Parliament okays Corp tax cut; FM says software developers, miners not eligible for lower rates

06/12/2019
NEW DELHI, Dec 5: Parliament on Thursday approved the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that replaces an ordinance promulgated to cut the base corporate tax rate, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stating that mining companies, software developers and book printers will not be eligible for the lower 15 per cent rate available for new manufacturing companies. LokSabha had earlier this week passed the bill and the Upper House returned it on Thursday without making any changes. Replying...

Ill-intentioned design, policy to suppress basic freedoms of people in J&K: Chidambaram

06/12/2019
NEW DELHI, Dec 5: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed the Modi government on Thursday over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it had an "ill-thought out, ill-founded and ill-intentioned" design and policy to suppress the basic freedoms of the people there. Addressing a press conference, the former home minister also said he intended to visit Jammu and Kashmir if the government allowed him to do so. "As I stepped out and breathed the air of freedom at 8 pm yesterday, my first t...

4 held at Delhi airport for smuggling in Indian currency

06/12/2019
NEW DELHI, Dec 5: Four Kashmiri men were arrested by the customs officials, in coordination with the Military Intelligence and the CISF, at Delhi airport for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country Rs 40 lakh for "possible use in the Valley", officials said on Thursday. It is for the first time that Indian currency in such a large quantity has been seized, they said. The four men were intercepted at the airport after their arrival from Jeddah on Tuesday, the officials said. An amount of...

Govt puts up 11 airports in J&K for bidding under regional air connectivity scheme

06/12/2019
NEW DELHI, Dec 5: As many as 11 airports in Jammu and Kashmir, and two in Ladakh have been put up for bidding under the fourth round of the regional air connectivity scheme, according to a release. So far, 688 routes have been awarded to various air operators under the Ude Deshka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) that seeks to connect unserved as well as underserved destinations and also make flying more affordable. The civil aviation ministry announced the fourth round of UDAN bidding on Tuesday and the foc...

Rahul lashes out at Modi, Shah, Sitharaman

06/12/2019
WAYANAD (KER), Dec 5: In a scathing attack on the BJP-led government at the Centre, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the country was in "trouble" as the "imaginary world" the Prime Minister had created was falling apart. Gandhi did not spare Home minister Amit Shah and Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman either and took potshots at them during his hectic tour of the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, which he represents. He lashed out at Sitharaman, saying she was "incompetent", not aware of wh...

Kashmir economy suffered losses of Rs 15000 cr since August

06/12/2019
SRINAGAR, Dec 5: The economy of Kashmir has suffered losses of Rs 15,000 crore since August 5, when the government abrogated Article 370 provisions, a commerce body has claimed, saying that this is just a "conservative estimate". The Centre had repealed provisions of the article that gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into union territories of Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir. "Our conservative estimates put the losses to the Kashmir economy due to...

Kargil shivers at minus 17 degrees Celsius

06/12/2019
JAMMU, Dec 5: Kargil continued to remain the coldest place in the twin union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh recording minus 17 degrees Celsius, an official of the Meteorological department said on Thursday. The night temperature plummeted in most places in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh with Srinagar recording the coldest night of the season at minus 3.5 degrees Celsius 0.9 degrees below the season's average, the official said. Leh recorded night temperature of minus 13.5 degrees c...

Srinagar-Leh highway to be reopen for traffic on Friday

06/12/2019
ZOJILA/JAMMU, Dec 5: The Srinagar-Leh highway will reopen for vehicular traffic on Friday after remaining closed for 15 days as the Border Roads Organisation has cleared the snow at the high-altitude Zojila pass on Thursday, officials said. The highway was closed on November 21 after the second spell of snowfall hit the Kashmir region disrupting normal life. Officials said around 700 vehicles, including trucks and dumpers loaded with essentials commodities and passenger cars, were stranded in...

4,000 passports delivered in Kashmir Valley post Aug 5: Prasad

06/12/2019
NEW DELHI, Dec 5: As many as 4,000 passports were delivered in the Kashmir Valley post August 5, Communi-cations Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told Rajya Sabha on Thursday and appreciated India Post for its good services in Jammu and Kashmir despite difficult circumstances. "I want to place on record my appreciation of the Postal Department people who, in spite of difficult circumstances, delivered the goods. They also delivered nearly 4,000 passports in the Valley issued since August 5," he sa...

