Ramban, Feb 19: The Srinagar–Jammu National Highway (NH-44) remained open on Thursday for two-way traffic of light and medium passenger vehicles, while heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) were allowed to ply in one direction towards Jammu.

Traffic authorities said the highway will continue to remain open on Friday for two-way movement of light motor vehicles (LMVs) and one-way movement of heavy vehicles towards Kashmir, subject to fair weather and favourable road conditions.

However, traffic movement remained slow at several locations between Maroog and Kishtwari Pather due to single-lane stretches, ongoing four-lane construction works, and subsidence affecting a 20–30 metre stretch of road at Kishtwari Pather.

Officials said hundreds of private cars and light-to-medium passenger vehicles plied on both sides of the highway throughout the day.

The Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Department issued a fresh advisory for Friday, stating that, subject to fair weather and road clearance, LMVs will be permitted to move from both sides of NH-44. HMVs will be allowed from Udhampur towards Kashmir after assessment of road and traffic conditions.

Jammu, Feb 19: Criticising an order of the Kishtwar district magistrate on regulation of donations during Ramadhan, the Congress MLAs demanded its immediate revocation in the Assembly on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Kishtwar district authorities issued an order regulating the collection of donations during the holy month, citing concerns over unauthorised fundraising.

The point of order regarding the district magistrate’s directive was raised by Congress MLA Nizam Uddin Bhat during a discussion on the grants of the chief minister’s departments.

Bhat criticised the instructions and said that they need to be revoked.

Seconding Bhat, Congress MLA Ghulam Ahmed Mir said that the order should be condemned by all. “It is against the basic way of life in our religion. We demand it to be revoked immediately,” Mir said.

Talking to reporters outside the Assembly, Peoples Democratic Party leader Waheed ur Rehman Para and National Conference leader Javed Ahmed Beigh also demanded revocation of the order.

However, it found backing from the BJP’s Satesh Sharma. “It is the right decision. There should be monitoring,” Sharma said.

Kishtwar District Magistrate Pankaj Kumar Sharma said it is the statutory obligation of the administration to ensure that public contributions intended for relief, welfare or religious purposes are not misappropriated, laundered or diverted for extraneous or subversive activities.

There has been a tendency of unauthorised collection of donations by certain individuals and organisations during Ramzan, necessitating immediate regulatory intervention, he said in the order.

Jammu, Feb 19: Sunil Sharma, Leader of Opposition in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly, launched a scathing attack on the NC-led government, accusing it of complete failure and negligence towards the youth of the Union Territory. He asserted that while the government under Narendra Modi is relentlessly working to empower the youth across the nation, the administration led by Omar Abdullah has miserably failed to secure the future of J&K’s young generation.

Taking serious note of what he termed as the “utter apathy” of the Omar government, Sunil Sharma said that despite the Chief Minister overseeing as many as 18 crucial departments, review meetings are rarely conducted. “This inaction reflects misplaced priorities and administrative paralysis. Jammu & Kashmir deserves accountable governance, not hollow assurances,” he stated.

Highlighting the alarming unemployment scenario, Sharma said that during the tenure of the present government, merely 650 jobs have been created in various departments, making a mockery of the tall promise of providing one lakh jobs to the youth. “The promise of one lakh jobs now stands exposed as yet another political gimmick. Instead of ensuring transparent recruitment, the government is outsourcing jobs to private entities, crushing the aspirations of educated youth,” he said.

He further expressed grave concern over the continued neglect of daily wagers, ReK, ReT, and other temporary workers who have been waiting for years for regularization. These hardworking individuals have devoted the prime of their lives to public service, yet the NC government has abandoned them. Their plight reflects the anti-youth and anti-worker mindset of this regime, he added.

Contrasting the two governance models, Sharma emphasized that the Modi government has consistently prioritized youth welfare through expanded higher education opportunities, technical institutions, skill development missions, start-up support, and transparent recruitment processes. From start-up promotion to skill enhancement and employment generation, the BJP-led government at the Centre is laying a strong foundation for a self-reliant and empowered youth, he said.

Reiterating BJP’s commitment, Sunil Sharma affirmed that the party will continue to raise its voice against every injustice meted out to the youth, students, and marginalized sections under the oppressive and directionless governance of the NC-led government in Jammu & Kashmir.