Srinagar, May 11: Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Monday slammed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC) over “gifting” a Rajya Sabha seat to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Addressing a news conference, Lone said that both parties, who were shouting and labelling everyone as BJP, helped the party win a Rajya Sabha seat.

Lone alleged that the PDP had malafide intentions and didn’t appoint an authorized agent to verify whom its MLAs voted for, as they intended to resort to wrongdoing.

 “The job of the agent is to verify whom the MLAs voted for. The RTI revealed that the PDP had not appointed any agent. As a result, all three members voted as per their wishes because there was no one to check the vote,” he said.

Lone also questioned Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, asking whether he was unaware of the non‑appointment of agents by the PDP.

“Omar Abdullah is saying that he came to know through RTI that the PDP didn’t appoint an agent, and that proves the PDP voted for the BJP. Is it true that a sitting CM came to know through RTI that the PDP didn’t appoint an agent?” Lone asked.

Lone said they are trying to divert attention from cross-voting in Rajya Sabha polls. —(KNO)

Srinagar, May 11: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday congratulated his Tamil Nadu counterpart TVK chief C J Vijay on taking the oath of office.

“It should not have come to this (with regard to delay in swearing in). It took three to four days and several visits to Lok Bhawan but finally the (majority) numbers were achieved,” Abdullah told reporters.

He said as per Supreme Court rulings, the governor should have invited the single largest party or the single largest pre-poll alliance to prove majority.

“And the majority is proved on the floor of the house, not in the Lok Bhawan. Anyway, it is better late than never,” he added.

Abdullah said Vijay has been given few days to prove his majority. “We hope that he will prove his majority,” he said.

Srinagar, May 11: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said there is nothing wrong in giving telecom powers to the lieutenant governor during public safety events, as he holds the charge of security and law and order.

“This is the right thing. These powers should be with the lieutenant governor. This is not against the business rules or the reorganisation act,” Abdullah told reporters.

He said that orders to stop phone services or internet are issued by the home department, which comes under the Lieutenant Governor (L-G).

“If there is a need to stop mobile phone or internet services, the order will be issued by the home department, which is the responsibility of the L-G. If they have to lean on our shoulder for shooting the gun, it would not be good for us as we have no role in it,” Abdullah said.

Asked if he would raise the statehood issue during his upcoming meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the chief minister said he would discuss all the issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir.

“I wish we could have got our statehood after one meeting with the home minister. If that was the case, we would have gotten it a long time ago. But yes, I will raise statehood, business rules and other issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir in the meeting,” he said.

The chief minister also sought to clarify his controversial remarks on the demand for a ban on alcohol in Jammu and Kashmir.

“These shops selling liquor are meant for those who can consume these things as per their religious beliefs. Our religious beliefs do not permit it. The problem is that the opposition is twisting and turning my statements to create confusion,” he said.

Speaking to reporters in Ganderbal on Sunday, Abdullah had said those who consume liquor were doing it of their own free will, and no one was dragging them to the stores.

Abdullah said the opposition should tell people what they have done about the issue when they were in power.

“What I said in Ganderbal on Sunday is exactly what their (PDP) finance minister said on the floor of the House. We have not opened any new liquor store, and we make sure that these shops are not at places where our youth can be led astray,” he added.

On cabinet expansion, the chief minister said it will happen at an appropriate time.

“This issue is being raised by the opposition. I don’t know why they are concerned. The functioning of the government is going on smoothly. The next election is due in three-and-a-half years. When expansion or a reshuffle is to be done, I will discuss it with the party leadership and do it at an appropriate time,” he added.

Ganderbal, May 11: Nearly 90 sheep and goats belonging to a nomadic family from Rajouri district reportedly died after a lightning strike during the intervening night in a high-altitude forest area of Poshkar Kangan in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, officials and locals said on Monday.

The incident occurred in the Dhana Dok area of Poshkar, a remote grazing belt frequented by migratory tribal families during the summer season.

The livestock reportedly belonged to nomads identified as Mohmmad Yaseen Bijran and Abdul Majeed Bijran, sons of Khan Mohammad Bijran and residents of Sunderbani area of Rajouri district.

Locals said the area witnessed intense weather activity during the night, following which dozens of animals were found dead in the pasture on Monday morning. Preliminary reports suggested that lightning may have struck the flock during the storm.

The incident has caused massive financial loss to the affected family, whose livelihood primarily depends on livestock rearing and seasonal migration to upper reaches for grazing.

Police and local authorities were informed about the incident, who assessed the exact scale of the damage.

Such incidents are not uncommon in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir during the summer migration season when nomadic families move with their livestock to alpine pastures vulnerable to sudden weather changes, thunderstorms, and lightning activity. [KNT]