Srinagar, Nov 05: J&K Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday welcomed government’s decision to begin the process of converting the Rajbagh footbridge over the River Jhelum (near the Silk Factory) into a motorable bridge.

In his statement, Bukhari said that the earlier decision to alter the nature of the project was “foolish, short-sighted, and ill-advised,” reflecting a lack of understanding of administrative priorities and public interest on the part of the then chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.

He said that “it should be investigated why this project, conceived as a motorable bridge, was later altered and converted into merely a footbridge, despite expert opinion favouring its construction as a motorable bridge, and despite the fact that a substantial amount of Rs 12 crore had already been spent to initiate the project in that form.”

“It should be investigated that who got benefitted by altering this project,” he added.

Bukhari further said, “The bridge was originally conceived as a motorable structure to help decongest traffic in and around the city centre. I vividly recall how, as the concerned minister and MLA representing the area, I had convinced the then Chief Minister, Mufti Sahib, to approve its construction for that very purpose. The foundation work was accordingly undertaken with that objective.”

“Sadly, that vision was derailed. His daughter Mehbooba Mufti, during her tenure as chief minister, unfortunately altered the nature of the project, converting it into a mere footbridge just to favour some of her acquaintances. This was done despite the fact that a substantial sum of Rs 12 crore in public funds had already been spent on the original design of a motorable bridge,” the statement reads.

“Displaying her Nadirshahi behaviour, she unilaterally decided to downgrade the project, leaving the public disheartened and the area’s traffic woes unresolved,” It adds.

“Changing the fundamental nature of the project was a foolish, short-sighted and ill-advised decision that reflected a lack of understanding of administrative priorities and public interest by Mehbooba Mufti,” Apni Party President said.

Welcoming the present government’s decision, he said, “I sincerely appreciate the present government’s decision to rectify that misstep and restore the bridge to its original purpose — a fully functional motorable link. This long-awaited development will not only ease traffic congestion but will also fulfil a long-cherished aspiration of the people.”

Srinagar, Nov 05: Veteran Bollywood actor and politician Raj Babbar on Wednesday said that he never felt Kashmir is unsafe, crediting the valley for shaping his film career, and urging tourists and filmmakers to visit what he described as a land of love, peace and warmth.

Speaking with reporters in Gulmarg, Raj Babba said Kashmir had been central to his acting career. “It is the valley where I truly began. From 1980 to 1996–97, there wasn’t a single film which I didn’t shoot in Kashmir. Be it Armaan, Aapas Ki Baat or others, Kashmir has always been part of my work”, he said.

He described the valley safe and welcoming. “I never felt Kashmir unsafe or terrorised. People here greet you with smiles and love and that love has never decreased”, Babbar said.

He appreciated the local administration and officials, including the CEO Gulmarg Development Authority, for their hospitality. “This is what Kashmiriyat means. Kashmiriyat is another name for Insaniyat”, he said.

Urging tourists and filmmakers to visit, Babbar said the atmosphere in the valley is peaceful. “There’s no terror here. Everyone should come and see the beauty and peace of Kashmir themselves. It is fit for everything, from tourism to film shooting”, he said.

He added that no matter where one travels, “Kashmir remains the final destination”. —(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 05: Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Wednesday confirmed that all preparations are in place for the first phase of voting in the state assembly polls, calling the elections a celebration of democracy.

“Tomorrow is polling day, and preparations have already been finalised. I am confident that democracy in our country has become very strong,” Khan told reporters here after attending an event at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC).

Calling the polls a celebration of democracy, Khan said that one’s family background does not determine who can govern.

“The person who runs the government is chosen through the ballot box. They receive a mandate from the people of India and the states for a specific period. They are not sovereign; the people of this country are sovereign,” the governor remarked.

Khan highlighted the examples of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that their ascension to the highest offices in the country sends a powerful message: there are no limits to what anyone can achieve.

“What message does this send to the common man, especially to the youth? It demonstrates that we have a system where there are no restrictions on how high you can aspire to go. However, you must earn the people’s trust. After that, the sky is the limit,” he added.

When asked about the dual power system in Jammu and Kashmir under the Union Territory setup and the lack of restored statehood, Khan acknowledged that it is unfortunate for Kashmir to have endured such painful situations.

He referenced the partition of 1947, stating that while many have suffered, the people of Kashmir have paid the highest price.

The governor expressed that everyone, including the prime minister, desires peace in Jammu and Kashmir and wishes for the restoration of statehood.

“We cannot be complacent in thinking that trouble only arises in Kashmir. We are all concerned and desire normal conditions. As you pointed out (regarding statehood), this is the desire of everyone in India. The prime minister wants Kashmir to have the autonomy to decide for itself,” he said.

However, he added that normalcy must be established, “so that the situation here can also return to normal.”

“It is a collective effort between you and us to create conditions where the rule of law is upheld in the same manner in Kashmir as it is elsewhere,” he added.

Srinagar, Nov 05: PDP leader and MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para on Wednesday said that the Jammu and Kashmir government’s decision to reintroduce social media monitoring orders goes against the purpose of the recent elections.

In a post on X, as per KNS Para said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had voted to end silence and fear, not to face renewed restrictions on speech. He said the decision to monitor social media activities only in J&K raised questions about fairness and intent.

“The people voted for dignity and the freedom to speak. Yet new directions have been issued to track and limit online activities, and such orders are not being enforced in any other part of the country,” Para wrote.

He asked the Chief Minister to clarify the government’s position, pointing out that the CM also holds the Information Department portfolio. “It is important to know what the Chief Minister thinks about these new measures,” he said.

Para said that the use of “vigilance” and “monitoring” under administrative directives was being turned into a tool to restrict journalists and silence voices. He said that these actions go against the idea of open governance and the trust that elections were meant to restore.

Calling for openness in governance, Para said that Jammu and Kashmir needs transparency and accountability. He said that the elections were meant to restore confidence among people, not to create another form of silence.(KNS)

Shopian, Nov 05: The District Information Office (DIO) Shopian has issued a detailed checklist of documents to be furnished by media persons for verification and authentication, as part of an ongoing drive to identify genuine working journalists in the district.

According to the notification, the journalists are required to submit Aadhaar, PAN, and official ID cards, an appointment or affiliation letter from their media organization, and contact details of their parent organization, including full address, email, and WhatsApp number.

Additionally, journalists have been asked to furnish a salary statement for the last six months, academic qualification certificates, and the name of the digital news portal or channel they represent.

For those working in digital media, links to their Facebook, YouTube, X (Twitter), and Instagram pages have also been requested for official verification.

Officials told the news agency, Kashmir News Trust, that the step follows a broader directive from the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) aimed at curbing the misuse of media identity cards and ensuring that only authorized and actively working journalists are recognized for official purposes.

The move has generated discussion within journalist circles, with some terming it a necessary measure to ensure professional integrity, while others express concern that excessive documentation could discourage freelancers and small independent media outlets.

Authorities, however, maintain that the verification is a “routine process” intended to strengthen media credibility and prevent impersonation or misuse of press credentials in the district. [KNT]