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IMA scam: Roshan Baig skips deposing before SIT again, cites health issues

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He was last quizzed in IMA case in July and has been issued 5 notices since

Congress MLA in Karnataka Roshan Baig

BENGALURU: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the multi-crore I Monetary Advisory (IMA) scam seems to have no option but to wait for the appearance of disqualified Congress legislator R Roshan Baig. Baig has so far been issued notices by the SIT team five times and the last he was supposed to appear before the SIT was on Tuesday, but he gave it a miss.

SIT sources say Baig seems to be buying time, but they are helpless as he has been citing health problems.
“As a responsible citizen — and as he had promised to SIT — he is supposed to be cooperating with us for questioning. But we have only been getting medical certificates seeking more time. We have no option but to wait,” said a senior officer.

The last time Baig was detained for questioning was in July when he was quizzed for over nine hours.
He has been accused of receiving Rs 400 crore from IMA founder Mansoor Khan. “It is important for us to record his statement as Mansoor has named him as one of the beneficiaries. He seems to be buying time since the very first time we summoned him,” a senior officer said.

However, this time the SIT has not yet decided as to what date to issue for Baig to appear again.
According to some political leaders from other parties, it is not helplessness but intentional delay by the SIT team.

“If he is not guilty of receiving any money then why is he avoiding questioning? This is all because he has the backing of the same government which once was so persistent on handing over the case to CBI,” said a Congress leader.

Meanwhile, a victim of the IMA fraud Sajida Ali, a resident of Shivajinagar said, “When will we get our money back? How can SIT or the government let them hide under the garb of medical reasons?”
Baig, however, has maintained that he is not involved in the scam and his name has been dragged unnecessarily. “I will answer to the SIT and not the media” he said.

Sigh of relief for many
More than 250 employees of IMA heaved a sigh of relief with the High Court allowing them to handover the original documents to its employees. A DySP-level officer has been designated for the same. “We are happy that we are getting the originals back. We have been unemployed for almost three months now,” said Mamatha Gangadhar, one of the employees.

City gears up for 73RD Independence Day Elaborate security arrangements done across city :CoP Bhaskar Rao

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Pramesh Jain

City gears up for 73RD Independence Day Elaborate security arrangements done across city :CoP Bhaskar Rao :

“Manekshaw Parade Ground in the city will turn into a fortress on August 15 on the occasion of 73rd Independence Day”.

Bengaluru City is gearing up for the 73rd Independence Day.The grand parade will be organised at Maneskshaw Parade Ground in the city.
On the occasion of 73rd Independence Day celebrations,210th Lalbagh flower show was conducted in Bengaluru to pay a floral tribute to the Indian Armed Forces.

