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India-Italy relations at decisive stage, expanded with unprecedented momentum: Modi & Meloni

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India-Italy relations at decisive stage, expanded with unprecedented momentum: Modi & Meloni

New Delhi, May 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic Giorgia Meloni have said the relationship between India and Italy has now reached a decisive stage, evolving from a cordial friendship into a special strategic partnership.

In an article, jointly written by the two leaders for the Indian and Italian media, Modi and Meloni said that at a time when the international system is undergoing a profound change, the partnership between the two countries is guided by regular exchanges at higher political and institutional levels.

Modi is currently in Italy as part of the final leg of his five-nation tour.

The two leaders said the bilateral relation is gaining a new and higher dimension that combines the economic dynamism, societal creativity, and millennia-old civilisational wisdom of the two countries.

“The relationship between India and Italy has now reached a decisive stage. In recent years, our ties have expanded with unprecedented momentum, evolving from a cordial friendship into a special strategic partnership grounded in the values of freedom and democracy, and a common vision for the future,” they said.

The two leaders said the cooperation between India and Italy mirrors the awareness that prosperity and security in the 21st century will be shaped by the ability of nations to innovate, manage energy transitions, and strengthen strategic sovereignty.

To this end, they said they have committed to deepen and diversify the bilateral relationship with a view to pursuing new objectives and pooling the two countries’ complementary strengths.

“We aim to forge a powerful synergy between Italian design, manufacturing excellence, and world-class supercomputers — reflecting Italy’s position as an industrial powerhouse — and India’s rapid economic growth, engineering talent, scale, and innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem with over 100 unicorns and 200,000 start-ups,” they said.

The leaders said this is not a simple integration, but a co-creation of value where the respective industrial strengths amplify one another.

They said the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and India paves the way for increased trade and investment in both directions.

“We want to reach and exceed the Euro 20 billion target for trade between Italy and India by 2029, with a focus on defence & aerospace, clean technologies, machinery, automotive components, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, agri-food, tourism and more,” they said.

In the article, Modi and Meloni said “Made in Italy” has always been synonymous with excellence worldwide, and today it finds a natural synergy with the high-quality goals of the “Make in India” initiative.

The growing interest of Italian businesses in the production of goods for India and the increasing presence of Indian industries in Italy, numbering over 1,000 from both sides, is a positive sign that will strengthen the integration of our supply chains, they said.

The two leaders said technological innovation lies at the very heart of the partnership and the coming decades will be shaped by a technological revolution of unmeasurable scope, marked by advances in such sectors as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, advanced manufacturing, critical minerals, and digital infrastructure.

They said India’s dynamic innovation ecosystem, coupled with a highly skilled professional talent pool, and Italy’s advanced industrial capabilities make the cooperation in the above sectors both natural and strategic.

“The growing partnership between our Universities and Research Centres will support this. India’s Digital Public Infrastructure is already finding resonance with a large number of countries particularly in the Global South,” they said.

The leaders said AI, in particular, is already impacting societies and the global economy and Italy and India have long been collaborating to ensure that its development is responsible and human-centred.

India and Italy also see AI as a powerful instrument for inclusive development, especially for the Global South, where digital public infrastructure and accessible, multilingual technologies can bridge divides rather than deepen them, they said.

“Building on India’s vision of MANAV — putting human at the centre of technology – and Italy’s leadership in promoting a human-centric ‘algor-ethics’ rooted in its humanist tradition, our partnership seeks to ensure that AI acts as a catalyst for social empowerment,” they said.

Modi and Meloni said their approach combines India’s digital scale with Italy’s ethical and industrial expertise, ensuring technology serves human dignity.

They said that by sharing best practices in secure digital cooperation, capacity-building and resilient cyber infrastructure, the two countries aim to create an open, trustworthy and equitable digital space in which every nation can shape and benefit from AI.

This perspective forms the core of Italy’s G7 presidency and outcomes of the AI Impact Summit 2026 held in New Delhi.

The leaders said conceiving AI as a tool created by humans for humans means firmly asserting that technology cannot replace individuals or undermine their fundamental rights, nor be used to manipulate public debate or alter democratic processes.

“Our approach to defending freedom and human dignity in an increasingly interconnected world hinges on this very challenge,” they said.

Modi and Meloni said the India-Italy cooperation also covers the space sector and India’s impressive advancements in space exploration and satellite technology, together with Italy’s aerospace engineering excellence, offer significant opportunities for next-generation technology development.

