Jammu, Nov 23: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Jammu Division.

The meeting was attended by Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Nalin Prabhat, DGP; S.J.M. Gillani, Special Director General (Coordination), PHQ J&K; Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary, Home; Nitish Kumar, ADGP CID; Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP, Jammu; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; M. Suleman Choudhary, IGP Traffic; DIGs, Deputy Commissioners and SSPs of Jammu Division.

The Lieutenant Governor congratulated the Jammu and Kashmir Police for its meticulous investigation and quick response in dismantling the Pan-India Terror Network.

“Our 360-degree approach to counter-terrorism with massive crackdowns on terror financing, narco-terror links, Over Ground Workers (OGWs), and sympathizers is focused on dismantling the entire support structure to terrorists. Our coordinated efforts will ensure that the remnants of terror ecosystem are completely wiped-out from Jammu Kashmir,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor directed the officials to remain vigilant and watchful of emerging security challenges.

The Lieutenant Governor emphasised on Zero Tolerance Policy against terrorism and asked the officials to take strongest possible action against terror sympathizers, OGWs and terror elements who are trying to radicalize youth.

He directed the officials to intensify intelligence-led operations against terrorists and concerted efforts to monitor digital platforms being used by terror outfits for radicalization and funding.

Jammu, Nov 23: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy will lead the first-ever auction of limestone mineral blocks, which will be formally launched here on Monday with a roadshow, an official said.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary are also scheduled to attend the event, reflecting strong Centre-state partnership and the strategic importance of the initiative for the region, the official said.

He said the milestone marks a significant step in advancing mining reforms introduced under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act) in 2015.

It is also the first mining block auction taking place in the Union territory since the implementation of the law, signalling a shift toward transparency, competitiveness, and sustainable development in the mineral sector, the official said.

A total of seven limestone blocks, covering approximately 314 hectares, have been identified across the districts of Anantnag, Rajouri, and Poonch.

Categorised under G3 (Prospecting) G4 (Reconnaissance) stages of mineral exploration of the United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC), these deposits hold considerable potential for high-quality limestone critical to cement manufacturing, construction, and other industrial applications, the official said.

The auction will be conducted under subsections (4) and (5) of Section 11 of the MMDR Act, enabling the central government to facilitate the process in cases where state or Union territory administrations face procedural limitations.

This approach reflects the principles of cooperative federalism, ensuring timely implementation and reform execution, he said.

He said the ministry of mines is committed to carrying out a transparent, technology-enabled and competitive auction process, with a strong focus on sustainable mining aligned with national environmental guidelines.

“This initiative is expected to pave the way for job creation, revenue growth, industrial expansion, and new economic opportunities for local communities — advancing Jammu and Kashmir’s development trajectory and contributing to the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047,” the official said.

Jammu, Nov 23: National Conference (NC) leader Tanvir Sadiq on Sunday criticised the BJP’s call to revoke the admission list at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), saying the demand to reserve seats for students who have faith in the deity is “misguided and dangerous”.

Disgruntled BJP leader Jahanzaib Sirwal also criticised the demand to cancel seats allotted to Muslim students, calling it “irresponsible and unconstitutional”, and noting that the institute is a public university established under a statute of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.

The SMVDIME has been sanctioned 50 MBBS seats this year and the admission of 42 students from a particular community in the maiden batch for the 2025-26 academic year has sparked a row, with right-wing Hindu groups questioning the process and demanding the grant of “minority institution” status to the newly-established institute.

Officials, however, have said that the admissions were made on merit as the institute has not been granted minority status and, therefore, no reservation criteria based on religion could be applied.

A delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs, led by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Sunil Sharma, met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha here late on Saturday and demanded that the admission list be cancelled and seats in the institute reserved for only those students who have faith in Mata Vaishno Devi.

“When you communalise institutions, you are not just doing politics, you are dividing society at its core. If hospitals, schools, universities and medical colleges start deciding intake on the basis of religion, what kind of country will we become? Tomorrow, will a patient be treated according to the faith? Will merit be pushed aside to satisfy majoritarian demands? This is a recipe for disaster,” Sadiq said in a post on X.

The chief spokesperson of the ruling NC in Jammu and Kashmir said the BJP’s stance on the SMVDIME admissions, which were effected purely on the basis of merit, is not “just misguided, it is dangerous”.

“A shrine-funded institution does not become a religion-based institution. Donations made in devotion cannot be converted into tools of discrimination. For your petty political gains, BJP, please do not turn our institutions into battlegrounds of faith. You are planting a time bomb that, once it goes off, will create a divide no one will ever be able to fix,” the MLA from Zadibal added.