Chief Minister of karnataka BS Yediyurappa with other dignitaries will  arrive just before 9 am and will then hoist the National Flag.
Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao and Deputy Commissioner,Srinivas with BBMP Commissioner,Manjunath Prasad held a joint press conference at Manekshaw parade ground and briefed the media persons about the preparations and security arrangements made for the August 15.
Bhaskar Rao addressing media said,Every year,we make elaborate security arrangements with tight police security is provided at vital places in the city to prevent untoward incidents.As many as 1,900 cops will be deployed in and around the grounds to oversee the security challenges, explained Bhaskar Rao. Two Additional and Joint Commissioners,11 Deputy Commissioners of police, 23 Assistant Commissioners of Police,around 100 Police Inspectors of city,with PSIs,probationary PSIs,221 ASIs,1,108, constables and more than 100 men in plain clothes will be deployed for the event. For traffic management, 3 DCPs, 7 ACPs, 24 PIs, 38 PSIs, 61 ASIs, 263 HCPs, and 1,500 constables will be deployed on the day.Will make sure that independence Day will be held in all its grandeur at Manekshaw parade ground.Within the ground, 10 platoons of KSRP and 5 of CAR, 3 fire engines, 2 ambulances, 2 quick response teams,and a unit each of D-SWAT, RIV,RAF 1 platoon and Garuda Force will be deployed.Further, home guards, women cops,Mufti police,with quick response teams,Garuda, Rapid Action Force will also be utilised on the occasion.More than Fifty CCTV cameras, four luggage scanners, ambulances and fire tenders will also be present in the grounds.Some hospitals around the venue have been alerted to keep beds ready.The police have also made elaborate traffic arrangements to facilitate smooth traffic movement around the parade ground on August 15.Vehicle parking in and around Cubbon Road and M.G.Road is prohibited. Because of shortage of parking place, participants and invitees have been requested to use public transport he added.
BBMP Commissioner,Manjunath Prasad explained that Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa will reach the parade grounds and hoist the flag at 9 am.As soon as the flag is hoisted, the army personnel will rain flowers from the helicopter.As many as 1,250 children will participate in the cultural progra0mmes, he added. The total seating capacity is about 11,450 and 1,200 VVIP’s will take part in the event he added.
The 210th Flower Show in Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore, which began on August 9 has already begun pulling in the crowds, who have thronged the event in droves to witness the beautiful phenomenon. This year, the Independence Day Flower Show has been dedicated to former Mysuru ruler Jayacharamaja Wodeyar as part of his 100th birth anniversary celebrations.
In the Flower Show, which will go on till August 18, around 12.5 lakh flowers has been used to create a royal theme in the iconic Lalbagh glasshouse.
The replicas of Chamarajendra Wadiyar Circle in Mysuru, the Raja Durbar of the palace, and the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens are amongst the major attractions this year.
Replicas of musical instruments such as the veena, keyboard and other instruments are also on display in a bid to showcase the late Maharaja’s love for music.
According to the director of Horticulture department N Jagdish, 12.5 lakh flowers have been used for the 2019 Independence Day Flower Show in Lalbagh. While they include over 92 varieties of flowers, including roses, anthuriums, chrysanthemums, carnations, poinsettias, over 9.5 lakh potted plants and 6.7 lakh flowering plants are on display. The flowers have made their way to the garden from Thailand, northeast India, Ooty, Kemmangundi hill station, and Nandi Hills.
Metro cuts rates for return journey from Lalbagh:
Namma Metro officials have introduced a subsidised rate for return journey tickets from Lalbagh Metro Station in a bid to increase convenience for the visitors travelling from other parts of the city. The tickets, which will be issued between 10 am and 8 pm till August 18, will cost only Rs 30 to any other station from Lalbagh. However, BMRCL authorities clarified that the onward journey from any station to Lalbagh Metro station will be by means of tokens and smart cards at normal fares.
With Independence Day being just hours away, Bengaluru Traffic Chief Joint Commissioner of Traffic,Dr.BR Ravikante Gowda,said that provisions have been made for parking in and around the ground. Traffic will be diverted from BRV junction to Kamaraj Road junction on Cubbon Road from 8:30 am to 10:30am.some important diversion are here, 
TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS:
Vehicles coming from Infantry Road towards Manipal Centre will be diverted on Infantry Road- Safina Plaza- Main Guard cross road – Alice Circle – Dispensary road- Kamaraj Road and Dickenson Road junction – KR Road and Cubbon road junction to Manipal Centre junction.
Vehicles coming from Manipal junction towards BRV junction on Cubbon Road will take left turn at KR Road junction towards Cauvery junction – MG Road – Anil Kumble circle- BRV junction and proceed towards Central Street.
Vehicles from Anil Kumble Circle towards Cubbon Road will go straight on Central street junction – Infantry Road – Safina Plaza-Main Guard cross road – Alice Circle – Dispensary Road- Kamaraj Road and Dickenson Road junction – KR Road and Cubbon road junction to Manipal centre junction.
Vehicles coming from Cauvery circle on MG Road going towards Cubbon Road and KR Road junction shall go straight on MG Road towards Anil Kumble junction and turn right to BRV junction and move towards Central Street.
PARKING SPACES
Parking for two-wheelers on Kamaraj Road, in front of Army Public School, Main Guard Cross Road, near Safina Plaza and entry must be through Gate 2 on foot. Those without car passes can park their vehicles at Shivajinagar bus depot. Parking can be done on Central Street, from Anil Kumble Circle to Shivajinagar bus stand, on Cubbon Road from CTO circle to KR Road and MG Road from Anil Kumble Circle to Queen’s Circle the relaese said.

Kashmiri Pandits longing to return to their homeland

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For Kashmiri pandits, striking down of Article 370, which abrogated Kashmir’s special privileges, by the Central government has nothing to do with their rehabilitation.