They said Italy and India intend to further strengthen their cooperation in sectors such as defence, security and strategic technologies.

“Our collaboration will help ensure the security of critical maritime routes, strengthen resilience in the face of threats, such as terrorism, international criminal networks, drug trafficking, cyber-crimes and human trafficking,” they said.

The leaders said energy is another key pillar of our partnership and the global transition towards diversified energy sources requires innovation, investment, and cooperation.

“Our collaboration along with other countries in key India-led initiatives — International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) — is also important in this context,” they said.

The two leaders said physical, digital and human connectivity is the thread that weaves us together and both India and Italy are located at the very heart of two crucial hubs of the global economy, the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean — regions that cannot be viewed as separate spheres, but as increasingly interconnected spaces.

As a matter of fact, the leaders said they are witnessing the emergence of what might be termed the Indo-Mediterranean, an important corridor for trade, technology, energy, data and ideas tying the Indian Ocean to Europe.

“It is precisely within this interconnected space that our bond naturally evolves into a special strategic partnership — one that bridges two continents and shapes new global dynamics,” they said.

They said the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) represents a vision aimed at connecting our regions through modern transport and infrastructure, digital networks, energy systems, and resilient supply chains. India and Italy are also committed to working together with other partners to make this vision a reality.

“We can address our shared challenges by drawing upon the profound partnership and the enduring cultural ties between our nations,” they said.

Within Indian culture, Modi and Meloni said, the concept of “Dharma” evokes the sense of responsibility that must guide our actions, while the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” — the world is one family — resonates powerfully in the interconnected digital age.

They said such values find a natural echo in Italy’s humanist tradition, rooted in the Renaissance, which highlights the dignity of each individual and the power of culture to unite peoples and societies.

“Our shared vision, therefore, aims to lay the foundation for a strong and forward-looking India-Italy Partnership with our people at the centre,” the two leaders said.

Greater Kashmir

JKMSA seeks Health Minister JP Nadda’s intervention over action against GMC Anantnag interns demanding stipend hike

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JKMSA seeks Health Minister JP Nadda’s intervention over action against GMC Anantnag interns demanding stipend hike

Srinagar, May 19: The Jammu and Kashmir Medical Students Association (JKMSA), the official medical wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, on Tuesday sought the intervention of Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda while expressing deep concern and strongly condemning the alleged summoning and issuance of disciplinary notices to MBBS interns and junior doctors at Government Medical College Anantnag for peacefully raising their legitimate demand regarding enhancement of stipend for medical interns in Jammu & Kashmir.

In a statement, President of JKMSA, Dr. Wasim Khan, said it is deeply unfortunate that young medical professionals, who tirelessly serve patients and remain at the forefront of healthcare delivery under immense academic, physical, and psychological pressure, are allegedly being subjected to intimidation and disciplinary proceedings merely for voicing genuine concerns related to inadequate stipends, excessive workload, long duty hours, and difficult working conditions.

He said that medical interns, postgraduate residents, and junior doctors form the backbone of the healthcare system and dedicate countless hours to patient care and hospital services, often working beyond prescribed duty hours in extremely demanding circumstances. Raising concerns regarding fair compensation, humane working conditions, and professional dignity, he said, cannot be treated as misconduct or indiscipline, but is a legitimate, democratic, and constitutional right.

Dr Khan emphasised that the students had reportedly made a peaceful video highlighting their demand for stipend enhancement and that such expression should not attract punitive action or coercive measures. He said that instead of summoning students and doctors for allegedly violating institutional norms, constructive dialogue and empathetic engagement would have been a far more appropriate and effective way of addressing their grievances.

The association said it fails to understand how peacefully demanding a rightful stipend hike amounts to violating college norms. “Did the students disrespect anyone? Did they violate any law or constitutional principle? If not, then targeting students and young doctors for peacefully expressing their concerns creates an atmosphere of fear and suppression within educational and medical institutions,” the statement said. JKMSA further stated that a healthy and efficient healthcare system depends upon a motivated, respected, and adequately supported medical workforce. Suppressing genuine grievances through notices and intimidation, it said, only demoralises future healthcare professionals and discourages them from speaking about systemic issues affecting the healthcare sector. The association urged the administration of Government Medical College Anantnag and the Jammu & Kashmir Government to immediately withdraw any notices or summons issued against the students and ensure that no punitive action is taken against any intern or junior doctor for peacefully raising their concerns.

