because New Zealand was with- have also been isolated after un- results have returned negative. The and four sixes at the top of the order, out senior batsmen Kane Williamson dergoing COVID tests. name of the shooters have been New Zealand was always on target and Ross Taylor and leading bowler The results of the roommates withheld in line with protocols. to win plenty of overs to spare. Tim Southee. Tom Latham captained and other team members, though, On Thursday, a top interna- Henry Nicholls made an un- New Zealand in his 100th ODI. have returned negative. tional shooter returned positive beaten 49 in his 50th ODI to steer Bangladesh in turn was without A source said two among the for COVID-19, following which he New Zealand to victory in the the fulcrum of its batting lineup. three shooters are from the Indian was sent to a hospital. 22nd over, combining in a 65-run Shakib Al Hasan was left at home contingent. The shooter was first tested partnership for the second wicket on paternity leave, but coming "The shooters have been sent at the airport and then again on with Devon Conway (27). into this series in form after a 3-0 into isolation as per protocols. Thursday. He is asymptomatic New Zealand won the toss and home series victory over the West Testing is being done on a daily and the shooter has never visited sent in Bangladesh in cool and over- Indies, the tourists felt confident. basis and that's their results have the range. cast conditions. When Trent Boult Apart from Mahmudullah, come to light," a source close to A total of 294 shooters from as produced a late out-swinger with Mushfiqur Rahim made 23 from 49 the federation told PTI. many as 53 countries, including Ko- the first ball of the match which balls and Liton Das made 19 from "Everything is being done as rea, Singapore, USA, United King- surprised and beat Bangladesh cap- 36. Boult struck at both ends of the per the protocols laid down by dom, Iran, Ukraine, France, Hun- tain Tamim Iqbal, it was clear the innings, removing Tamim (13) and coach Jonathan Craig said, "A lot their last match saw them lose 0-1 the International Shooting Sport gary, Italy, Thailand and Turkey, are tourists were in for a tough day. Soumya Sarkar (0) within three Press Trust of India has happened over the past few to TRAU and Punjab will have to Federation (ISSF) and in consulta- participating in the tournament. “It was nice to get over the line balls in the fifth over, then taking a weeks and with a bit more luck find the missing pieces in the jig- tion with its technical director," As per the ISSF guidelines, no and start the series with a win,” catch to dismiss Das. He returned to KALYANI: Real Kashmir and Pun- we would have been way higher saw if they are to take all the three another NRAI source said. spectator is allowed inside the Boult said. capture the last two wickets to fall. jab FC will play for pride when on the table. It has been a combi- points against the Snow Leopards. "The better news is that the results range for the tournament that car- “We kept them to a decent total Jimmy Neesham dismissed Das they face each other in an I- nation of a lot of injuries and tired "I think we have made a state- of the roommates and teammates ries ranking points aiding in Tokyo and it was nice to chase it down with and Mushfiqur, then had a hand League phase two match at the bodies. ment in our first season, we have have returned negative," he added. Olympic qualifications. only a couple of wickets down.” (literally) in dismissing Mohammad Kalyani Municipal Stadium here "We will be asking the same shown that we can be competitive Swing was short-lived but Ban- Mithun, by deflecting Mahmudul- on Sunday. work ethic, fire, desire, and pas- in the I-League which we are very gladesh struggled to score freely lah’s straight drive onto the stumps Real Kashmir started the sea- sion from the players for the next happy with. When we look back on a pitch which was slow and at the non-striker’s end after Mithun son with a flurry of great results match. We want to finish the on the games, we could have won PV Sindhu Falters At All holding and against a New Zea- had left his ground. Mahedi Hasan, and were unbeaten in the initial game with three points tomorrow the championship," head coach land attack which produced con- on debut, hit a six for his first runs nine games but they haven't man- so the work ethic is going to be Curtis Fleming said. England Badminton Semifinals taining lines and lengths. in ODIs and looked determined to aged to deliver the desired results very very important." "This is not about just the one final match to make it to the last Bowling into the batsmen and lift the scoring rate but he fell to left- when the stakes were high. Punjab FC have played some season. It is about what we want Press Trust of India eight stage. pitching short of a length, the arm spinner Mitchell Santner for 14. As a result, they are out of the quality football in the season but to achieve in the long run. I think Sindhu had battled for an hour New Zealand bowlers — especially “There were a lot of soft dismiss- title race. The Snow Leopards now lately, results haven''t gone their till the last minute of this season BIRMINGHAM: Reigning world and 16 minutes to eke out her first Boult who took 4-27 — cut down als,” Bangladesh captain Tamim said. find themselves in the sixth spot way. They haven't been able to everyone has to give everything champion P V Sindhu suffered yet win over world number five Ya- scoring options