Former Hurriyat leader Bilal Gani Lone Sunday hinted to contest the next Assembly election from his home constituency of Trehgam. Calling for public support for politics based on truth, honesty and accountability, Lone said his political journey will remain centred on public service and transparent leadership.

Addressing a public convention at his native village Dard Harai in Kralpora area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, Bilal said that the changing political landscape requires leaders to uphold integrity and public service.

Recalling the advice of his late father Abdul Gani Lone, he said that politics should always be treated as a form of service and devotion. “I have learnt from my late father that politics is a form of service and devotion. Therefore, one should always practice truthful politics,” Lone said. He urged people not to form opinions without fully understanding issues and appealed them to carefully assess every matter before reaching conclusions. “I stand alone. I have nothing to offer except a request for your support. My mission is to promote politics founded on truth, integrity and commitment to public welfare,” he added.

Talking about new generation politics, the former Hurriyat leader said that he intends to introduce a new generation of politics that differs from the style adopted by traditional political parties. “People have repeatedly been misled in the name of politics and I want to build public trust through honesty and accountability.

I have neither decided to join any political party nor to float a new one. Instead I have launched an independent political initiative and hope people from Kupwara district and across Kashmir will join me,” he said. “I owe a lot to the people of Kupwara. If they accept me, well and good. If they don’t, I will accept that. I need nothing for myself as I am well established but I want to work for the underprivileged who have been deprived of everything over the years,” Bilal said.

Shopian, Aug 2: Apple growers in south Kashmir are grappling with an all-too-familiar challenge this harvest season as inadequate thinning in orchards has led to smaller fruit sizes, lower quality and reduced market returns despite expectations of a good crop.

The problem is particularly pronounced in high-density apple plantations, where heavy fruiting without proper thinning has resulted in overcrowded fruit clusters, preventing apples from attaining the size and quality demanded in the market.

“The fruit arriving at mandis is lacking the desired size. This is mainly because thinning has not been carried out properly. When fruits grow in bunches, they compete with each other and fail to develop fully,” said Mohammad Ashraf, President of the Fruit Mandi Shopian.

He said thinning should be undertaken during the early stages of fruit development to ensure optimal growth.

“Smaller fruit fetches lower prices, directly affecting growers’ incomes. Proper thinning is essential if farmers want better returns,” Ashraf said.

Shopian, one of Jammu and Kashmir’s largest apple-producing districts, has more than 20,000 hectares under apple cultivation. The sector forms the backbone of the district’s rural economy, supporting thousands of farming families.

However, growers and horticulture experts say thinning remains one of the most overlooked orchard management practices, particularly in high-density plantations where trees are designed to carry a regulated fruit load for optimum production.

“When excess fruit is left on the tree, it competes for limited nutrients, water and sunlight,” said Tariq Ahmad, a progressive apple grower from Shopian.

“This leads to undersized apples, poor colour development, uneven ripening and lower sugar content, all of which reduce the fruit’s market value,” he said.

Ahmad added that excessive fruit load also places stress on tree branches, increasing the risk of breakage during the growing season.

“In the long run, improper thinning can trigger alternate bearing, where trees produce an exceptionally heavy crop one year followed by a poor harvest the next,” he said.

According to horticulture experts, thinning is a critical cultural operation in modern high-density orchards and is usually carried out by manually removing excess fruit along with scientific pruning to maintain a balanced canopy. These practices improve sunlight penetration, enhance air circulation and allow the remaining fruit to attain better size, colour and sweetness.

Although awareness about scientific orchard management has improved in recent years, growers say many farmers still skip thinning in the hope of harvesting more fruit, often at the cost of quality and profitability.

Ahmad urged apple growers to adopt recommended horticultural practices rather than focusing solely on the number of fruits on a tree.

“Fewer but better-quality apples always generate higher returns than a large quantity of undersized fruit,” he said.

Officials of the Horticulture Department have also advised growers to regularly consult field experts and adopt pruning and thinning schedules suited to the apple variety, altitude and stage of crop growth.