Greater Kashmir

Saw AI-171 pilot’s body in seated position still gripping controls, claims crash victim’s relative

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Saw AI-171 pilot’s body in seated position still gripping controls, claims crash victim’s relative

Ahmedabad, May 20: A man who lost three family members in the AI-171 crash in June last year has claimed that he saw the body of the flight’s captain inside the mortuary in Ahmedabad in a seated position with his hands still gripping the plane’s controls.

The claims of Romin Vohra, a resident of Kheda district in Gujarat, have surfaced amid continuing discussions over the circumstances leading to the crash and the actions taken in the cockpit during the final moments of the flight.

Latching on to his claims, an official of a US-based law firm, claiming to be representing families of more than 100 victims, said the crash must be examined by “truly independent experts” before blaming a “single person” for the tragedy.

“The families deserve the truth, not a quick conclusion that protects powerful companies or institutions,” the official said.

The London-bound Air India flight AI-171 crashed into a hostel complex in Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar area moments after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, killing 241 persons on board and 19 on the ground. One passenger survived.

It was operated by pilot-in-command Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Captain Clive Kunder.

The bodies of victims, many charred beyond recognition, were shifted to the mortuary at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital in the Asarwa area for identification and DNA matching.

Romin Vohra, who lost his brother, niece and aunt in the tragedy, claimed he entered the mortuary on June 13 to search for the remains of his family members and there saw the body of Captain Sabharwal.

Speaking to PTI over the phone on Tuesday, Vohra, a lab technician by profession, said he was allowed inside because he works in the medical field.

“My brother, my brother’s daughter and my aunt died in the crash. I had gone to identify them a day after the crash. Since I am from the medical field and have some contacts, I got permission to go inside the mortuary,” he said.

Vohra said Captain Sabharwal’s body was kept separately from others on one side of a table.

“At that time, the body was stiff and in a sitting position, as if he was still on his seat,” he claimed.

“His hands were holding the steering (control yoke or column). His legs were bent the way a seated person’s legs remain bent, while his arms were stretched forward,” Vohra added.

Asked if the controls were still in the pilot’s hands, he replied, “Yes, the steering was in his hands.”

Vohra further claimed that the captain was still wearing his uniform, which helped him identify the body.

“The captain’s uniform was there. There was only one captain’s body there, which was that of Sumeet Sabharwal sir. I recognised him from the uniform,” he said.

According to Vohra, the body had comparatively fewer burn injuries on the front side.

“He was burnt more on the backside. The front side and face were not burnt that much. I do not remember every detail exactly, but one could clearly tell it was the captain’s body,” he said.

Vohra said he could later confirm the identity after seeing publicly available photographs of the pilot.

“Being from the medical field, we can identify bodies from height, weight and physical structure. Later, when I saw photographs of Captain Sabharwal, I became sure that the body I saw was indeed his,” he said.

He also described the emotional trauma faced by relatives waiting outside the hospital after the crash.

“At that time, our own tragedy was so huge that we were not in a condition to speak to anyone. For 10 days, I stayed put outside the hospital on the footpath in terrible condition while waiting for the bodies,” he said, adding that his family was handed over the bodies after a successful DNA match.

Meanwhile, US-based legal firm Chionuma Law, which claimed to represent families of 115 victims of the crash, called for an independent investigation and cautioned against drawing premature conclusions.

“The reported account that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was found in a seated position, still gripping the yoke, raises serious questions that cannot be ignored,” Ayush Rajpal, case manager at the firm, said in a statement.

“A pilot who is holding the controls until the final moment should not be judged by speculation, especially when he is no longer alive to defend himself,” he said.

“Every technical, mechanical, electrical and human factor” connected to the crash must be examined by “truly independent experts” before blaming a “single person” for the tragedy, Rajpal said.

“The families deserve the truth, not a quick conclusion that protects powerful companies or institutions,” the statement added.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in a preliminary report issued in July last year, said the plane’s engine fuel control switches were cut off seconds after lift-off, with one of the pilots in the cockpit voice recording heard asking the other why did he cut off, and the latter responding he did not do so.

As per the report, the engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off.

The Supreme Court in November last year said no one blamed the plane’s chief pilot for the crash, and asked Sabharwal’s 91-year-old father not to carry any emotional burden.

Greater Kashmir

Iran could trigger ‘nuclear arms race’ in Gulf: Vance

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Iran could trigger ‘nuclear arms race’ in Gulf: Vance

Washington, May 20: US Vice President J D Vance has said Iran having an atomic weapon would trigger a “nuclear arms race” worldwide and asserted that the US was “locked and loaded” to restart military operations if Tehran failed to reach a peace deal.

