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Engineer Rashid Addresses Supporters in Baramulla, Calls for End to Tihar Imprisonment and Kashmir Resolution

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As he arrived in Srinagar on Thursday morning, Engineer Rashid, the parliamentarian and leader of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), showed his gratitude for returning to his homeland by bowing to the ground.

The MP for north Kashmir then proceeded to Baramulla, where thousands of his supporters, primarily young people, eagerly awaited his arrival and address. True to form, Rashid delivered his speech amid enthusiastic cheers and loud slogans from the crowd, which often drowned out his words. He had to repeatedly urge his supporters to remain calm to ensure his message could be heard.

Rashid began by expressing his appreciation to the people of north Kashmir for their overwhelming support in the recent Lok Sabha elections, held earlier this year while he was imprisoned.

He called for an end to the imprisonment of Kashmiris in Tihar Jail and urged the central government to resolve the Kashmir issue once and for all. “Stop sending us to Tihar, resolve Kashmir’s issue,” he declared, as his supporters echoed his call.

He asserted that the vote he received in the Lok Sabha elections was not a personal endorsement but a rejection of the ‘Naya Kashmir’ model promoted by the Narendra Modi-led central government, particularly the decisions of August 5, 2019, when Jammu and Kashmir’s special status was revoked and the state was restructured into two separate Union Territories.

According to Rashid, Modi’s ‘Naya Kashmir’ represents UAPA, injustice, and oppression. “The vote for me was a vote against Modi’s ‘Naya Kashmir’, against his decisions of August 5, 2019,” he said.

Rashid also criticised PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and her late father, accusing them of betrayal greater than that of Sheikh Abdullah. He claimed that their actions paved the way for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to gain influence in J&K. He suggested that if Mehbooba had any integrity, she would apologise for allying with the BJP after they had ended the government.

He further stated that if Mehbooba and Omar Abdullah could present a clear plan to restore Kashmir’s former status, he would instruct all his candidates to withdraw their forms.

On the topic of Omar Abdullah, vice president of the JKNC, Rashid remarked that Abdullah’s act of removing his skull cap to seek votes was unnecessary if he had addressed the concerns of Kashmiris following the August 5, 2019 decisions.

Rashid concluded his speech by requesting his supporters not to welcome him or his party members with garlands, urging them instead to show humility.

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Cocoon Auction at Pulwama, Director Sericulture and Additional Director kashmir visits Market

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Mr.Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, IAS, Director Sericulture J&K, conducted a comprehensive visit of the Cocoon Auction Market at Pulwama to assess the ongoing auction proceedings for the cocoon crop produced by the Silkworm Rearers of District Pulwama.

The event witnessed the participation of cocoon growers and buyers from both local and outside of the U.T of J&K.During the visit, Mr. Bhat reviewed the progress of the auction process and interacted with cocoon growers and buyers.

He emphasized the importance of ensuring transparency and efficiency in the auction process to provide the best possible returns to the Silkworm Rearers.He also expressed satisfaction with the quality of cocoons produced this season and appreciated the efforts of the Rearers and departmental staff in maintaining disease-free rearing conditions.

In his address, the Director stressed the need for all stakeholders to leverage the benefits of various schemes and facilities provided by the department.These include technical support, distribution of disinfectants for disease-free silkworm rearing, provision of rearing tool kits, and financial assistance for the construction of rearing sheds in a phased manner.

He highlighted the importance of these facilities in improving the productivity and quality of cocoons and ensuring sustainable income for the farmers.

Mr. Bhat also underscored the department’s commitment to ensuring that all ongoing projects, particularly the construction of rearing sheds, are completed before the onset of the winter season. He urged the officers to expedite the process and ensure that the beneficiaries receive the necessary support on time.

It is imperative that all rearing sheds are completed well before winter to provide proper shelter for silkworm rearing and safeguard the livelihoods of our farmers,” he said.The visit also provided an opportunity for interaction between cocoon growers and buyers, facilitating better market linkages and encouraging competitive bidding.

The presence of buyers from outside the region further boosted the prospects of favourable returns for the rearers.The Cocoon Auction Market at Pulwama serves as a crucial platform for the trade of high-quality cocoons, produced by hardworking silkworm rearers of the district.

The department, under the leadership of Mr. Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, IAS continues to work towards the betterment of the sericulture sector in J&K, ensuring that farmers receive the best possible support and infrastructure for their growth and development.

The Director assured the stakeholders that the department will continue to prioritize the interests of silkworm farmers by providing them with necessary training, tools, and financial assistance to improve their production capacity and marketability.