both square of the “No doubt they bowled extremely with 18 points from 13 games. produce what it takes to get the for us and prepare for next season. another semifinal defeat at the pres- maguchi in last four meetings. wicket and down the ground. well but we played some loose shots Speaking at the pre-match job done. I have no doubts that we are going tigious All England Championships "I am playing against her after Bangladesh struggled to 33-2 af- and we have ourselves to blame.” press conference, goalkeeping A lacklustre performance in to be stronger next season." as she went down tamely in straight quite a long time. I'm sure she games to Pornpawee Chochuwong would have trained very hard. of Thailand in the women's singles The match was a good, tough long in Birmingham on Saturday. match I would say," she had said. Cristiano Ronaldo Named Italian BCCI Releases IPL SOP: Bubble Tansfer For Indian Sindhu, the Olympic silver Sindhu, who had reached the medallist, couldn't match the finals at Swiss Open, played an ag- League Player Of The Year Again And English Players, No Vaccination As Of Now pace, power and precision of her gressive game, matching Yamagu- Agencies sion—those are all the secrets that Press Trust of India are coming from bubble created However, if the CMO is not younger world number 11 rival chi with her speed and retrieving allow me to keep playing. I feel mo- for India vs England series may satisfied, then all those play- Chochowong and lost 17-21 9-21 skills but unforced errors allowed MILAN: Cristiano Ronaldo was tivated and you have to be every NEW DELHI: The cricketers who directly join the franchise squad ers need to undergo seven days in a match that lasted 43 minutes. the Japanese to jump to a 11-6 lead, named the Italian league player of year, otherwise you won’t manage are part of the ongoing India without serving mandatory of hard quarantine and return The world no. 7 Indian had also a deficit she couldn't erase as the the year on Friday for the second to win at 34, 35, 36 or 40 years old.” versus England series, as well as quarantine period provided. with three negative tests. lost at the semifinal at the 2018 Japanese pocketed the first game. successive time. Juventus forward Cristiana the IPL, will not have to undergo "After the conclusion of se- The SOP stated that at this edition as well. After an error-prone start to the Ronaldo won the prize in 2019 Girelli received the best female mandatory seven-day hard quar- ries, they directly move to team point, the government has not Sindhu came into the semifinal second game, Sindhu moved to 6-2 after his debut season at Juventus. player award. Atalanta’s Gian Pie- antine as they will be transported hotel either by bus or chartered specified anything on the vac- contest with an overwhelming with some superb shots. She then The awards did not take place last ro Gasperini took home the coach from one bubble to another as per flight...if travel arrangements cination of elite athletes. 4-1 head-to-head lead over the led 8-4 with the Japanese missing year because of the coronavirus prize and his side was team of the the Standard Operating Proce- are to the satisfaction of CMO, "In India, the first group to 23-year-old Chochuwong, whom the lines twice. Sindhu got five game pandemic. Ronaldo scored 31 year. Atalanta finished third in Se- dure (SOP) released on Saturday. such players can directly enter get vaccinated is healthcare and she had beaten at the HSBC BWF points and won the game easily. goals in 33 league matches last rie A for the second straight sea- Also, the BCCI has made it team bubble without need to frontline workers. The second World Tour Finals in January. In the decider, Yamaguchi came season and helped Juventus to a son and also reached the quarter- clear that no individual associ- serve quarantine or undergo RT group is persons above 60 years But all that statistics didn't back to make it 15-15 and then record-extending ninth succes- finals of the Champions League. ated with the IPL will be vacci- PCR tests," the SOP stated. of age as of January 1, 2022 and matter as Chochowong showed grab the lead with another superb sive Serie A title. The Gran Galà del Calcio awards, nated as of now as the govern- Similarly, for all franchises person between 45 to 59 years immaculate defence and played return at 18-17. “At the beginning it was hard which are voted for by a mix of ment of India has put a system who are having prior camps in with comorbid conditions. The at a searing pace to outclass the Sindhu then made it 19-18 to play in empty stadiums, but the footballers, coaches, referees and in place which is currently be- bio-secure bubbles, if their trav- government is yet to announce Indian. with a couple of points and then aim was to win, and we did it,” the journalists, are normally presented ing adhered to. el arrangements are satisfactory the schedule of vaccination of On Friday night, Sindhu, seeded grabbed the match points with 36-year-old Ronaldo said. at a glittering ceremony. Amid the The SOP, which is in posses- they will be entitled bubble-to- other groups of people includ- fifth, had defeated Japan's third Yamaguchi going wide. The Japa- “I am happy and lucky. Persis- ongoing pandemic, they were pre- sion of PTI, states: "Players who bubble transfers. ing elite athletes." seed Akane Yamaguchi 16-21 21- nese then hit the net as Sindhu tence, confidence, work ethic, pas- sented in a televised show. 16 21-19 in an intriguing quarter- won the match.