They said scientific orchard management is essential not only for improving fruit quality and market returns but also for ensuring consistent yields and sustainable productivity in Kashmir’s high-value apple sector.

Srinagar, Aug 2: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said youth must emerge like a cloud of energy and spread across the horizon of development.

Attending the launch of the ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’ at a J&K-level function organised by Department of Youth Affairs and Sports and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K), LG Sinha while addressing the J&K youth said, “The Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan seeks to energise this demographic, guiding them toward healthy lifestyles and active participation in development. Our youth must emerge like a cloud of energy and spread across the horizon of development.”

He emphasised that India’s greatest strength lies in its young population, with nearly 65 percent below the age of 35. The LG said that 37 crore youth in the 15-29 age group were eager to contribute to nation-building.

He said that the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, launched in 2020 by Prime Minister  Narendra Modi, was not merely a government programme but a social movement against drug menace.

LG Sinha said that its objective was to instil values of self-discipline, positive thinking, and strong determination among citizens.

He said that over 1 crore youth were joining the ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’ at nearly 10,000 locations nationwide, reflecting the collective responsibility of society to protect young people from drugs.

Congratulating the J&K youth, the LG praised their active participation in the ‘100-day Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan’ conducted from April 11 to July 20.

He said that this campaign had become a model of success for the entire nation.

“The combined efforts of administration, police, social organisations, educational institutions, religious leaders, and citizens proved that even the biggest challenges can be overcome when society unites for a common purpose,” LG Sinha said.

He highlighted the achievements of the Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir campaign.

“Around 2300 FIRs have been registered, 2600 people arrested, and 1500 kg of narcotics seized. More than 331 properties worth around Rs 200 crore belonging to narco-terrorists and drug smugglers have been attached. Additionally, over 370 driving licenses and 750 vehicle registrations have been cancelled, with recommendations made to cancel nearly 3000 Aadhaar cards,” the LG said.

He said these actions demonstrate the government’s unwavering policy against the drug network that threatens the future of youth.

“While enforcement remains crucial, public awareness and rehabilitation are equally important. We will soon initiate the Rehabilitation and Socio-Economic Reintegration Scheme for Drug Abuse Victims, 2026. The pilot project will begin in two most-affected districts of Kashmir and Jammu divisions. Designed as a three-year rehabilitation cycle, the scheme will focus on medical treatment, counselling, education, skill development, employment, reintegration, and long-term monitoring. I see youth affected by drugs as victims and we need to ensure their dignity, livelihood, and a meaningful future,” LG Sinha said.

He urged families, teachers, and youth organisations to play a proactive role in guiding youth.

“Parents and teachers are the greatest guides and must support youth through dialogue, trust, and encouragement. Volunteers of MY Bharat, Nehru Yuva Kendras, and youth clubs should take the campaign’s message to every village, school, college and community,” the LG said.

He exhorted the youth to stay away from drugs, inspire peers, and become healthy, disciplined, and responsible citizens.

LG Sinha expressed confidence that the J&K youth would dispel the darkness of drugs and spread the light of knowledge, progress, and positive energy.

“A healthy youth, a strong family, and an aware public will become the identity of Viksit Bharat,” he said.

LG Sinha expressed confidence that this initiative will become a milestone in uprooting drugs from society.

The LG also administered the Nasha Mukt Yuva Pledge to the J&K youth.

The 100-week mega campaign was virtually inaugurated by PM Modi, marking a nationwide resolve to secure India’s future by empowering its youth and eliminating the menace of drugs.

More than 35,000 MY Bharat youth clubs, Nehru Yuva Kendras, schools, colleges, and industry organizations are participating in the 100-week campaign, which connects youth every Sunday across the country.

Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K; Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services and Sports Department; Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Nitin Hangloo, Director, Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) J&K; senior officials, members of youth clubs, Nehru Yuva Kendras, prominent citizens, and youth in large number attended the J&K level function.