The Director Sericulture J&K was accompanied by the Additional Director, Sericulture Development Department, Kashmir, Projector Executive Officer, Kashmir, District Sericulture Officer, Pulwama/ Shopian and  other Officers of the Department.

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Finaly Er Rasheed Reached Kashmir After 5 Years

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Member of Parliament for North Kashmir Engineer Rashid, who was released from Tihar jail on Wednesday after being granted bail in a terror funding case, Thursday landed in Srinagar and right away bowed on the road to thank Almighty.

He asserted that his fight was much bigger than the one being fought by Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

Soon after landing in Srinagar after a gap of five years, Rashid,  bowed down on the main road, kissed the road and also broke down.

“This is my land,” he said, talking to reporters. Asked about allegations levelled against him by Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, Er Rashid said: “I am fighting the battle which Omar and Mehbooba can’t fight. My fight is much bigger than these two.”

He said he wants self respect, peace with dignity and not the peace of the graveyard. “I will fight for my people who punctured Prime Minister Narendera Modi’s claims of Naya Kashmir through their votes,” he said. Er Rashid headed for Baramulla district where he will address a gathering. He has been released on an interim bail by the Delhi court till October 2—(KNO)

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In South Kashmir’s Shopian High Density Apple Trees Damaged by Unidentified Persons

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On the intervening night of Tuesday-Wednesday at least 200 small apple trees were felled by unidentified persons in Awend village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, reports said.

Quoting officials, news agency GNS reported that the trees, belonging to Mohd Shafi Bhat, son of Gh Mohi-u-Din Bhat, a resident of Awend, were a crucial source of livelihood for the owner.The Shopian Police have registered an FIR under relevant sections of the law and launched an initial investigation.

A team from the police department, led by SSP Shopian have gone to the crime scene for a preliminary inspection.Commenting on the incident, DC Shopian stated: “This is a grave offense that affects the livelihood of a hardworking farmer. We are committed to ensuring swift justice. The police are actively pursuing leads, and those responsible will be apprehended soon.”Authorities have assured the community that the victim will receive all necessary support.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to the people of Kashmir: Sajad Lone

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sajad lone

Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) chairman Sajjad Gani Lone on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to the people of Kashmir and adopt an “Indian-ness” policy to bring them into the mainstream.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Lone stated that the BJP’s current approach in Kashmir is counterproductive. “The problem is that the BJP has a BJP policy in Kashmir. Through that BJP policy, they get votes across the country but they don’t have an India policy in Kashmir, for Indian-ness to get Kashmiris into the mainstream,” he said.

When asked what the BJP could do to address this issue, Lone emphasised the importance of an apology from the Prime Minister.

“The Prime Minister should apologise to the people of Kashmir and say that inadvertently, maybe, we might have done things that might have humiliated you. We might have done things that might have hurt you. We did it unintentionally. He should assure them that they are an integral part of India, it would make a significant difference. Give us another chance. And I’m telling you, if you (PM) use these words, everything will be fine. What you need are words,” he said.

Regarding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Lone clarified that it can only be achieved through parliamentary action.

“See, statehood can only be restored by the Parliament. We can’t. And I think there should be a policy for all the people who are elected that beyond a certain time, if they don’t give us state back, then we should stop. We should leave the assembly. There is no point in being a part of an assembly, which is humiliation. I think one year or two years or six months or three months after that, we should all en masse resign and leave,” Sajjad Lone said.

He further pushed his demand to restore statehood and warned that if the Centre fails to meet their demands, they will not be a part of this assembly.

“This will be our political response; that’s fine if you don’t want to give us; we don’t want to be a part of this assembly. Because this will make people think that we are not delivering. That I think we should not do. We should not betray our people beyond a certain time. If we don’t get statehood, there should be a clear unanimity that we should then leave. This is what I believe,” he added.

The JKPC chief also highlighted the importance of statehood for economic development in Kashmir.

“We can only work towards an economic Kashmir if we have statehood, because without it, there is very little you can do. You can’t pass money bills; you can’t pass anything,” he said.

In August 2019, the government of India abrogated Article 370, effectively ending J-K’s special status and reorganising into two Union Territories (UTs) — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) chairman Sajad Gani Lone said on Tuesday that all the politicians of Jammu and Kashmir were brushed aside after the abrogation of Article 370.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, he said, “We do not matter. Well, post-2019, no Jammu and Kashmir politician has actually mattered. They have been put on the sidelines. It is a total bureaucracy. There is an administration bereft of any politicians. Remotely, no person elected by the people is anywhere there.”

“You won’t believe it. Even for normal functions like Republic Day functions and Independence Day functions, they don’t invite politicians anymore. So there is literally political apartheid for the last, what, five years. For all political parties. It’s not specifically for one political party,” he said.