Why Sri Lanka Cricket Needs A System Overhaul To Stop Slide Agencies into the administration of the sport. “Before we won the World Cup, there COLOMBO: Once a dominant force in world was (not much) money involved . . . so cricket, Sri Lanka’s slide internationally has many people were hesitant to come into opened debate in this island nation about the board,” Ranatunga said. whether democracy and a free hand in the “After ‘96, money started coming, that is Wood administration of the sport is working. where all these business people . . . some oth- Sri Lankans have long embraced cricket, ers with their groups got into cricket.” a colonial legacy, as their own. It’s not only Ranatunga said the sports minister need- Works the country’s most popular sport, but also a ed to intervene again and appoint leaders to unifying factor. govern the sport, and he was confident the This week marked the 25th anniver- ICC would be OK with an interim adminis- sary of Sri Lankan cricket’s most celebrated tration appointed solely for the propose of achievement — the World Cup triumph in reforming domestic cricket. 1996. But the memories of those peaks had “What has happened to cricket because fans and critics wondering how it all could of democracy? We have already gone have gone downhill so quickly. elected cricket board and installed interim down,” he said. Since 2015, Sri Lanka has won just 19 and administrations eight times since 1999, cit- Sri Lanka’s former opening batsman and lost 31 of the 57 test matches it has contested. ing corruption and mismanagement. manager Brendon Kuruppu said officials Once the pace-setters in the one-day for- The running of the game has reverted to were preoccupied with local infrastructure mat, Sri Lanka’s record in one-day interna- elections each time, though, because of In- at the expense of closing the gap between tionals since 2015 is 33 wins and 64 defeats, ternational Cricket Council regulations which domestic and international cricket. including three in a row against the West In- dictate democratic governance of the sport at “We have too many domestic clubs play- dies last week. national level. ing but we have a pool of about 75 players of In Twenty20s, the quickest and most vi- Sri Lanka Cricket’s next elections for a international quality,” Kuruppu said. “There DEALS IN ALL KINDS OF FURNITURE BEDS, SOFA, CHAIRS, brant from of the game in recent years, Sri two-year term are set for May 20. have been proposals to bring down the Lanka’s record is 19-47. Analysts and past players say there clubs down to about 10 (but) it never hap- TABLES, DAY BEDS, WARDROBE AND MUCH MORE... After winning the World Cup final over are simply too many first-class clubs, pens with an elected body because they are Australia in 1996, Sri Lanka has twice been which dilutes the talent pool of players looking for votes.” runner-up in the biggest ODI event. It also but expands opportunities for officials Muttiah Muralitharan, the all-time lead- won the World Twenty20 title in 2014, five and administrators. ing wicket taker in test cricket, is among the years after being runner-up, but hasn’t quali- There are 24 clubs playing in first-class dozen people who’ve sought court inter- fied for the semifinals of any major tourna- competition in Sri Lanka, far higher than vention to reform cricket governance. ment in the last six years. the numbers competing in larger coun- They have petitioned the Court of Appeal Though initial defeats were thought to tries such as India. Australia, which has a to appoint an independent committee to draft be temporary in the wake of retirements to slightly bigger population than Sri Lanka, a new constitution, and have pointed to other some of the biggest stars in the game, the has six first-class teams in the men’s do- countries where similar moves have worked prolonged failure has exposed a system that mestic competition. to improve the strength of the domestic game is no longer producing top-quality players. More teams also mean more votes. This and the national team. Past international players and analysts year, 144 votes cast by regional associa- Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Mohan de blame administrators and a lopsided Sri tions and clubs (comprising four provin- Silva rejected suggestions that the board Lanka Cricket constitution and a bloated cial associations, six other cricket associa- encourages the high number of clubs to voting system for stymieing the develop- tions such as the Defense Services Sports maintain voting blocks. ment of the game domestically. Board and the Sri Lanka University Sports “One cannot say democracy doesn’t help Democracy “has not worked as far as Sri Association, 22 district associations, 28 so- produce players,” he said. He believes the Lanka Cricket is concerned. There are many called controlling clubs and 22 affiliated lack of qualities coming through at school loopholes in the constitution which have clubs) will decide the office bearers for Sri level “the cradle of Sri Lanka’s cricket” is been exploited by the administration and the Lanka Cricket. having a direct impact at senior level. clubs,” cricket analysist Callistus Davy said. Past and current players have for long De Silva said the board recognized that Sri Lanka Cricket’s constitution allows called for the reduction of clubs to focus there was a need to reduce the number of for elected officials to simultaneously hold more on quality than quantity. first-class clubs and overhaul the consti- executive positions in clubs at first-class Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka’s World Cup- tution. But, he added, the clubs needed to level, increasing the potential for conflicts winning captain, said the success had brought be encouraged or gently persuaded to take +91 9149606969 woodworksfurnituresrinagar wood_works of interest. more money into the domestic game, and that path because a two-thirds majority is Davy said the government has fired the that made it more attractive for people to get needed to make constitutional reforms.