Kashmir_Security_Crisis

JAMMU: Though living in ‘forced exile’ within their own state for over three decades now, the longing to return to their homeland in the turmoil-hit Kashmir Valley has not waned among a majority of the Kashmiri Pandits in this Hindu-dominated town.

“I still am eager to set foot on the soil that we were forced to leave long back,” said Shobha Kaul, an octogenarian woman living in Kashmir’s winter capital since the 1990s.

She has been living in this town, ringed by forest-clad low mountains along with her family, since the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s, after fleeing their homes in the troubled Valley because of the terror attacks that were targeted against the community that time.

For them striking down of Article 370, which abrogated Kashmir’s special privileges, by the Central government has nothing to do with their rehabilitation.

“Article 370 abolition will not guarantee evolving of harmonious relationship between the Muslims and the Kashmiri Pandits. In fact, it is creating anger and unrest in a particular community,” Kaul said.

“Our brothers and sisters in the Valley should be honourably won over through non-discriminatory policies before ensuring our return to our homeland,” she added.

Another woman Lalita Pandit said she was born in a small village on the outskirts of Srinagar. “I miss the snowy mountains and orchards,” an emotional Lalita told IANS at the Raghunath Temple here, where she is a regular at morning prayers.

Jammu hosts thousands of Kashmiri Pandit refugees, who have been living in newly build two-room tenements provided to them by the state government.

Octogenarian woman Nirmala Bhatt said: “Before I die, I want to return to my first home that is now under illegal occupation of a Muslim family.”

She said: “Every Kashmiri Pandit has hopes of returning to the homeland one day. I owe my gratitude to people of Jammu, where I have lived most of my elderly life.”

With fond memories of her homeland, the 81-year-old has raised a new generation and they too want to return to the Kashmir Valley.

“We have struggled hard to raise our children by initially staying in refugee camps for years. Now, I have grandchildren, who were born and brought up here and they too are keen to return to our homeland,” she added.

However, the children born and brought up in Jammu are more hopeful of returning to the Valley than the older generation.

“My parents and grandparents often talked about their cottages amidst apple and plum orchards by showing black and white photos of their happier times. We see a ray of hope of our return sooner rather than later,” college student Nikita Dhar, who is living in Jagti, the biggest refugee housing complex for Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu, said.

For the young generation like Nikita, returning to their ancestral homes, which they have never seen, is their dream now.

“This is our aspiration and struggle too,” she added.

Another Kashmir Pandit, S.N. Pandita, 69, said: “Before fleeing from south Kashmir’s Shopian in the early 1990s, we were threatened and tortured by the militants. They destroyed our temples and illegally occupied our houses and orchards.”

According to him, Kashmir is “our hometown and Kashmir can’t grow minus Kashmiri Pandits, who are part and parcel of the Muslims for centuries”.

He said before revoking Article 370 tension was lessening. “We see an escalation of tension once again and don’t know how much time it will take to normalise the situation there,” he added.

For the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, the Centre had announced the Prime Minister’s Development Package on November 7, 2015.

Under this package, the Central government had approved the creation of 3,000 additional state government jobs for the Kashmiri migrants at a cost of Rs 1,080 crore, and the construction of 6,000 transit accommodations in the Kashmir Valley at a cost of Rs 920 crore for the stay of these employees.

The aim of this package was to help the displaced community economically, and also to initiate a step towards their return to the valley.

Karnataka floods: Shirgur village celebrates Eid with jawans who saved them

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Soldiers of MLIRC centre with villagers in Belgavi

After celebrating Eid with the jawans from the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment Center(MLIRC) in a mosque on Monday, residents of Shirgur village fed them sevian (sweet) and biryani to thank them.
Soldiers of MLIRC centre with villagers in Belgaum Soldiers of MLIRC centre with villagers in Belgaum


BELAGAVI: We have worshiped gods in temples and in mosques our entire life, but during these deadly floods we saw our gods in army uniform, say the residents of Shirgur village in Raibag taluk in Belgaum district, who celebrated Eid with soldiers on Monday.

After celebrating Eid with the jawans from the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment Center(MLIRC) in a mosque on Monday, they fed them sevian (sweet) and biryani to thank them for the rescue.