He stated that the BJP-ruled Centre’s decision to relegate the status of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories was the worst type of humiliation and he felt very bad about it.

“I actually, you know, believe that they should not have removed Article 370. I believe they should not have removed Article 35A. And the worst type of humiliation was relegating one of the most powerful states in India, an economically and politically empowered state in India, to a UT. And I feel very bad about it. As an inhabitant of this erstwhile state of J&K, I feel very bad,” Lone said.

He further said that when Article 370 was abrogated, they were the first party to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court while being in jail.

“I was in jail like all others when Article 370 was abrogated. From the jail, we were the first party to go and file a case in the court; you know, challenge it in the Supreme Court,” Lone added.

In August 2019, the government of India abrogated Article 370, effectively ending Jammu and Kashmir J&K’s special status and reorganising into two Union Territories (UTs) — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls will be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1.

There are a total number of 90 assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, out of which 7 seats are reserved for SCs and 9 seats are reserved for STs.

According to the Election Commission of India, Jammu and Kashmir has 88.06 lakh eligible electors. These are the first assembly elections to be held in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. (ANI)

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Temporary Relief for Er Rashid, Delhi Court Grants Interim Bail For Him Till Oct 2

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Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid

A Delhi court on Tuesday granted interim bail till October 2 to Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid in a terror funding case.Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, defeated former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Baramulla.

Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh granted the relief to Rashid, who had moved the court seeking interim bail to campaign in the upcoming Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections.On July 5, the court had granted Rashid custody parole to take the oath as a member of the Lok Sabha

Rashid has been in jail since 2019 after he was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the 2017 terror funding case.He is lodged in Tihar jail.The court has reserved for tomorrow its order on his regular bail application.

Rashid’s name cropped up in the case during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who was arrested by the NIA for allegedly funding terrorist groups and separatists in the Kashmir valley.

The NIA had filed a charge sheet against several people, including Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, in the case.Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court in 2022 after he pleaded guilty to the charges.

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Gangabal yatra from Naranag base camp in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district begins

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The authorities on Tuesday flagged off annual Gangabal yatra from Naranag base camp in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

An official told that deputy commissioner Ganderbal, who was accompanied by SSP Ganderbal and other officers flagged off the yatra today morning.

He said that yatra will reach Gangbal, at an altitude of 14500 feet, by evening, while special puja was held at the base camp

Meanwhile, Kashmiri Pandits residing in different parts of the country thronged Naranag to participate in the annual yatra

The yatra is being organised by by Harmukh Ganga Gangbal Trust with arrangements made by district administration and the concerned departments—(KNO)

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Er Rashid’s Party is Proxy of BJP : Mehboba Mufti

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Mehbooba Mufti Criticizes

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday accused jailed MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party of being a proxy of the BJP, and warned the people of Jammu and Kashmir not to come under the influence of such parties.

Her remarks came a day after PDP candidate from south Kashmir’s Shopian assembly segment Yawar Shafi Banday was injured in an alleged attack by the workers of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), which is led by Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, in Balpora area of Shopian.

“Our candidate was going to his constituency, some workers associated with AIP assaulted them, even our candidate Yawar Banday was beaten and he is fighting for his life, his ribs broken, his condition is serious,” Mehbooba claimed while addressing a press conference in Khanabal area of Anantnag district.

Rashid defeated former chief minister and National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah from the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency earlier this year.

The PDP chief questioned how the AIP was organising resources and candidates when their chief was behind the bars.

“I want to know that Rashid is in jail. (PDP founder) Mufti (Mohammad Sayeed) took 50 years to form the party, we still do not have resources to field candidates everywhere. Who is behind his (Engineer’s) organisation as their candidates are fielded everywhere, wherefrom is the funding coming? Wherefrom are they getting such courage to engage in hooliganism?” she added.

The former chief minister alleged that the government has come up with new proxy parties like the AIP.

“I want to ask the government, if you have again come up a proxy party, Engineer Rashid’s party, when all your other proxy parties have failed, you have brought Engineer Rashid’s party to the fore, and you are supporting them fully with funds and everything, then tell us clearly that others parties do not have to contest elections,” she said.

The PDP chief alleged her party is being targeted everywhere.

“Had PDP workers done such a thing, the whole PDP would have been in jail.

How did the AIP workers have the courage to attack our workers? Why has there been no action on them till yet? Why are they not in jail yet?” she questioned.

She warned the people of Jammu and Kashmir not to come under the influence of the proxy parties.

“There is a huge power behind them who wants to divide the vote in Kashmir.

The PDP is particularly on their target, they know PDP is the only party which stood for the people of Kashmir.

