Srinagar, Sep 9: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, today chaired a meeting to review and resolve issues related to the Medicity project.

Besides Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo, senior officers from the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), Roads & Buildings (R&B) Department, SIDCO, Industries & Commerce Deptt and Project Coordinator Sajad Nazir Shah attended the meeting.

During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on the demarcation of land earmarked for the Medicity project, as well as 15-metre Right of Way/the buffer area between new Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Highcourt complex & Medicity.

The Divisional Commissioner took note of the issues raised by the concerned departments and the executing agency and directed the officers to undertake a joint inspection of the site to resolve the  matter of demarcation of allocated land.

He further directed that revenue officers from the concerned departments be associated with the demarcation process to ensure that the land is demarcated strictly in accordance with the approved plan of 2021.

Anshul Garg also stressed the need to ensure the requisite right of way to the Medicity project so that the implementation of the project proceeds smoothly and without further impediments.

Meanwhile, DC Srinagar assured suppprt to facilitate the resolution of the issue at the earliest.

Earlier, project coordinator apprised the chair regarding the approved plan of Medicity and Right of Way.

Srinagar, Sep 9: Spanish filmmaker and producer Anna Saura Ramon on Wednesday described Kashmir as an ideal destination for filmmaking, praising its scenic landscapes, lakes, natural light and hospitality while calling for stronger cinematic ties between India and Spain.

Speaking to reporters on the third day of the inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) at SKICC Srinagar, Saura, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said film festivals play an important role in promoting cinema and creating opportunities for filmmakers and audiences to discover films from different parts of the world.

“This is my vist to Kashmir and India. I hope to come again,” Saura said, adding that she was looking forward to exploring Srinagar and experiencing the local culture.

On the scope for collaboration between Indian and Spanish cinema, she said there were differences between the two industries, but language should not become a barrier to stronger artistic relationships. “I think we can push for better relationships between India and Spain,” she said, adding that there were opportunities for filmmakers from both countries to connect and work together.

Talking about Kashmir as a filming destination, Saura said the Valley had immense potential for filmmakers because of its landscapes, lakes and quality of natural light. “Of course, you have to promote Kashmir. There are great locations, good light for shooting and beautiful lakes,” she said.

Saura also said she had already shared pictures of Kashmir with a friend, who suggested that the Valley could be explored as a potential location for filmmaking.

Asked whether she would consider casting Indian actors in a future India-Spain production, she said there was no reason why filmmakers could not work with actors from India. “There are lots of Indian-Spanish films that you will like,” she said.

On the possibility of international studios and filmmakers coming to Kashmir, Saura said greater cooperation between governments and the film industry could help attract productions to the region.

“I am sure they will come and shoot here and make a movie,” she said.

Reacting to IFFJK, Saura described it as a major initiative and expressed hope that the festival would have a long life.

“It is important for everyone,” she said, adding that such festivals provide an opportunity to bring films and filmmakers from outside and expose local audiences to international cinema.

Saura also praised the atmosphere and hospitality in Kashmir, saying her first visit to India, particularly to Kashmir, had been a positive experience.

Saura is known for her work as a producer and director, including the documentary The Kid in the Photo.

Srinagar, Sep 9: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has set aside the discharge of an accused in a UAPA case stating that secessionist sloganeering in a mob in the presence of the head of a banned separatist organisation prima facie falls under the definition of unlawful activity.

A division bench headed by acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Kumar set aside the discharge of Mohammad Yousuf Lone in a 2013 UAPA case by the Additional District and Sessions Judge (Designated Special Court under NIA Act) Kupwara.

“The sloganeering for secession, raised by an accused leading a mob in the company of the head of a proscribed separatist organisation, coupled with incitement of the public and violence against security forces, is capable, on a prima facie appreciation, of falling squarely within this definition,” the bench observed in its order.

According to the case, a mob headed by Mohammad Yousuf Lone and Late Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman of the banned Hurriyat Conference, came out of Jamia Masjid in Kupwara on November 8, 2013, raised anti-national slogans against the Government of India, and pelted stones at police and security forces.

The separatist leaders also allegedly instigated the general public against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Union of India, according to the chargesheet.