Vance’s remarks at a press conference at the White House on Tuesday came a day after President Donald Trump put off the decision to resume strikes on Iran at the request of Arab nations, including Qatar and the UAE, who said that Tehran was being “reasonable” in peace talks.

“We think the Iranians want to make a deal. The president of the United States has asked us to negotiate in good faith. And that’s exactly what we’ve done,” the vice president said.

But Vance warned that diplomacy will not come at the cost of Trump’s key demand that Iran never obtain a nuclear weapon.

“So as the president just told me, we’re locked and loaded,” Vance said, adding that he had a meeting with Trump before coming to the press briefing. 

“We don’t want to go down that pathway. But the president is willing and able to go down that pathway if we have to,” the vice president said. 

Vance said the US has a “simple proposition” and there are “two paths to go down”.

“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he said, adding that if Tehran acquired one, it would send other nations “scrambling” to get their own, setting off a “nuclear arms race”.

“Iran would really be the first domino in what would set off a nuclear arms race all over the world,” he said.

“If the Iranians did get a nuclear weapon, we know that a lot of nations all across the Gulf would then want their own nuclear weapon, and then a lot of nations all across the world,” Vance said.

“As the father of three young kids, I don’t want them to inherit a world where 20 additional regimes—half of them very dangerous and very sympathetic to terrorists—have nuclear weapons,” Vance said.

“We want to keep the number of countries that have nuclear weapons small, and that’s why Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. On top of all the other things that we might be worried about, that they themselves could use it, that they could use it as leverage in economic control or economic negotiations. We just don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon,” Vance said.

“There’s an option B, and the option B is that we could restart the military campaign to continue to prosecute the case, to continue to try to achieve America’s objectives,” Vance said. 

“But that’s not what the president wants. And I don’t think it’s what the Iranians want either,” he said.

He says there’s an opportunity to reset the Washington-Tehran relationship, “but it takes two to tango”.

Greater Kashmir

J&K High Court quashes FIR against former Ranji Cricketer

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J&K High Court quashes FIR against former Ranji Cricketer

Srinagar, May 19: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has quashed an FIR registered against the former cricketer over allegations of submitting a fake date of birth certificate to secure registration for the Ranji Trophy.

Underscoring that criminal law cannot be permitted to be used as an instrument of harassment or for settling internal institutional disputes, a bench comprising Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal quashed FIR No. 26/2023 registered by the Crime Branch, Kashmir, against the cricketer Majid Yaqoob Dar. The former cricketer had petitioned, seeking the court’s intervention to quash the FIR.

Details submitted before the court revealed that the FIR originated from a complaint filed by the then Chief Executive Officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) in 2020 wherein he had alleged that Dar had falsely projected his date of birth as December 30, 1978 instead of December 30, 1970 in order to obtain registration and benefits related to the Ranji Trophy.

The court noted that an internal inquiry conducted by JKCA had found the allegations to be baseless and motivated by internal disputes within the association. The Sub-Committee of JKCA had informed the Crime Branch that no material supporting the allegations could be traced in official records and recommended closure of the complaint.

The Court also took note of the statement of Member Administration of JKCA, Brigadier Anil Gupta (Retd), who stated before the Registrar Judicial that the association did not wish to pursue the prosecution any further and sought closure of the case.

Once the complainant association itself had concluded that the allegations were unfounded and unsupported by official records, continuation of criminal proceedings would amount to abuse of the process of law, the court noted.

The Court held that it could not overlook that criminal law could not be permitted to be used as an instrument of harassment or for settling internal disputes of an institution.

“Once the complainant itself, after examining the entire matter through its internal mechanism, has found the allegations to be baseless, unfounded and unsupported by the official record, continuation of criminal proceedings would serve no useful purpose and would amount to abuse of the process of law.”

The Court observed that it was also conscious of the settled principle that criminal law cannot be permitted to degenerate into a weapon of persecution or be utilized for oblique purposes arising out of personal or institutional rivalries.

The court concluded that that the material brought on record prima facie reflected that the impugned proceedings stemmed from internal disputes prevailing within the Association at the relevant point of time rather than from any genuine criminal misconduct attributable to the petitioner and quashed the FIR.

Greater Kashmir

Airtel launches priority ‘Priority Postpaid’ service

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Airtel launches priority ‘Priority Postpaid’ service

Bharti Airtel on Tuesday announced the launch of ‘Priority Postpaid’, a new service powered by advanced 5G slicing technology aimed at delivering a superior and more consistent network experience for postpaid customers.