The soldiers had rushed to the flood-hit regions to save the people stuck in floods after a call from the district administration. In all, the soliders said they had rescued over 4000 people in the past 10 days in several flood-hit villages in Chikkodi, Athani, Raibag and Gokak taluks.

Aiding them were the boats and the ropes they had at their disposal. But sometimes they couldn’t even turn to these and had to swim in deep waters.

The soldiers took up rescue operations in Muslim-dominated Shirgur village for two days – August 10 and 11. People here had lost hope of survival until they saw the men in army uniform.

Working round the clock, the soldiers evacuated about 100 people stuck in the village

Miansab Mulla, a senior citizen of village said, ‘We would not have celebrated Eid this year had soldiers not rescued us from the deadly floods. The soldiers are the reason for our celebration, hence we invited them.’

Major Rajpal Singh Rathore of MLIRC said, “My column of 40 soldiers was engaged in operations ceaselessly during the last nine days. When they invited us for the celebrations, we agreed. We prayed for the villagers well-being. With love, they fed us sweets and biryani. It gave us immense satisfaction and we enjoyed being with the kind-hearted people.”

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli 27 runs away from creating partnership record

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Rohit Sharma will also be looking to overtake Yuvraj Singh in the third ODI between India and West Indies.

Kohli, Rohit

NEW DELHI: When India and West Indies step out on the field to play the final ODI of the three-match series, captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Rohit Sharma would look to create another record for the Men in Blue.

The duo is just 27 runs away from completing 1,000 partnership runs against the Windies and if they manage to do so, they will become the first pair to achieve the feat against the Caribbean team in ODIs.

The 32-year-old Sharma will also eye another record as he needs 26 runs to go past Yuvraj Singh to become the seventh-highest Indian scorer in ODI cricket.

The left-handed Yuvraj ended his ODI career with 8,701 runs whereas Sharma currently has 8,676 runs.

Kohli played a knock of 120 runs in the second ODI to become the highest run-getter against Windies in the ODI format. He also went past Sourav Ganguly to become the second-highest run-scorer for India in ODIs.

In the same match, spinner Kuldeep Yadav would also look to create a record. The left-arm spinner currently has 96 wickets in 53 ODIs and if he manages to take a four-wicket haul, he will become the fastest Indian bowler to scalp 100 ODI wickets.

Mohammad Shami is currently the fastest Indian bowler to take 100 wickets as he achieved the feat from just 56 matches.

Before the start of India-West Indies series, there were reports suggesting a rift between Kohli and Sharma.

However, at the pre-departure press conference, Kohli denied the reports saying, “If I do not like a person or if I am insecure of a person, you will see that on my face or in my behaviour towards that person and that is how simple it is. I have always praised Rohit whenever I have had an opportunity because I believe he is that good. We have had no issues.”

“If the team environment is not good, then the kind of game we are playing for the last two-three years, it would have not been possible. I know how important the dressing room atmosphere, the trust factor is to succeed in international cricket. Our journey from number seven to number one and such consistent performance in the ODI cricket, it cannot happen without camaraderie, respect, and understanding,” he had said.

India currently holds a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after winning the second ODI by 59 runs.

The first ODI between India and West Indies was abandoned due to rain. The Men in Blue had come out triumphant in the T20I series as they white-washed the hosts 3-0 in the three-match T20I series.

India takes on West Indies in the final ODI of the series in Trinidad and Tobago later today.

Sridevi 56th birth anniversary: A unique star who never turned to politics, despite her stardom

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Late actress Sridevi

HYDERABAD: As fans are taking to social media to pay their tribute to Sridevi on her 56th birth anniversary, the one question that many still search an answer for is why Sridevi never stepped into politics despite her stardom.

Sridevi was considered as the odd one out in the tinsel town given her disinclination towards politics, despite an illustrious career spanning four decades on the silver screen.

As far as the film industry is concerned, particularly Tollywood and Kollywood, every successful actress, like their male counterparts, try to test their luck in politics during the fag end of their film career. 

Many of the yesteryears female protagonists on the celluloid not only departed Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa, but also other celebrated star heroines like Sharada, Jamuna, Vijaya Nirmala, Vijayasanthi, Jayaprada, Jayasudha, Jeevitha and Roja have entered politics.  