Exercise Indra between India, Russia to be conducted from Dec 10-19

06/12/2019
PUNE, Dec 5: Exercise Indra 2019, a joint, tri-services exercise between India and Russia will be conducted in India from December 10 to 19 simultaneously at Babina, near Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh, Pune, and Goa. The Indra series of exercise began in 2003 and the first joint tri-services exercise was conducted in 2017. Company-sized mechanized contingents, fighter and transport aircraft, as well as ships of respective Army, Air Force, and Navy, will participate in this exercise of ten days durat...

States should come up with action plan to curb digital banking fraud: LS Speaker

06/12/2019
NEW DELHI, Dec 5: LokSabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said the states should come up with an action plan to curb the rising incidents of digital banking frauds in the country after a Member of Parliament raised the issue in the House. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Arvind Kumar Sharma of the ruling BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) said on one hand the nation was moving towards Digital India while on the other hand, such fraudulent activities were taking place. "In digital banking, fraud...

Remote Dacchan gets ropeway, will connect people with rest of Kishtwar

06/12/2019
JAMMU, Dec 5: People in Dacchan in Jammu and Kashmir's border district Kishtwar will now not have to cover a treacherous journey for household items and other material as the authorities have built a ropeway cradle box over a river that separated them from the rest of the territory. The picturesque remote belt has not any road connectivity with the district and the people have to criss-cross 18 kilometres distance by foot through forests and slopes to reach to the other side. Now that the dis...

Govt committed to empower Panchayati Raj Institutions for strengthening democratic set up at grass-root level: Lt Gov

05/12/2019
BARAMULLA, Dec 4: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu today reiterated the Government's commitment for effectively implementing 73rd and 74th Amendments for empowering Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) that will further strengthen the democratic set up at the grass-root level. He said that PRIs shall be devolved with sufficient financial resources besides terming such institutions vital for meeting the public expectations at the grass root level. The Lt. Governor made these remarks duri...

4 soldiers killed by snow avalanche near LoC in north Kashmir

05/12/2019
Srinagar, Dec 4: Four soldiers were killed in two separate incidents of snow avalanches near the Line of Control in north Kashmir, officials said on Wednesday. An Army post in Tangdhar area of Kupwara district was hit by an avalanche on Tuesday afternoon, trapping at least four soldiers, they said. The officials said bodies of three soldiers were recovered on Wednesday, while one soldier was rescued alive. In another incident, a foot patrol of the Army was hit by an avalanche in Dawar area of...

JK saw most peaceful festive season in decades, Shah is most kind-hearted Home Minister: Jitendra

05/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 4: The government on Wednesday rejected claims by a National Conference member in Lok Sabha about the situation in Kashmir, saying the region witnessed one of the most peaceful festive seasons in decades. Participating in the debate on Demands for Grants, Hasnain Masoodi (NC) said political leaders have been put under house arrest and internet shutdown is creating problems for students, entrepreneurs and professionals. After a brief exchange of words between the opposition and ...

Rising night temperatures bring relief in Ladakh, J&K

05/12/2019
Jammu, Dec 4: The mercury climbed across most parts of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Wednesday, bringing some relief to the region a day after it witnessed the coldest night of the season. The minimum in Leh town of Ladakh region increased by 2.8 degrees to settle at minus 12.8 degrees Celsius, while Srinagar recorded a low of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, against the previous night's minus 3 degrees Celsius, a Meteorological Department (Met) official said. He said win...

DGP calls for maintaining alertness to keep check on trouble-mongers

05/12/2019
Srinagar/Jammu, Dec 4: Asserting that the joint efforts of the security forces has helped in minimising the terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh on Wednesday called for maintaining alertness on the borders and the hinterland to check the movement of trouble-mongers. Singh, who visited the border district of Kupwara to review the security situation, advised for sharing intelligence inputs and joint patrolling of all the security formations across t...

India committed to partnering with Maldives for its development: Modi

05/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 4: As a close friend and maritime neighbour, India is committed to partnering with the Maldives for its development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday. The two countries will also enhance cooperation for peace and mutual security in the Indian Ocean Region, he asserted at an event, which was held in New Delhi and Male simultaneously through video-conferencing. Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih attended the event in Male. The Indian government's "Neighbourhood First...