“The trial court has recorded, in a single sentence in paragraph 6 of the order impugned, that the facts ‘do not fulfil the ingredients of Sections 2(o) of ULA(P) Act’ without setting out the reasoning by which the specific statements or conduct attributed to the respondent in the chargesheet were tested against the statutory definition. This amounts to a bare conclusion rather than a reasoned finding,” the high court said.

It said the material with chargesheet — including the recorded slogans, the leadership role attributed to the respondent, and the resultant violence — discloses a strong suspicion sufficient to put the respondent on trial, leaving the question of whether the charges are ultimately proved to be examined at trial and not foreclosed at the threshold.

“It is trite that an order of discharge must reflect application of judicial mind to the material on record, and that the findings at the charge stage, though summary, cannot be conclusory. However, it is abundantly clear from perusal of the order impugned that the same does not indicate that the specific contents of the chargesheet, the statements of the witnesses to the procession, the site plan, and the material, alleged to link the respondent to the incitement and the resultant violence, were tested against the ingredients of Section 13 read with Section 2(o) of the UAPA before the conclusion of non-applicability was recorded. On this ground, the order impugned is unsustainable and calls for interference,” it added.

The court said it is neither making any definitive finding on the guilt or innocence of the respondent, nor expressing any opinion on the ultimate merits of the case.

“However, when specific material is brought on record that, on the face of it, discloses the commission of an offence and the complicity of the respondent, the trial court cannot act as a mute spectator and shut the doors of trial without assigning valid legal reasons,” it added.

Allowing the criminal appeal filed by the state, the high court directed that the chargesheet be restored and the trial court proceed with the framing of charge against the respondent afresh after considering the material placed on record by the appellant.

Srinagar, Sep 09: National Conference leader and MLA Salman Sagar on Wednesday apologised on behalf of party colleague Tanvir Sadiq over his controversial remarks that, during the time of party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, poverty in Kashmir was so severe that an entire village would sometimes share a single pair of trousers.

“If anyone’s sentiments have been hurt, or rather, if the majority of people feel that Tanvir Sadiq Sahib said something wrong, then I believe there should be an apology,” Sagar said.

He said Sadiq’s remarks were not intended to demean Kashmiris, but were meant to highlight Sheikh Abdullah’s efforts towards the economic empowerment of the people.

“What he meant was that Sheikh Abdullah had made efforts towards the economic empowerment of the people here,” Sagar said, referring to education, infrastructure and land reforms.

Srinagar, Sep 09: Renowned Bollywood actor and filmmaker Akbar Khan has hailed the first-ever film festival in Srinagar, saying the event has the potential to grow into an international cultural landmark and eventually compete with the Cannes Film Festival.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Khan congratulated Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the organisers for what he described as a “spectacular opening festival”.

“The show was mesmerising, soulful and captured the rhythm and the purpose of this first-ever film festival in Srinagar,” Khan said, praising the musical performances at the opening ceremony.

He particularly recalled the performances of Dr Janas-e-R Akhtar, Rani and Falak, saying they “captured the mood of the festival” and “the heart of the beginning of such a beautiful initiative”.

Khan also praised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s speech at the inaugural event, describing it as “very heart-rendering”.

“He was so prolific, recollecting the nostalgia of the Indian film industry, the Bollywood film industry, capturing chapter by chapter, moment by moment, how the people of Jammu and Kashmir love the units and the film stars and the directors and the producers who come and make the films here,” he said.

Recalling Bollywood’s long association with Kashmir, Khan referred to films that helped establish the Valley as one of Indian cinema’s most evocative locations.

He specifically mentioned Junglee, saying the famous “Yahoo” call by Shammi Kapoor 

“had become a kind of a call of the Valley for every filmmaker to come and shoot”.
Khan said the festival had been organised in a location uniquely suited to bringing filmmakers and cultures together.

“I would say that there could not have been a better place than Srinagar to be the chosen city for such a grand first-ever film festival,” he said.

He predicted that the event would rapidly acquire an international profile.

“I feel from year to year this festival will grow from strength to strength and very soon would be in competition with the Cannes Film Festival and maybe even get better,” Khan said.

He argued that Kashmir’s landscape itself could become one of the festival’s greatest attractions.

“Because Cannes does not offer such an environment. Such a beautiful landscape,” he said. “It becomes a source of all filmmakers when they visit such a place.”

According to Khan, filmmakers attending the festival would not merely watch films from different countries but would also be inspired by Kashmir itself.