While some of them succeeded in their new endeavour, some others remained as big flops in politics. For instance, Sharada, a three-time National Award-winning actress, was elected as an MP from her native town of Tenali on TDP ticket in 1996. 

In more recent examples, Jayasudha became an MLA on Congress Party ticket in 2009. Likewise, Vijayasanthi, more popularly known as Lady Amitabh, left her mark on politics in Telugu land by floating her own political party supporting Telangana movement in 2007. She is now with the Congress though politically not active.

Jayaprada, who too reigned in Bollywood at around the same time when Sridevi was at the height of her film career, and was considered as the latter’s rival in the tinsel town, was an MP from Rampur of Uttar Pradesh from 2004 to 2014.

When Sridevi was asked about politics a few years back, the ‘English Vinglish’ actress stated that she was busy building the career of my two daughters.

“I focused my entire attention on carving my career. After stopped acting in movies, my focus was shifted to my children. I am now busy with building the career of my two daughters. I have no time to think about other things,” Sridevi had told a Telugu channel.

Rowdy-sheeter Bharatha alias Bobby nabbed after shootout by Nandini Layout cops:

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Pramesh Jain

The North Division police of Nandini Layout police sub-inspector Laxman opened fire at Rowdy-sheeter Bharatha alias Bobby at Jalahalli in Bengaluru. 
The accused has been identified as Bharatha alias Bobby,25 year old. 
 The incident took place in the early morning of Tuesday at 6:45 am near Prestige apartments in Jalahalli area.
2 rounds fired one in air and one on right leg of bharatha @ Bobby.Cops opened fire when the accused tried to attack constable Umesh to evade arrest he was wanted in several cases.
Rowdy-sheeter was shot in his right leg on knee when the accused attacked the police constable Umesh when he tried to nab him.
A Constable attached to Nandini Layout police station Umesh was injured in the attack.
He was involved in 307 attempt to murder of rowdy shooter venkatesh @ kadu 4 days before in nandini layout.
Bharatha is wanted in more than 10 Robbery cases registered against in various police stations across city and two attempt to murder cases.
DCP North,Shashi Kumar told media persons that as on 10th August of this month a attempt to murder case was registered against the rowdy sheeter Bharatha alias Bobby in Nandini Layout police station the complainant stated in his complaint that as on 10th August in the afternoon at around 2:45 pm when the victim Venkatesh alias Kadu a Rowdy sheeter and his father was going by walk  near 6th Cross of Ganesh block under Nandini Layout police station limits suddenly the rowdy sheeter Bharat alias Bobby and his other four associates attacked and stabbed Venkatesh alias Kadu brutally with sharp weapons and injured him badly after injuring him badly he fled the spot and escaped from the incident a attempt to murder case was registered against him and special team was led by ACP, Dhananjaya under the leadership of PI,Lohit.BN and his team as PSI,Laxman visited the crime spot and after collecting the information from the victim and his father the team swung into action and took the case very seriously and were on lookout for the absconded accused.The Nandini Layout police inspector received a information that as on 12th August in the late midnight 12.40 am,Manjunath a drivezy rental bikes driver was robbed near Laggere bridge he stated when he was on his way to his home while passing through Laggere bridge some unknown miscreants have stopped him and forcibly took his mobile and bike and other valuables and escaped with his bike as soon as the information was passed the same information was flashed across the city and Nakkabandi checks were enhanced in North Division area to nab the accused at the same time inspector Lohit got a tip-off that the accused is spotted near prestige apartments in Jalahalli area  immediately PSI,Laxman and his crime police constable Umesh rushed to the spot and tracked down the accused the constable went to nab him while nabbing the accused took out the dragger and attacked constable Umesh so the PSI Laxman opened one round fire in Air and asked the accused to surrender but he dint heed to the sub inspector warning to surrender and again he tried to attack Umesh constable and PSI Laxman and tried to escape by evading arrest so in protecting PSI life and constable life the PSI Laxman opened second round fire on his right leg and tamed him by injuring on his right leg knee,the injured constable and accused rushed to MS Ramaiah hospital and are undergoing treatment.The rowdy sheeter Bharat alias Bobby was released just recently from jail and continued his criminal activities of robbery.Bharatha was wanted in 307 case and an extortion case of Bangalore rural and he is a rowdy sheeter in mahalaxmi layout police station and after getting discharged from the hospital our team will arrest him and one more case under 307 will be registered against the accused in Jalahalli police station and further investigation is on and finally Bengaluru Police Commissioner,Bhaskar Rao,Addl CP West,Umesh Kumar,has appreciated DCP North,Shashi Kumar,ACP Malleshwaram sub division Dhananjaya,PI,Lohit BN,PSI Laxman and his crime police constable Umesh and their whole team for the exemplary work and commendable job done by them in nabbing the notorious dreaded criminal rowdy sheeter after playing or risking their life who has created fear among residents of Nandini Layout and surrounding areas is cooling his heels in the jail and a suitable award will be given to the team he added.

