Srinagar, Oct 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir possess immense potential, adding that the launch of train services has accelerated the movement of goods from the Valley.

Prime Minister made these remarks while interacting with progressive farmers in New Delhi during the launch of the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojna, a scheme worth Rs 24,000 crore aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, encouraging crop diversification, improving irrigation facilities, and boosting access to farm credit in 100 selected districts.

Among those present was Fayaz Ahmad Ganaie, a farmer from Ganderbal in central Kashmir. Sharing his experience, Ganaie told the Prime Minister, “I’ve come from Kashmir. I saw your progressive scheme for farmers and availed its benefits. Today, I have 14 employees and earn profits of nearly Rs 15 lakh annually. All this has been possible due to your government’s policies.”

Responding to him, Modi said, “The youth of Jammu and Kashmir have immense strength. Now, with train services operational, goods are moving quickly out of the Valley.”

For the first time, cars have been transported directly to Srinagar while apples and other Valley produce are reaching Delhi through these new railway goods services.

During the interaction, the Prime Minister urged cultivators to adopt natural farming gradually, advising them to first implement it on smaller portions of their land before scaling up.

Several farmers shared their views during the event. A woman farmer described the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme as a “blessing,” saying the annual Rs 6,000 support helped her purchase seeds and meet essential expenses. Another farmer showcased aeroponically grown “Jain potatoes,” while others introduced value-added products like garlic paste and powder.

Participants also spoke about their personal bond with the Prime Minister. One farmer remarked, “When he spoke to us, it felt like he was not a Prime Minister but one of our family members.”

Modi underlined that in the past 11 years, India’s agricultural exports have nearly doubled, food grain production has increased by around 90 million metric tonnes, and fruit and vegetable output has grown by more than 64 million metric tonnes. He added that India now ranks first in global milk production, second in fish production, and has doubled honey production since 2014.

He further noted that over 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been set up to strengthen farmer cooperation and market access, adding that the inspiration behind the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana came from the successful model of Aspirational Districts. (KNC)

Srinagar, Oct 13: The Private Schools Association of Jammu & Kashmir (PSAJK) held its internal election for the post of Interim President today. After a transparent voting process conducted through a secret ballot, Mr. Nazrul Islam Baba was duly elected as the Interim President of PSAJK.

As per a press statement issued by the Office of the General Secretary, PSAJK, “the election process was conducted in a democratic and cordial atmosphere, reflecting the unity and collective spirit of the Association. Members from across different districts participated in the voting and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the private education sector in the region.”

On the occasion, the outgoing President was given a special standing ovation in recognition of his outstanding contributions, visionary leadership, and dedicated service to the cause of private education in Jammu and Kashmir. His efforts in upholding educational standards and safeguarding the interests of private institutions were deeply appreciated by all members, the statement added.

The members of the Association extended their heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Nazrul Islam Baba on his election and expressed confidence that under his leadership, PSAJK will continue to work towards excellence, transparency, and reform in the private education sector.

The newly elected Interim President thanked the members for their trust and assured his full dedication to carry forward the mission of the Association with renewed energy and vision.

Srinagar, Oct 12: The Rajya Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir are turning into a high-stakes arithmetic battle, where every MLA’s vote on October 24 could tip the balance.

Unlike direct elections, these polls are entirely determined by legislative numbers, making coalition strategy and discipline crucial.

For the NC-Congress alliance, the so-called “risky fourth seat” has emerged as a flashpoint, testing the alliance’s cohesion, trust, and strategic calculations.

The Congress’ decision today not to contest a seat directly has dramatically altered the political arithmetic, leaving the fourth seat shrouded in uncertainty and setting the stage for an intense contest with the BJP.

While the NC commands 42 MLAs, with support from allied independents taking its effective strength to 47, it can comfortably secure three of the four seats.

However, the fourth seat, initially anticipated as a potential Congress allocation, is now shrouded in uncertainty.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has further intensified the contest by nominating its J&K unit president, Sat Sharma, for this seat, signalling a direct challenge.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued three separate notifications for the four Rajya Sabha vacancies.

The first two single-seat notifications, covering Mir Muhammad Fayaz and Shamsher Singh’s vacated positions, are virtually assured for NC, surpassing the 45-vote quota.

The third notification, covering the two vacancies left by Ghulam Nabi Azad and Nazir Ahmed Laway, requires around 29 votes per seat, making strategic allocation critical.

Here, the BJP, with 28 MLAs, emerges as a formidable contender for the fourth seat.

Smaller parties, including the People’s Democratic Party with 3 MLAs, the People’s Conference with one MLA, Awami Ittehad Party with one MLA, and Aam Aadmi Party with one MLA, and certain independents, could play a decisive role, especially with Congress abstaining from contesting directly.

Congress, despite its limited strength of six MLAs, has not yet decided whether to vote for NC or abstain, reflecting ongoing internal deliberations and its cautious approach to retaining political relevance while avoiding a symbolic loss.

This indecision reduces NC’s surplus cushion, creating a narrow window where cross-voting or last-minute strategic alliances could shape the outcome of the “risky seat.”

For NC, the challenge is to maintain internal discipline and coordinate with allied independents to safeguard its three secured seats while evaluating whether to field a candidate for the fourth seat.

For the BJP, nominating Sat Sharma is a calculated move to exploit the arithmetic gap created by Congress’s abstention and stake a claim in what was traditionally NC-Congress territory.

The political landscape in J&K underwent a significant shift following the 2024 Legislative Assembly elections.

NC and Congress formed a pre-poll alliance to prevent a hung assembly and counter the BJP’s growing influence.

Together, they secured 49 seats in the 90-member assembly, NC winning 42, Congress six, and CPI (M) one.

Despite this electoral success, Congress chose not to join Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s cabinet, citing dissatisfaction over the non-restoration of J&K’s statehood.

This highlighted tensions between the two parties and set the stage for friction in Rajya Sabha seat-sharing deliberations.

At the national level, NC remains part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA bloc), a coalition of opposition parties led by Congress.

This dual alignment illustrates the complex interplay between regional and national politics, where regional alliances may diverge from national strategies.

The NC-Congress relationship in J&K reflects the delicate balance between regional political ambitions and national strategic calculations.

With Congress opting not to contest the Rajya Sabha polls and undecided on voting for NC, the fourth “risky seat” has emerged as a pivotal test of NC’s organisational strength, its ability to marshal support from independents, and the strategic calculations of the BJP.

The outcome will not only decide representation in the Upper House but also signal the future trajectory of coalition politics in J&K.