SC grants bail to Chidambaram in INX Media money laundering case

05/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 4: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to Congress leader P Chidambaram in a money laundering case related to INX Media and directed that he could not leave the country without its prior permission nor speak to the media. Chidambaram, who has been in custody for 105 days, should neither try to influence witnesses nor tamper with evidence, the court said while setting aside the Delhi High Court November 15 verdict denying the former Union finance minister bail. A three-ju...

Govt taking steps to check onion prices: FM

05/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 4: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said in the Lok Sabha that the government has taken several steps to check rising prices of onion and has initiated steps to improve technology for better storage of the kitchen staple. The minister also dismissed the criticism that there was any fear among the investors by pointing out that FDI inflows have gone up to USD 209 billion during the first half of the current fiscal from USD 17 billion in the same period a year ago....

India has asked countries to take action against ‘Kashmir cells’ set up by Pak at its missions

05/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 4: India has asked countries to take action against "Kashmir cells" or "Kashmir desks" set up by Pakistan at its missions abroad, asserting that they openly incite violence, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said the Pakistan foreign minister announced a decision to establish "Kashmir cell/ desks" in Pakistan's Foreign Office and Missions abroad. "The main obj...

Chidambaram's 106-day custody was ‘vengeful & vindictive’: Rahul

05/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 4: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said P Chidambaram's 106-day-long custody was "vengeful and vindictive" and hoped that he will come clean in the INX Media case. Taking to Twitter, Rahul expressed happiness over the Supreme Court granting bail to the former finance minister. "Mr P Chidambaram's 106-day incarceration was vengeful and vindictive. I'm glad that the SC has granted him bail. I'm confident that he will be able to prove his innocence in a fair tr...

Like against Pak, adopt aggressive stance in dealing with China: Cong

05/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 4: Amid claims of Chinese troops' transgressions into Indian territory, the Congress on Wednesday said the government should adopt the same aggressive stance in dealing with China as it takes against Pakistan. Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raised the issue of reported incursions into Indian territories in the House as well as at a press conference. "BJP's Arunachal Pradesh MP, Tapir Gao, had raised the issue (on Chinese transgression) inside the House on N...

Perceptional differences over India-China border: Rajnath

05/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 3: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said in Lok Sabha that there are perceptional differences between India and China on border issues but the Indian Army is fully alert and the border is secured. Responding to a statement by Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury about Chinese activities along India's border regions, Singh said transgression by Chinese forces do take place and Indian forces too go for patrolling along forward locations "Our border is se...

Cabinet nod to withdraw JK reservation Bill from Parliament

05/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 4: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its formal nod to withdraw a Bill, which sought to provide reservation to economically backward people of Jammu and Kashmir, as the state reorganisation law provided for a similar quota. Union minister Prakash Javadekar said here that the Cabinet gave its nod to withdraw the Bill formally as the draft law had become irrelevant. The government had recently withdrawn the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Second Amendment) Bill 2019 from Lok Sabh...

Woman injured in bear attack in Poonch

05/12/2019
Jammu, Dec 4: A 50-year-old woman was injured after a bear attacked her in the forest belt in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Wednesday, officials said. Sira Begum was attacked by the animal near her house in the forest belt, they said. She has been hospitalised and is out of danger, according to the officials.

2 Civilians killed, 9 injured in Pak shelling along LoC in Poonch

04/12/2019
JAMMU, Dec 3: Two civilians a 35-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy were killed and nine others injured on Tuesday when Pakistan army heavily shelled forward posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, officials said. The firing and shelling from across the border in Shahpur and Kirni sectors was retaliated by the Indian Army, but the casualties suffered by Pakistan was not known immediately, they said. "At about 2.30 pm, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire vi...

PoK intruder nabbed

04/12/2019
JAMMU, Dec 3: A man from a Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) village was nabbed after he infiltrated into this side from across the Line of Control in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district, a police officer said. Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajouri, Yougal Manhas said alert Army troops guarding the LoC noticed a man who was trying to sneak into the Indian territory in an area of Nowshera sector. The man was challenged and then nabbed, he said. The incident took place in the afternoon, Manhas...

