Kashmir: Received minor reports of 2-3 disturbances, says J&K principal secy
After a short relief from restrictions, mobile internet services were once again suspended in five districts of Jammu region. The authorities had earlier restored the low-speed (2G) mobile internet services in five districts of Jammu region. High-speed internet services (2G and 3G) will be restored after a fresh assessment of the situation. The government had on Friday said that restrictions will gradually be relaxed over the weekend in the Valley. Landline phone services were restored on Saturday in some areas of Kashmir. The government has said that the curbs will be relaxed in a phase-wise manner and will be reviewed on a daily basis. All the 190 schools in Srinagar are also scheduled to open tomorrow. The district administration is making necessary arrangements to ensure the safety and security of the students. Government offices will also start functioning normally from Monday.
Received reports of 2-3 minor disturbances: J&K Principal Secretary
We have received reports of hooligans and mischievous elements forcing shopkeepers in certain areas to keep their establishments close. This has been taken note of by law enforcing agency. Appropriate action will be taken: J&K Principal Secretary (Planning Commission) Rohit Kansal
In areas where relaxation was provided, we've no report of any untoward incident. There are, however, very minor reports of 2-3 disturbances in areas where relaxations were not provided. These were dealt with by local security agencies: J&K Principal Secretary
J&K Principal Secy (Planning Commission) R Kansal:As of now,we've reports of 2 injuries; both are reported to be minor injuries. We'll endeavor that landline communication is restored to its full functionality as soon as possible,subject to physical limitation that BSNL is facing pic.twitter.com/0t3vsTgv28
ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2019
Directorate of Information, J&K: 1st batch of 304 Haj pilgrims arrived in 2 flights today at Srinagar Airport after completing their pilgrimage. Pilgrims were received by Advisor to Governor Farooq Khan, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Khan & IG of Kashmir Police SP Pani. pic.twitter.com/ao8D3ldw8s
ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2019
Keen to open communication channels asap: J&K Governor's Advisor
If the man on the street who is staying inside the house is not aware of what is the intention of the govt then he is in a state of a confused mind. All efforts are being made to convey what is happening: K Vijay Kumar, Jammu & Kashmir Governor's Advisor:
"Because we have to maintain law&order, as an essential preventive measure we had to reduce the communication channels so that it was not put to misuse. We are keen that we should open communications channels as soon as possible," he said.
370 was done for election purpose: Congress
Addressing a press conference, the Congress linked abrogation of 370 with the upcoming polls, alleging that provisions of Article 370 were scrapped for the upcoming elections in various states.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda hits out at Congress, welcomes govt's move on Article 370
Former Haryana CM and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said at a rally in Rohtak the grand old party has deviated from its path. He said Congress is not the same as it used to be. Hooda also welcomed abrogation of Article 370 saying the nation comes first.
The way it was done was not right: Deepender Hooda on abrogation of Article 370
Abrogation of Article 370 is in the interest of the nation but the way it was done was not right: Ex-Congress MP Deepender Hooda
Restrictions reimposed in parts of Srinagar after incidents of violence
Restrictions were tightened in some parts of the city on Sunday following incidents of violence a day earlier, even as the first batch of Haj pilgrims returned to Kashmir from Saudi Arabia, officials said. They added restrictions continued in many parts of the Valley for the 14th day on Sunday.
Restrictions were reimposed in certain areas which witnessed trouble on Saturday after the curbs were eased in several areas of the city and elsewhere in the valley, the officials said.
They said protests took place at around a dozen places in which several protesters were injured. However, the exact number of injuries was not available, they added. (PTI)
If talks are held with Pak it will now be on PoK, says Rajnath Singh
"Article 370 was abrogated in J&K for its development.Our neighbour is knocking doors of intl. community saying India made a mistake.Talks with Pak will be held only if it stops supporting terror. If talks are held with Pak it will now be on PoK," Rajnath Singh said.
Pakistan PM acknowledges what India did in Balakot: Rajnath Singh
"Few days ago, prime minister of Pakistan said that India is planning to take an action bigger than Balakot. It means that Pakistan PM acknowledges what India did in Balakot," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Panchkula, Haryana.
Pakistan is trying to weaken India: Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Pakistan is trying to garner the support of the neighbouring countries but the United States -- world's most powerful nation -- has slammed Pakistan and has adviced its leaders to speak to India. Pakistan is trying to weaken India, he added.
Rajnath Singh said this is not an election stunt but a commitment. "We never compromised with the dignity of nation. There were two constitutions but we abrogated Article 370 without any hitch... BJP's politics is not limited to forming the government but to empower the nation... Modi government is committed to the overall development of the nation and to the welfare of people of Jammu and Kashmir...We don't want to divide the society between Hindus and Muslims, all are brothers," he said.
Mobile internet services in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi snapped again
Visuals from Kupwara
Jammu and Kashmir: Visuals from KUPWARA city. (17.8.19) pic.twitter.com/3kL4PsxwIOANI (@ANI) August 18, 2019
Visuals from Srinagar
Jammu and Kashmir: Visuals from SRINAGAR city. (17.8.19) pic.twitter.com/krnFEG55YoANI (@ANI) August 18, 2019
Ladakh's leaders urge Centre to declare it tribal area to protect its identity
Prominent leaders of Ladakh on Saturday made a fervent appeal to the Centre to declare the region a tribal area under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to protect its identity.
In a memorandum to Union minister Arjun Munda, Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal said Ladakh is a predominantly tribal area with tribals making up to 98 percent of its population.
"After the Centre announced its decision to make Ladakh a Union Territory, the biggest concern of the tribal population here is to protect their identity, culture, land, and economy," he said.
Namgyal appealed to the Union tribal affairs minister to declare it a tribal area under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to protect the interests of its people. (PTI)
Situation becoming normal in Kashmir: Dharmendra Pradhan
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said though "some people" do not want peace in Jammu and Kashmir, the situation is returning to normal in the state following the abrogation of Article 370.
The oil and steel minister was speaking to reporters during his brief visit to Raipur.
"The situation is becoming normal in the valley...lot of issues are coming to fore...There are some people who do not want the situation to turn normal in the valley," the BJP leader said. (PTI)
Still a democracy?: Priyanka Gandhi hits out over party leaders' detention
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at the government on Saturday, asking on what grounds her party's leaders were taken into custody in Jammu and Kashmir.
She asked whether it was a crime to speak to the media after the state unit of the Congress was prevented from addressing a press conference on Friday as police detained its chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma and place its Jammu and Kashmir president Ghulam Ahmed Mir under house arrest.
"On what grounds have Congress leaders in J&K been arrested? Is it a crime to speak to the media? It's now 15 days since ex CM's who respected and abided by the Constitution of India just like our leaders, have been under arrest (sic)," she said on Twitter.
"Even their families have not been allowed to communicate with them. Does the Modi-Shah Government believe India is still a democracy? (sic)," she said in the tweet with hashtag "StopIllegalArrestsInKashmir". (PTI)