Asserting that communalising health and education is fundamentally wrong, he said, “It harms society today and destroys the nation tomorrow. This toxic politics must stop before irreparable damage is done.”

Sirwal too expressed pain and shock at the “utterly irresponsible and unconstitutional statements” made by certain BJP leaders, demanding the cancellation of seats allotted to Muslim students on the bizarre ground that it is a “Hindu institution”.

“Let me remind my own party colleagues that SMVDIME is a fully public-funded university established by an Act of the Jammu and Kashmir legislature and governed by the laws of India. It is not a private temple trust or a religious endowment. No institution receiving public money can discriminate on the basis of religion,” Sirwal said in a statement, referring to Articles 14, 15 and 29(2) of the Constitution.

He said the stance taken by these BJP leaders is a “direct assault on the Constitution”, the rule of law and the very Idea of India that the party claims to uphold.

“It is ironic and shameful that an institution of higher learning, meant to nurture talent and promote unity, is being dragged into the dirty swamp of communal polarisation for petty political gains. Using education as a tool for division is the lowest form of politics imaginable,” the BJP leader added.

Sirwal urged his party leadership to immediately restrain such elements within the organisation who are indulging in this “dangerous and divisive rhetoric”.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered enough because of polarisation. The BJP must rise above vote-bank politics and focus on progressive, inclusive and development-oriented governance,” he added.

Sirwal said the country is governed by the Constitution and not by the “whims of individuals or the temptations of electoral expediency”.

“Any attempt to communalise educational institutions will only push India towards destruction and cause irreparable damage to our social fabric.

“The BJP belongs to the legacy of (former prime minister) Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his vision of ‘Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat aur Kashmiriyat’. It is time we return to that path instead of walking on the path of hatred,” he said.

Jammu, Nov 23: A targeted strategy is needed to convert the rising pilgrim footfall in Jammu into longer tourist stays by promoting the region’s wider leisure, heritage, adventure and spiritual attractions beyond the main pilgrimage route, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has said.

He stressed on proactive use of digital platforms and social media, including collaboration with influencers, to expand outreach and attract national as well as international tourists.

Dulloo was chairing a meeting to review the works and initiatives undertaken by the Tourism Department for promoting and strengthening tourism across Jammu region here, an official spokesman said.

He said the review focused on evaluating progress, enhancing infrastructure, and formulating strategies to position Jammu as a vibrant, year-round tourism destination.

Emphasising the immense tourism potential of the region, the chief secretary directed the department to intensify promotion and publicity of existing and emerging tourism circuits while ensuring timely completion of all ongoing works.

He underscored the need for a comprehensive strategy to convert the massive influx of pilgrims into multi-day tourists by encouraging them to explore leisure, heritage, adventure and spiritual experiences beyond traditional pilgrimage routes.

He noted that the initiation of adventure activities such as rafting, paragliding, bungee jumping and water sports would transform Jammu into a round-the-year tourism hub while simultaneously creating significant employment opportunities for local youth.

The chief secretary reviewed the progress of key pilgrimage circuits, including Katra-Shivkhori and Uttarbehni-Purmandal, alongside adventure circuits covering Aithem Jammu, Chenab Rail Bridge, Baradari (Reasi) and Ranjit Sagar Lake (Kathua).

He also took stock of promotional initiatives in Patnitop-Sanasar, Surinsar-Mansar, Rajouri-Poonch and the leisure circuits of Bani-Bhadarwah, Sinthan and Wadwan.

Director Tourism Jammu, Vikas Gupta, detailed the works executed and promotional efforts undertaken across various circuits.

He elaborated on the Katra-Shivkhori circuit, integrating major religious centres, including Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Shivkhori and historic sites such as Krimchi Temples, Raghunath Temple and Ranbireshwar Temple.

He said works worth Rs 3.55 crore have been completed at Shivkhori during the current year, while Detailed Project Reports amounting to Rs 44.53 crore have been prepared for infrastructure development at Katra under the PRASAD scheme.

Additionally, works worth Rs 11.50 crore have been undertaken at the Uttarbehni-Purmandal circuit to boost tourism.

Tourism department officials also presented a comprehensive overview of departmental initiatives, highlighting a multi-faceted approach focused on thematic circuits, heritage experiences, adventure tourism, infrastructure augmentation and promotion of offbeat destinations.

These efforts aim at increasing tourist footfall and encouraging longer stays by offering customised experiences aligned with diverse interests, they said.

The meeting was further apprised that a half marathon will be organised annually on the third Sunday of March, capitalising on Jammu’s pleasant weather and peak tourist season.

This initiative to be started this year is going to be launched in December, aiming at establishing Jammu as an independent and holistic tourist destination offering world-class facilities and diverse experiences to its visitors, the officials said.