“All these parties in the guise of independent candidates, in the guise of AIP, they are certainly getting funding from somewhere. Wherefrom are they getting such resources? The people have to think about it,” she said.

She alleged when the other ‘proxy’ parties failed in the Parliamentary elections, the government came up with new “proxy parties”.

They broke the PDP and made several proxy parties, but when their other proxy parties failed in the Parliamentary elections, they have now brought Engineer Rashid’s party. So, I warn the people of Kashmir that all the other parties than the PDP, NC and Congress, are backed by some power, including Rashid’s party. They want to harm the cause of J-K,” she added.

On a question about former Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Waqar Rasool Wani’s reported remarks that NC has “sucked the blood” of the people, she said the alliance between the NC and Congress is not based on principles.

“I have already said the alliances is not based on principles. Had it been, they would not have pushed J-K into a river of blood to form the government after rigging the elections in 1987,” she said

“They can go to any extent to from the government, they do not have any principles. The NC has fielded independent candidates against Congress everywhere,” she said.

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From Budgam District Six candidates from five constituencies withdraw their nominations

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An Apni Party Candidate and other five candidates who have had filed their nomination for the upcoming assembly elections from the five Assembly constituencies of the Budgam district has withdrawn from the race.

Earlier on Saturday, an independent Candidate, Farooq Ahmad Mir, a resident of Lakhripora Budgam have withdraw his candidate, which was accepted on Friday.

Apni Party Candidate Muntazir Mohi Ud and other two independent candidates Bismah Nabi and Mohammad Abdullah Bhat have withdraw their nominations for the Budgam Constituency.

However An independent Candidate,Farooq Ahmad Khan for the Charar-I-Sharief Constituency, Afiqa an Rashtriya Samaj Dal (R) candidate for Chadoora Constituency, Bashir Ahmad Wani an independent candidate for Khansahib constituency and Firdous Ahmad Bhat an independent candidate for Beerwah constituency have withdraw the nominations from the four constituencies of the Budgam district.

Across the five assembly constituencies in the Budgam district, 73 nomination papers were submitted. Of these, 56 were accepted, 17 were rejected, and eight has been withdrawn their Nomations from the five assembly constituencies of the Budgam district.

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Advisory to States, UTs on “Mpox” from Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra

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Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra on Monday issued an advisory to states and union territories regarding the precautionary actions, symptoms and causes of WHO declared Public Health Emergency of International Concern “Mpox”.

The advisory said that India still hasn’t reported a single case of Mpox yet. Union Health Secretary in an issued advisory highlighted the key public health actions that are required to be undertaken to prevent or minimize risk of any case or death due to Mpox in the country.

The Union Health Secretary directed the states to widely disseminate the Ministry’s “Guidelines for Management of Monkeypox Disease” and take action on the updated CD-Alert (communicable disease alert) on Mpox issued by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The advisory also directed the states to review public health preparedness particularly at health facility level at the state and districts by senior officials. It also included identification of isolation facilities in hospitals for taking care of both suspect and confirmed cases.

According to the issued advisory, in the most cases, young males with a median age of 34 years are most affected from Mpox while the sexual mode of transmission is the most common mode of transmission reported globally followed by person-to- person non-sexual contact. Around half of cases with available information on their HIV status are reported to be in persons living with HIV.

As per the advisory, the common symptoms include rashes (including systemic or genital rash), followed by fever.

Earlier, a suspected case of Mpox was reported in Delhi in a man who recently returned to India from abroad, a Union Health Ministry release said on Sunday.

According to the release, the patient has been placed under isolation in a designated hospital and is currently stable.

The release further mentioned that the samples from the patient are being tested to confirm the presence of Mpox.

“The case is being managed in line with established protocols, and contact tracing is ongoing to identify potential sources and assess the impact within the country,” the release stated.

The Ministry stated that the development aligns with the earlier risk assessment conducted by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and there is no cause of any undue concern. It further asserted that the country is fully prepared to deal with such isolated travel-related cases and has robust measures in place to manage and mitigate any potential risk.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has been a public health issue in parts of Africa for many years but resurfaced as a global concern in 2022.

Since January 1, 2022, Mpox cases have been reported to the WHO from 121 member states across all six WHO regions. The WHO Mpox report dated September 3, 2024, provides global data up to July 31, 2024. A total of 102,997 laboratory-confirmed cases and 186 probable cases, including 223 deaths, have been reported to the WHO.

In July 2024, 1,425 cases and six deaths were reported globally. More than half of these cases were from the African region (55%), followed by the American region (24%) and the European region (11%). The South-East Asia Region (SEAR) reported 1 per cent of the total cases. (ANI)