Sushma Swaraj transformed MEA, oriented it to ‘people’s call’: Modi

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Remembering Sushma Swaraj, Modi said the BJP leader had a ‘Haryanvi touch’ as she put across her points forcefully if she believed she was right.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that Sushma Swaraj as external affairs minister transformed her ministry from being bound to protocol to one oriented to “people’s call” and recalled she had urged him to deliver his first UN speech from a prepared text and not speak impromptu.

Joined by leaders from all major parties, Modi paid rich tributes to the BJP stalwart, who died last week, at a condolence meeting here.

The prime minister said he learnt a lot from her and then spoke about his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, months after he had assumed the office for the first time.

After she received him, he suggested that they sit together as he had to deliver his speech the next day, Modi said.

Swaraj enquired where his speech was and he said he never writes his speeches as he finds it difficult.

“She said, ‘aisa nahi hota hai bhai’ (It does work like this brother). You have to speak about India to the world. You cannot speak as you wish. I was prime minister and she was my colleague minister taking care of the external affairs ministry,” Modi said.

The prime minister said he had undertaken a long travel and was also on fast due to ‘navratra’ but she insisted he share his thoughts.

The ministry prepared a draft speech for him, he said.

“It was her request. One may be a fine orator but there are some forums which have their own traditions.

This was the first lesson Sushma ji had taught me,” he said, adding that she had the courage to speak what she believed to be right.

Referring to Swaraj’s prompt response to Indians facing problems abroad or related to the ministry, he said she transformed the ministry.

“She changed this whole thrust in the ministry about protocol into people’s call. India is with all Indians living abroad in their pain irrespective of the colour of their passports,” he said.

The number of ‘Passport Seva Kendra’ rose to 505 under her from around only 77, he said.

Remembering her, Modi said the BJP leader also had a “Haryanvi touch” as she put across her points forcefully if she believed she was right.

Noting that she died hours after expressing her joy as Parliament passed the government’s resolution to abrogate provisions of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister said she was very happy and died peacefully.

Swaraj had tweeted on August 6 that she had been waiting to see this day in her life.

Hours later, she suffered a massive heart stroke and passed away.

BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and party’s working president J P Nadda, besides Anand Sharma of the Congress, Rajiv Ranjan of JD(U) Dinesh Trivedi of the Trinamool Congress, Pinaki Misra of the BJD, LJP’s Ram Vilas Paswan, Shiv Sena’s Arvind Sawant and opposition leader Sharad Yadav were among others who spoke at the condolence meeting.

Representatives of AIADMK, DMK and TRS also spoke.

Scrapping Article 370 freed us from slavery: West Pakistan Hindu refugees

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Hailing Modi for his historic decision, the refugees say the abrogation of Articles 370, 35-A would certainly end decades-old discrimination against them by entitling them to get citizenship rights.

Article 370

JAMMU: West Pakistan Hindu refugees, whose ancestors had migrated to India during the 1947 partition and settled in the Jammu region, were feeling stateless and cheated even after seven decades of living in Jammu and Kashmir.

Now with the scrapping of Article 370 and 35A, which prevented them to settle permanently and own property, will automatically become the residents of this state.

“Earlier, we were residents of India but not of Jammu and Kashmir. With the scrapping of both statutory provisions, we will automatically become the residents of Jammu and Kashmir too,” Labha Ram Gandhi, President of West Pakistan Refugee Action Committee, told IANS here on Tuesday.