The telecom major said the service has been specially designed for users who rely heavily on uninterrupted connectivity for work, entertainment, streaming and online collaboration.

To support the rollout, Airtel has upgraded its 5G network with advanced slicing capabilities that improve network efficiency, create additional capacity and enable targeted allocation of resources for priority customers.

According to the company, the technology allows Airtel to intelligently and dynamically segment network capacity, ensuring a stable and dependable experience for postpaid users even during periods of high traffic demand.

With this launch, Airtel becomes the first telecom operator in India to introduce a service based on 5G slicing technology. Similar services have already been rolled out in countries including the United States, Singapore, the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

Greater Kashmir

Sidhra anti-encroachment drive triggers backlash

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Sidhra anti-encroachment drive triggers backlash

Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Javed Ahmed Rana Tuesday announced that he had ordered an inquiry into, what he described as, “illegal eviction drive” in Sidhra area in Jammu outskirts and would take action against all those from the forest department involved in it.

Rana, while speaking to media persons after visiting the drive spot and meeting the affected families, said, “This was absolutely an illegal and unjust action. I’ve ordered an inquiry and will not spare those involved in this illegal act. I will take action against the officials of the forest department, involved in the eviction drive.”

He asserted that he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister to seek justice for the members of the nomadic community, living here for the past fifty years.

Alleging that the Police committed excesses against the unarmed people, Rana requested the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who oversees law and order, to “order registration of an FIR against the guilty Police officers who did not allow the people to offer prayers.”

The Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment said, “As per revenue records available with me, this is revenue land belonging to these people and not the forest land. I have asked the agitated people, who have a monumental contribution in keeping J&K India with India with their sacrifices, to maintain calm despite this provocative act. I’ve assured them that their losses will be compensated and the Department of Tribal Affairs will ensure their rehabilitation. Justice will be disseminated to them and the action will be taken against those guilty.”

Earlier, while carrying out an anti-encroachment drive in the Raika Bandi forest belt in Jammu outskirts, the officials of Forest Department, Revenue department and the Police in a joint operation demolished over 30 structures (both Kachcha and concrete structures) on Tuesday.

The officials stated that around 60 kanals (around 3 Hectares) of prime forest land in Compartment No 66/B was retrieved in the drive that lasted around four hours.

The drive was conducted by the officials of the Forest department, revenue department, Forest Protection Force, Police personnel, officers of the belt force and district administration in the presence of First-Class Magistrates early morning in the forest land situated on the lower side of Mohmaya Mandir, opposite Environment Park, Bandhi area, under the jurisdiction of Police Station Bagh-e-Bahu.

Heavy deployment of Police and other security forces was made to ensure peaceful operation. 

The action triggered protests by the affected families, which claimed that the drive was “illegal as it was conducted without prior notices.”

However, the government officials have contested this claim stating that the people there were already notified to vacate encroached land.   

“They (officials) conducted this drive in the name to contain the menace of Chitta. Our submission to the Lieutenant Governor is – Was the whole colony involved in it? Why were all houses demolished? This is injustice,” one of the members of aggrieved families maintained.

The families alleged that they had been living in the area for the last six generations and their names were there in 1952 voter lists.

Minister for Forests condemned the action on his social media handle as well and stated that he was “deeply shocked and outraged by the clandestine, unilateral demolition of homes in Sidhra, Jammu by the LG administration.”

“Decades of heritage of our innocent Gujjar-Bakarwal families has been reduced to rubble without taking the elected, popular government or my Ministry into confidence. This is not a mere regulatory drive; it is a targeted, cruel eviction explicitly aimed at terrorising and marginalizing our nomadic tribal communities who have protected these lands for over half a century,” Rana posted.

He said, “We will not stand by as silent spectators to this selective harassment and high-handedness. I am immediately taking this up at the highest level with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Sahib to demand an immediate halt, an institutional inquiry against the responsible officers and officials, and full rehabilitation for the affected families. Our people deserve justice, not displacement!”

Drive ‘targeted’, unacceptable: MP Mian Altaf

Senior National conference leader and Member of Parliament Mian Altaf Ahmed has strongly condemned the forest department’s action against nomadic tribal-community in Sidhra area of Jammu where atleast 20 residential structures were demolished.