“Besides watching films of each other countries and different great directors, they also get inspired by the soul of Kashmir,” he said.

‘Cinema is the most powerful medium’

Khan placed particular emphasis on cinema’s ability to build bridges across communities and countries.

“I would like to mention that cinema is the most powerful medium that makes bridges between nations and civilisations,” he said.

“It carries across borders, stories, civilisations, culture, people from different parts of the world who interact and meet and bring out, above all, their souls to understand each other.”

He said film festivals should therefore be judged primarily on artistic and cinematic merit.

“The greatest part of a film festival is that it should be judged on merits,” Khan said. 

“Every film that is being chosen should be judged on merits, on its cinematic excellence, free of prejudice, free from the changing winds of ideology.”

He said filmmakers, actors, producers and singers should be allowed to present their artistic work without ideological interference.

“Actors, directors, producers, singers come on to a platform and present their artistic cinema, music, art, culture,” he said.

Khan also spoke at length about the responsibility of filmmakers when dealing with India’s history and communal relations.

“I am very vocal. I respect every filmmaker. Every filmmaker has the right to present his film, his ideas, but never distort history. Never distort history to serve a purpose of creating disturbance, hatred [against] one another,” he said.

He added: “Cinema which spreads hatred should be discouraged in every nook and corner of the world, especially when it is designed for a specific propaganda.”

Khan said filmmakers could portray historical figures as heroes or villains, but should not manipulate history for a predetermined narrative.

“There are people who make films on villains and heroes and give the correct perspective as it is without dabbling it, without the historians and filmmakers diverting [it],” he said.

‘Kashmir has a very distinctive identity’

Khan also spoke about Kashmir’s cultural identity, describing it as deeply rooted in Sufi traditions and communal coexistence.

“Jammu Kashmir is a very, very beautiful concept and identity. Kashmir has a very distinctive identity,” he said.

“Like every state has its lovely identity in different ways. But Kashmir has the Sufism involvement where people of all caste and creed are one.”

Describing Kashmir as “a secular centre which is mixed with warmth, love, affection”, Khan referred to Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs living together through its history.

He said India’s civilisational diversity should be preserved and reflected responsibly through cinema.

“India is one of the greatest countries, a 5,000-year-old civilisation,” he said, before invoking the historical reigns of Ashoka and Akbar.

Khan recalled his own work on historical television productions, including The Sword of Tipu Sultan and Akbar the Great, saying his intention had always been nation-building.

“I first directed the first 22 episodes of The Sword of Tipu Sultan when my brother was struck by an unfortunate hand of destiny,” he said, adding that he later made Akbar the Great.

“At that time, Sulh-e-Kul was the religion of Emperor Akbar, where every religion comes under one umbrella. Peace for all, submission to all,” Khan said.

“I made that serial Akbar the Great again for nation-building. It brought harmony amongst the Hindus, the Muslims.”

Plans to bring Taj Mahal to Kashmir

Khan also announced plans to bring his film Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story to Kashmir for a premiere.

“My film Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story, inshallah, I will bring it to Kashmir to have a premiere of the film shortly and release it all over India again,” he said.

He said the film had already begun its international journey and recalled its screening in Malaysia.

“My film Taj Mahal has already started to take its first international journey on 6th February, 2006, where the Prime Minister of Malaysia had watched the film and he wrote a review, the same with the Minister of Culture,” Khan said.

He described the Taj Mahal as a symbol of love and said he wanted that message to reach audiences across the world.

“I want that this symbol of love, Taj Mahal, should sink into the minds and heart and soul of the people of the world,” he said. “It is the greatest message and Taj Mahal is one of our greatest monuments of pride before all the country.”

Khan concluded by thanking the organisers and praising Omar Abdullah and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah for what he described as their commitment to an inclusive society.

“I have enjoyed every moment of my stay here with the warm hospitality of every officer, bureaucrat,” he said.

He described Farooq Abdullah as “one of the tallest leaders of a country” who believes in “the inclusive society, the love and harmony of a Brahman, of a Muslim, of a Christian, and a Jain”.

Khan said the presence of both father and son in Jammu and Kashmir’s political leadership offered hope for the future.

“It is an amazing combination of a father and son and I am sure there will be great amount of peace, harmony, success and the people of Jammu Kashmir will soon be seeing a golden period,” he said.