Archives for August 2019

Heavy rains that lashed Malkangiri last week have caused massive damage to crops and roads in the district.

Orissa MALKANGIRI: Heavy rains that lashed Malkangiri last week have caused massive damage to crops and roads in the district. Three persons died due to the rains.

According to the preliminary damage assessment report, seven houses were completely destroyed and 199 have been partially damaged. Paddy saplings in over 47 hectares of land across seven blocks of the district were damaged. Sixteen bridges were damaged and five washed away. Around 13 electricity poles, seven transformers and 16 conductors of SOUTHCO were also damaged.

Monsoon is set to revive in the state after a brief hiatus.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Monsoon is set to revive in the state after a brief hiatus. The weather models issued by the India Meteorological Department have predicted very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in many districts in the next four days starting from Tuesday. The monsoon has strengthened after the formation of low-pressure area over north Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas of West Bengal and Bangladesh. 

The system is likely to become more marked during the next 48 hours and as a result, rain in most places, and extremely heavy rain at isolated places are highly likely over Kerala within next four days. 

The IMD has issued red alert in three districts – Idukki, Malappuram and Kozhikode – for Thursday, warning very heavy to extreme heavy rainfall. Orange alert  has been sounded in the three districts – Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kasaragod- on Tuesday. 

Kia Motors chief executive officer and managing director Kook Hyun Shim and chief administration officer Thomos called on the Chief Minister at his camp office in Tadepalli near here on Monday.

VIJAYAWADA:   Representatives of Kia Motors invited Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to participate in the launch of its new car Kia Seltos on August 8. The event will be organised at Kia Motors plant at Penugonda in Anantapur district.

Kia Motors chief executive officer and managing director Kook Hyun Shim and chief administration officer Thomos called on the Chief Minister at his camp office in Tadepalli near here on Monday. Chief Minister accepted the company’s invitation.  The plant in Penukonda has a capacity to produce three lakh cars per year, they said and added that it will be increased to seven lakh units a year in future. The engines produced at the plant are being exported to Turkey and Slovakia.

Bimal Gurung-led Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) faction, which supports the BJP, said the saffron party should keep its poll promise of a permanent political solution in the hills.

KOLKATA/DARJEELING: The Centre’s decision to revoke provisions of Article 370 and bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir has rekindled hope among the major hill parties, which want that Darjeeling should also be a separate Union territory with a legislature.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Darjeeling, Raju Bista, said he was hopeful that the saffron party’s promise of a “permanent political solution” in the hills would be a reality by 2024.

The ruling Trinamool Congress, however, said it would oppose any move to bifurcate West Bengal.

The Centre had on Monday revoked Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and proposed bifurcation of the state into two Union territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The Bimal Gurung-led Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) faction, which supports the BJP, said the saffron party should keep its poll promise of a permanent political solution in the hills, which have witnessed violent agitation for the past few decades over the demand of a separate statehood.

“We have been demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland for a number of years.

The BJP in its manifesto had also promised a permanent political solution,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told PTI, quoting party supremo Gurung.

“We think this is the appropriate time for the Centre to carve a Union territory with legislature. We would soon start agitation over this.”

The statehood issue and implementation of the sixth schedule of the Constitution have been the major demands in the hills since the beginning of the protracted Gorkhaland movement in 1986.

Darjeeling witnessed one of its most violent agitations — a 104-day-long strike — over the demand of a separate statehood in June 2017, leading to death of several locals and security personnel.

The GJM’s call for Darjeeling to be a Union territory was backed by the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), which felt it would be the most suitable solution for the problem.

“The demand of a separate state may be a long-drawn process, but we think a Union territory (UT) with legislature would be accepted by all the stateholders,” GNLF leader N V Chetri told PTI.

“The present governing body of the hills, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), has failed to deliver.”

The views of the GJM and the GNLF also found support from several smaller outfits in the hills. BJP MP Bista said he respected the views of the hill parties, adding that all options would be discussed while deciding on a solution.