Mian Altaf in a statement issued here on Tuesday has strongly condemned the demolition of Gujar Kothas and hutments in Sidhra Jammu in the guise of so called anti encroachment drive. “The tribal community in Jammu and Kashmir was already in the grip of fear and insecurity due to the many such incidents in Jammu and the latest incident of demolishing their temporary structures in Jammu added to their worries and send shock waves in the entire nomadic community afresh” he said.  “ I strongly condemn the demolition of several residential structures belonging to poor tribal people in Sidhra Jammu today, who have been putting up there for decades. This high handedness by the administration and forest Deptt is unacceptable” Mian Altaf said.

Mian Altaf said that these nomadic families over decades to the hilly areas stay in several places near grasslands where they have grazed their cattle for centuries , adding that the-fact which the authorities should verify first before blindly going for their selective targeting. He said they have no other source of livelihood except grazing of cattle and authorities should think thrice before evicting them from their grazing land. Mian Altaf urged the Government to probe into the incident and administration must issue instructions to stop this immediately. He also sought resettlement of the affected families.

‘Unjustified, insensitive’, Tarigami slams demolition drive

CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Tuesday criticised the demolition of shelters belonging to tribal and nomadic families in the Sidhra area of Jammu, calling the action unjustified and insensitive.

Gujjar and Bakarwal families dependent on cattle rearing and seasonal migration were already living in difficult circumstances and such actions only add to their hardship.

“The affected families have been staying in these areas for years. Any move that leaves poor people without shelter must be viewed seriously and handled with humanity,” Tarigami said in a statement.

He urged the administration to stop such drives, review the matter properly and ensure relief and rehabilitation for the affected families. He added that tribal communities should not be made to feel insecure or targeted.

Sidhra demolition drive ‘ruthless: Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari

Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari criticised the demolition drive in Jammu’s Sidhra on Tuesday, during which authorities demolished more than two dozen hutments and temporary structures, triggering protests by affected families who alleged that the drive was unjustified, ruthless, and biased against a particular community.

In his statement, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “The manner in which the Sidhra demolition drive was carried out is deeply concerning. How could the authorities allow such a brutal and arbitrary demolition of the residential dwellings?”

He further said, “Reports suggest that the operation continued for nearly four hours in an area largely inhabited by members of the nomadic Gujjar community, with homes and shelters demolished in a ruthless manner. Under what law can officials carry out such forced evictions without due process?”

“Many of the affected families claim they had been living there for years. If that is the case, the matter should have been handled with great care and strictly in accordance with the law and established guidelines,” he added.

Apni Party chief went on to say, “I have seen videos in which affected people clearly state that they were not even served prior notices before the demolition was carried out. If this is true, it raises extremely serious questions about the legality of the entire exercise.”

Expressing his concern over the allegations that the drive was conducted in a biased manner, targeting a particular community, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “The most disturbing aspect is the growing perception that this drive was carried out with bias, targeting a particular community. This may not be true, but even such a perception can damage our social fabric and the hard-earned peace and normalcy in the Union Territory.”

“I am deeply disturbed by this incident — not only because families allege they were rendered homeless and left on the roads without shelter, but also because such harsh and insensitive actions send a deeply troubling message to the people,” he added.

Urging Chief Minister to intervene into the matter, Mr Bukhari said, “I urge the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to personally intervene in this matter without delay, order a fair and transparent inquiry, ensure justice for the affected families, and take concrete steps to ensure that such incidents are never repeated.”

“After all, the fact remains that this so-called anti-encroachment drive was jointly carried out by the Forest Department, Forest Protection Force, and Revenue Department — all functioning under the elected government. Therefore, a government carrying a public mandate cannot evade accountability and responsibility for this disturbing action,” the statement added.

Treat matter with seriousness, explain who ordered demolitions: Sajad Lone to Govt

J&K Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone on Tuesday strongly condemned the fresh wave of demolitions in Sidra Jammu, terming the developments deeply disturbing and demanding an immediate explanation from the government on who authorised the action.

In his statement, Lone questioned the government’s silence and called on the administration to treat the matter with the gravity it deserves.

“The news coming in from Sidra is disturbing to say the least. There have been demolitions yet again. Can the government please for once treat the matter with seriousness that it deserves and explain who ordered the demolitions. If it is not them then who? And what are they going to do about it” he said.

Peoples Conference President was particularly scathing in highlighting what he described as a glaring contradiction in the government’s conduct. He recalled that the same administration had put on what he called a “theatre of wailing and crying” over demolitions carried out in Jammu, projecting deep outrage for public consumption, only to then defend those very demolitions in the Legislative Assembly when questioned, claiming that all prescribed norms and procedures had been duly followed.