After 72 years of India’s Independence, he said the West Pakistan refugees got natural justice. “We can proudly say now – – we have got freedom from slavery,” an elated Labha Ram, 57, whose parents migrated during the Partition, said.

The population of the West Pakistan Refugees is nearly 1.5 lakh, settled only in the Jammu region in the erstwhile state.

They say they are entitled to vote in Parliament elections but not in the State Assembly before the abolition of Article 370. Also, state laws prohibit them from buying property and to get government jobs.

Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his bold historic decision, the refugees say the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A would certainly end decades-old discrimination against them by entitling them to get full citizenship rights.

Labha Ram Gandhi said their demands for rehabilitation and right to vote and to contest the State Assembly or local bodies would be accepted automatically now.

In 2017, West Pakistan refugees had challenged Article 35A, which was added to the Constitution by a Presidential Order of 1954, in the Supreme Court.

He said that the West Pakistan refugees have been seeking conferment of basic natural and human rights.

“We have migrated from Pakistan to India in 1947. At that time our people were assured that they should stay in Jammu and Kashmir on the assurance that they would be granted permanent resident certificates (PRC), which would allow them to purchase properties and get a government job,” he said.

Laba Ram Gandhi said the successive state and Central governments had only promised to extend the PRC to the refugees, and in fact cheated them by denying their basic rights of education, employment, property ownership and political participation.

“We finally feel like a citizen of the state with the repealing the discriminatory law. This will also help restore normalcy in the Valley with the opening up of the industrial sector for the outsiders,” he added.

College student Richa Gupta, whose grandparents migrated to India in 1947, said only the refugees settled in Jammu and Kashmir were facing discrimination.

“The Pakistani refugees who opted to settle in other parts of the country after the Partition got all benefits, including citizenship, and accordingly became prosperous. But here we literally we have been living a life of irony as basic rights were being denied to us because of Article 370 and Article 35A,” she added.

The West Pakistan Refugees migrated to India mainly from Sialkot district of Punjab province in Pakistan.

Locals say besides Indian citizenship, a permanent resident certificate (PRC) was given to those refugees whose ancestors have lived in the state for at least 10 years before May 14, 1954.

Only those with PRC could buy property, get employment and vote in the assembly. But now all this is set to change.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 5,764 families, comprising 47,215 people, migrated from West Pakistan in 1947 and settled in different areas of the state.

Chandrayaan-2 leaves earth’s orbit, moving towards moon: ISRO

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The spacecraft will approach the moon on August 20 and then the spacecraft’s liquid engine will be fired again to insert it into lunar orbit, the ISRO said

Orbiter

BENGALURU: Trans Lunar Insertion (TLI) manoeuvre of the Chadrayaan 2 which will put the spacecraft into the Lunar Transfer Trajectory (LTT), a direct trajectory towards the moon, was held on the early hours of Wednesday.

All eyes were set on the spacecraft, as Indian Space Research Organisation chairman K Sivan and other scientists including a former chairman, keenly tracked its progress and health at the Mission Operations Complex (MOX) at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru with support from Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) antennas at Byalalu, near Bengaluru.

After firing the onboard liquid engine for 20 mins, Chandrayaan-2 left the earth’s orbit to enter the lunar trajectory, where it will travel for six days, before reaching the moon’s orbit.

The injection has been on ISRO’s the list of challenging aspects of the mission, apart from the first soft landing on the moon’s south polar region, preventing damage due to lunar dust and navigating large distances accurately.

It was held after the spacecraft raised five orbits around the earth between July 23 to August 6.

Now, the Chandrayaan2 is scheduled to reach the moon’s orbit on August 20, a little before which, the liquid engine will be fired again to insert it into the lunar orbit.

Then, the spacecraft will have four-orbit manoeuvres around the moon and finally enter the final orbit, closest to the moon’s surface — at a distance of about 100 km. 

“Vikram lander will separate from the orbiter on September 2. Two orbit manoeuvres will be performed on the lander before the initiation of powered descent to make a soft landing on the lunar surface on September 07, 2019,” said ISRO officials

“Since its launch on July 22, 2019, by GSLV MkIII-M1 vehicle, all systems onboard Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft are performing normal,” officials added.

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