“I can assure that the BJP would keep its promise of a permanent political solution,” Bista told PTI.

“All the options — be it Gorkhaland, Union territory with legislature or any other — would be discussed with all the stakeholders before taking a final call.

” Several state BJP leaders, however, declined to comment on the issue, but exuded confidence that the central government would come up with a solution to the decades-old problem.

The BJP, which was once sympathetic to the Gorkhaland statehood demand, has been stressing on the restoration of democracy in the region and the end of the “reign of terror by the police”, which, it alleged, started since the 2017 agitation.

Bista, supported by Gurung and several other hill parties, was elected from the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat by a record margin in the 2019 general election.

The demand of a Union territory with legislature was, however, ruled out by the GJM faction supported by the TMC, which said the BJP had for the last 10 years “fooled” the people of the hills with the “lollypop of separate statehood”.

“Neither the BJP nor Bimal Gurung are serious about the problems of the people of the hills.

They just want to exploit them to serve their own political purpose,” said Binay Tamang, the leader of the GJM faction supported by the TMC.

Senior TMC leader Gautam Deb said it would never favour the state’s bifurcation.

“The BJP’s policy is to divide, break and rule. But, we won’t allow it in Bengal,” the minister added.

Darjeeling is a picturesque hill town and the area is ethnically dominated by the Gorkhas.

The place, known for its world-renowned tea, is also inhabited by the Lepchas, Sherpas, Bhutias among others.

Several political parties have over the years promised the people of the hills a separate state and implementation of the sixth schedule, which grants more autonomy to a region.

The demand for a separate state was first made in the 1980s, with the Subhas Ghisingh-led GNLF launching a violent agitation in 1986, which went on for 43 days and led to the death of 1,200 people in the hills.

The movement culminated in the formation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council in 1988, following the intervention of then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu.

The separate statehood demand gained momentum yet again in 2007 after the formation of the GJM, under the leadership of Bimal Gurung, who was once a trusted aide of Ghisingh.

After the TMC took over the reins of the state in 2011 by ending the 34-year Left rule, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was formed with Gurung as its chief.

But, peace was short-lived in the area as Gurung led an agitation in support of the statehood demand, first in 2013, and then engineered a 104-day-long strike in 2017, accusing the TMC government of trying to “wipe out” Gorkha identity.

TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, whose party left the Modi government over special status to Andhra Pradesh, voiced his support for the scrapping of Article 370 on Twitter.

NEW DELHI: In a major success for Modi government, several non-NDA, non-UPA parties on Monday supported government’s resolution in Rajya Sabha to abrogate Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

These parties having no political affiliation with either ruling BJP or Congress include Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Aam Adami Party (AAP), AIADMK, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress.

BSP MP Satish Chandra Mishra, while supporting the resolution in the House, said: “Our party gives complete support. We want that the Bill be passed. Our party is not expressing any opposition to Article 370 Bill and the other Bill.”

BJP member Prasanna Acharya announced the party’s decision to support the resolution in the House, putting the “nation first” and said Kashmir become an integral part of India in “real sense” after the abrogation. “In a real sense, Jammu & Kashmir has become a part of India today. My party supports this resolution. We are a regional party but for us, the nation is first,” Acharya told Rajya Sabha.

Supporting the resolution, AIADMK’s A Navaneethakrishnan cited late Jayalalitha to emphasize that she always wanted the special provision to go.

“Amma (as Jayalalitha was popularly known) was well known for upholding sovereignty and integrity. So AIADMK party supports the two resolutions, Reorganisation Bill and the Reservation Bill,” he told Rajya Sabha.

TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, whose party left the Modi government over special status to Andhra Pradesh, voiced his support for the scrapping of Article 370 on Twitter.

“Telugu Desam Party supports the Union Government as it seeks to repeal Article 370. I pray for the peace and prosperity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” the former Andhra Pradesh chief minister tweeted.

AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been at loggerhead with the Centre, took to Twitter to announce his party’s decision to support the government on the resolution.

He said: “We support the government on its decisions on J&K. We hope this will bring peace and development in the state.”

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSRCP also supported the resolution in the House.

The resolution to do away with the provision was introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha. Shortly after the introduction of the resolution, President Ram Nath Kovind came out with a notification — The Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019 that will come into force immediately. The order will supersede the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954 as amended from time to time.

The resolution was met with stiff opposition from the main Opposition Congress, DMK, MDMK, with DMK chief MK Stalin calling the move “murder of democracy”.

Later, the Constitution (application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019, which scrapped Article 370 was taken up in Lok Sabha.

Bimal Gurung-led Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) faction, which supports the BJP, said the saffron party should keep its poll promise of a permanent 

Mufti described the Modi government’s decision to scrap Article 370 of the Constitution as “the darkest day in Indian democracy”.

SRINAGAR/ NEW DELHI: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah were formally detained and taken to a government guest house ‘Hari Niwas’ in Srinagar on Monday night, hours after the Rajya Sabha passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill. The bill seeks to divide the state into two Union Territories — Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir. 

National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and People’s Conference leaders Sajad Lone and Imran Ansari were also arrested.

Mufti and Abdullah are among those placed under house arrest since midnight Monday.

Sources said Mufti was arrested on the orders of the Executive Magistrate in Srinagar and shifted to Hari Niwas guest house.

In his order, the First Class Executive Magistrate cited apprehensions of law and order situation and breach of peace and tranquillity in Kashmir. 

“Your (Mufti) activities are likely to cause breach of peace keeping into consideration your recent activities that may likely lead to serious law and order situation and breach of peace and tranquillity in Kashmir,” the order said. 

It said Mehbooba and her party activists were about to proceed in a procession in public which could threaten law and order. “Keeping into consideration the present situation in Kashmir…I do hereby immediately order your detention,” said the Executive Magistrate.

Mehbooba Mufti had described the Modi government’s decision to scrap Article 370 of the Constitution as “the darkest day in Indian democracy”.

The overwhelming mandate that Modi ji got had given us hope that like a statesman he too would tread the path taken by Vajpayee ji & reach out to people of J&K. What an utter betrayal of trust.

“Decision of J&K leadership to reject 2 nation theory in 1947 & align with India has backfired. Unilateral decision of GOI to scrap Article 370 is illegal & unconstitutional which will make India an occupational force in J&K,” the former Chief Minister tweeted.

“It will have catastrophic consequences for the subcontinent. GOI’s intentions are clear. They want the territory of J&K by terrorising its people. India has failed Kashmir in keeping its promises,” she said.

With mobile Internet and SMS connectivity, landline services and TV channels suspended, panicked people were unable to reach out to their friends and family members with the Valley being cut off from the rest of India.

Authorities imposed an overnight curfew in Kishtwar, Rajouri districts and Banihal area of Ramban district, Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar Angrez Singh Rana said. Restrictions continue to be imposed in many districts of Jammu division and Srinagar.

The Army, meanwhile, moved six columns to Jammu to maintain law and order.

The government had imposed restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC in Srinagar district midnight Monday as a precautionary measure and banned public movement, while all educational institutions, including universities in Srinagar and Jammu, were closed.

Officials said all public meetings have been banned and only identity cards of essential services officials were treated as movement passes and police and civil administration officials were provided with satellite phones to communicate orders.

Meanwhile, barricades were erected on many arterial roads, including the entry and exit points to Srinagar, and riot control vehicles were put on standby in sensitive areas.

While tourists and students have been leaving the Valley in droves since the last two days, tour operators said they received cancellations from foreign and domestic tourists after Article 370 was revoked.

“We have seen around 30% increase in booking cancellations by travellers heading to Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and other parts of Kashmir Valley in the past three days,” said Aloke Bajpai, CEO & co-founder, Ixigo.