“…I remember that this government enacted theatre of wailing and crying over demolitions in Jammu. And in the assembly when a question was asked, they defended the same saying all norms and procedures were followed,” Lone stated pointedly.

Lone made clear that his party would not remain a silent spectator to such conduct. “I condemn the demolitions,” he further added.

Meanwhile, senior leader and Secretary General of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference, Imran Reza Ansari also expressed strong concern over the demolition drive carried out by the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department in Sidhra, Jammu.

In a tweet on X, Imran Reza Ansari wrote, “What exactly is happening in Sidhra? A demolition drive carried out by the JK Forest Department against poor Gujjar families has now triggered outrage across J&K. If these structures were “illegal”, then how were people allowed to live there for decades in the first place? Many families allege they were not even served proper notices before their homes were demolished.”

In the tweet he added, “What makes this even more ironic is that the very person heading the department is now out protesting publicly. If the department itself carried out the drive, then what exactly is his responsibility? Governance cannot work like this. Action against encroachment cannot become action only against the poor & vulnerable while influential land grabbers remain untouched. This needs to stop!!”

PC’s Imran Reza Ansari questions Sidhra demolition drive

Senior leader and Secretary General of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference, Imran Reza Ansari, on Tuesday expressed strong concern over the demolition drive carried out by the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department in Sidhra, Jammu.

In a tweet on X, Imran Reza Ansari wrote, “What exactly is happening in Sidhra? A demolition drive carried out by the JK Forest Department against poor Gujjar families has now triggered outrage across J&K. If these structures were “illegal”, then how were people allowed to live there for decades in the first place? Many families allege they were not even served proper notices before their homes were demolished.”

In the tweet he added, “What makes this even more ironic is that the very person heading the department is now out protesting publicly. If the department itself carried out the drive, then what exactly is his responsibility? Governance cannot work like this. Action against encroachment cannot become action only against the poor & vulnerable while influential land grabbers remain untouched. This needs to stop!!”

Govt cannot keep on saying ‘we don’t know’:MLA Mehraj Malik

MLA Doda Mehraj Malik on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the J&K government over the ongoing demolition drive in Sidhra, Jammu, questioning its accountability on key governance issues.

In a post on X, MLA Doda Mehraj Malik wrote. “The present government cannot keep saying “we don’t know” about every issue. Demolition drives at Sidhra are happening under their watch. If the government has no control over forest demolitions, electricity, police, revenue or even the collapsing health sector, then what exactly is this government doing People voted for governance, not excuses. The Chief Minister @OmarAbdullah must answer the people honestly and take responsibility instead of shifting blame.”

Greater Kashmir

Dull markets, poor animal sales mar Eid mood in Shopian

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Dull markets, poor animal sales mar Eid mood in Shopian

Shopian, May 19: The festive buzz usually associated with Eid-ul-Adha is largely missing from markets across south Kashmir’s Shopian district this year, with traders reporting poor sales of sacrificial animals and sluggish business activity ahead of the festival.

Markets across the district are witnessing thin footfall, with shopkeepers attributing the slowdown to rising prices, financial uncertainty, and concerns linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Tariq Ahmad Mir, owner of Bright Kitchen Ware in Batapora, Shopian, said prices of several household items have increased sharply in recent months.

“Many kitchenware items have witnessed a sudden rise in prices, and customers are holding back from making purchases,” he said. “People are buying only essential items and avoiding unnecessary spending due to financial uncertainty.”

Sacrificial animal markets are also witnessing weak sales this Eid season, adding to the gloom in local markets.

Farooq Ahmad, a livestock dealer, said sales have declined by nearly 70 percent compared to previous years.

“People are not buying animals the way they used to earlier. Most customers are either delaying purchases or returning without buying because of financial stress and rising expenses,” he said.

Another livestock dealer said traders who had brought animals from outside districts were struggling to even recover transportation and feeding costs as demand remained far below expectations in the run-up to Eid.

Similarly, bakeries and readymade garment shops across the district are witnessing a sharp downturn in business ahead of the festival. Shopkeepers said customer footfall has remained unusually low compared to previous years, with many families restricting purchases to essentials.

“Usually, markets remain crowded in the days leading up to Eid, but this year business is extremely dull. People are purchasing only bare essentials and avoiding extra spending,” said a readymade garment shop owner.

Traders said rising inflation and economic uncertainty have significantly affected festive shopping, dampening the traditional Eid rush witnessed in Kashmir markets every year.

Greater Kashmir

GMC Baramulla employees hold candlelight protest over pending promotions, service issues

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GMC Baramulla employees hold candlelight protest over pending promotions, service issues

Baramulla, May 19: The Non-Gazetted Employees Forum of Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla on Tuesday organised a peaceful candlelight protest in support of employees facing long-pending service issues and stagnation in promotions.

The protest was held in a disciplined manner, with employees gathering to express solidarity with staff members working across various medical colleges. The participants said that despite rendering years of dedicated service, many employees have not received promotions for the past seven years, leading to growing frustration and mental stress among the workforce. Speaking during the protest, an employee said the prolonged stagnation and lack of career progression had severely affected the morale of workers.

He said the employees have continued to perform their duties sincerely despite uncertainty surrounding their professional growth. The employee further said that the six-day strike earlier launched by the employees was suspended following assurances given by Javid Hassan Baig.

He said the employees respect the assurance of the MLA and hope that their genuine demands will be addressed in a positive and time-bound manner. The Non-Gazetted Employees Forum reiterated that its movement remains peaceful and democratic and appealed to the administration and concerned authorities to resolve the long-pending issues of employees at the earliest.

Greater Kashmir

Parliament panel to seek feedback on J&K’s MSME credit bottlenecks

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Parliament panel to seek feedback on J&K’s MSME credit bottlenecks

Srinagar, May 19: The Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee (DRPSC) on Industry, headed by Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Tiruchi Siva, will undertake a three-day study visit to Leh and Srinagar from May 20 to May 22, during which it will hold a high-level review meeting on the implementation of the Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) for Micro and Small Enterprises in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The key meeting is scheduled to be held in Srinagar on May 22 at 9:30 am and is expected to witness participation from senior officials of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), representatives of financial institutions, industry associations, trade bodies, and stakeholders from the MSME sector.

Official sources said the parliamentary panel’s visit is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of government-backed credit support mechanisms for micro and small enterprises and gathering on-ground feedback from stakeholders regarding the accessibility of institutional finance in J&K.

Sources familiar with the programme said the committee will interact extensively with business chambers, entrepreneurs, industrial associations, start-up representatives, and officials linked with credit facilitation and industrial promotion.

Discussions are expected to centrearound issues related to collateral-free lending, procedural bottlenecks in availing finance, delayed loan sanctions, and the overall implementation of the Credit Guarantee Scheme in J&K.

The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises, implemented through the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), is considered one of the Centre’s flagship initiatives for promoting collateral-free credit to small businesses.

Under the scheme, eligible loans sanctioned by banks and financial institutions are backed by government guarantee cover, reducing lending risks and encouraging formal credit flow to the MSME sector.

Officials said the scheme has emerged as a crucial financial support mechanism for first-generation entrepreneurs, small manufacturers, artisans, traders, and service-sector enterprises that often face difficulties in arranging collateral security to secure institutional loans.

The scheme is aimed at improving credit delivery, supporting business expansion, promoting modernisation, and encouraging entrepreneurship among underserved and emerging enterprise categories.

As per the revised provisions effective from April 1, 2025, the scheme now provides guarantee support for credit facilities of up to Rs 10 crore for eligible micro and small enterprises.

In addition, the revised framework includes enhanced benefits for women-led enterprises, transgender-promoted enterprises, and informal micro enterprises in a bid to strengthen inclusive economic participation and improve financial access for vulnerable business segments.

Industry stakeholders in Kashmir are expected to use the opportunity to highlight several long-pending concerns affecting the MSME sector, including stringent documentation requirements, limited awareness regarding government schemes, delays in loan processing, high compliance burdens, and inadequate financial support for region-specific sectors such as handicrafts, handlooms, tourism, horticulture, food processing, and traditional crafts.

Business representatives are also likely to seek relaxation in banking norms, enhanced guarantee coverage for enterprises operating in difficult economic conditions, and stronger institutional mechanisms to improve credit outreach in rural and semi-urban areas of J&K.

The visit of the parliamentary standing committee assumes significance at a time when the MSME sector is increasingly being viewed as a key driver of employment generation, entrepreneurship development, and economic recovery in J&K.

Stakeholders believe that direct engagement between policymakers and industry representatives could help address critical gaps in credit delivery and strengthen the overall ecosystem for small and medium enterprises in the region.

Greater Kashmir

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