Leh, Srinagar, Jammu witness coldest night of the season

04/12/2019
JAMMU, Dec 3: The mercury continued its downward spiral in the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh owing to clear skies with Leh, Srinagar and Jammu experiencing the coldest night of the season, a meteorological department official said. Leh was the coldest recorded place in the region on Monday night with a low of minus 15.6 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature in Srinagar dipped to minus 3 degrees Celsius, 2.1 degrees below normal during this time of the season, the of...

Militant arrested with arms and ammunition

04/12/2019
Jammu, Dec 3: A militant has been arrested from a forest area in Kishtwar district with a large quantity of arms and ammunition, a police official said on Tuesday. Tariq HussainWani of Sounder village in Dachhan tehsil was arrested in a joint operation by the police, Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF from a temporary hideout in IkhalaPlamar forest on Monday night, the official said. He had a gunshot wound on his left foot and was immediately rushed to the district hospital in Kishtwar, the police off...

RS passes Bill to amend SPG Act, Shah rejects charge of political vendetta

04/12/2019
NEW DELHI, Dec 3: The RajyaSabha on Tuesday passed a bill to amend the Act governing the elite-Special Protection Group (SPG) with Home Minister Amit Shah rejecting the opposition's charge of political vendetta and asserting the government was concerned about security of all 130 crore Indians and not just the Gandhi family. Replying to a debate on the SPG (Amendment) Bill, Shah said that the BJP does not carry out any action with a vindictive approach and it was the Congress that took many suc...

Nine arrested for ‘threatening’ businessmen with violence in Kashmir

04/12/2019
Srinagar, Dec 3: Nine persons have been arrested from Srinagar and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir for allegedly indulging in violence, threatening and intimidating businessmen and forcing them to close their establishments to protest the abrogation of Article 370, police said. "Police Station Baramulla received information that some miscreants have set ablaze shops in Baramulla Market at three different locations due to which several shops including a shopping complex got damaged. A ...

Sawhney sits on dharna with Samba Bar

04/12/2019
Samba, Dec 3: Mr. A.K. Sawhney Advocate former President Bar Association Jammu during interaction with the members of the Samba Bar suggested to chalk out the programme in consonance with the Jammu parent bar body to achieve the goal of demands. Much time has already been spent now the litigants are also facing difficulties as their Non-bailable Warrants have been issued for non appearance for their no fault and in some cases the bail is to be extended. The leadership of the bar has to provide ...

Modi attacks Cong over Art 370 & Ayodhya, says it presidedover corrupt Govts

04/12/2019
Jamshedpur/Khunti, Dec 3: Prime Minister NarendraModi on Tuesday launched a two-pronged attack on the Congress, accusing it of procrastinating resolution of national issues like Article 370 and the Ayodhya dispute, and presiding over "corrupt and unstable" governments in Jharkhand. Stumping for BJP nominees for the Jharkhand assembly polls, Modi harped on the repeal of provisions of Article 370 that gave the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir its special status, and the Ayodhya tangle themes...

No study on cost of forces’ deployment in JK post abrogation of special status: Govt

04/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 3: The government has not conducted a separate survey on the cost incurred for deployment of security forces, their travel and supplies following the abrogation of special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, Union minister G Kishan Reddy said in LokSabha on Tuesday. He also said a total of 5,161 people including stone pelters, overground workers, separatists etc., were taken into preventive custody in Kashmir Valley since August 4 and of them, 609 people are cur...

Parliament passes Bill to merge UTs Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli

04/12/2019
NEW DELHI, Nov 3: The Parliament on Tuesday passed a bill which seeks to merge two Union Territories Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli into one unit. The RajyaSabha passed the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019 through voice vote. Lok Sabha had passed this bill on November 27. The merged Union Territory will be named Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Responding to the bill, Minister of State for Home G. Kishen Reddy said the measu...

Modi accepts invitation to visit Brussels for India-EU Summit

04/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted an invitation extended by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to visit Brussels for the next India-EU Summit. The invitation was extended by von der Leyen during a telephonic conversation with Modi on Monday, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. During the conversation, Modi congratulated von der Leyen on taking over as the President of the European Commission and expressed happiness that the two were ...

CDS should be adequately empowered: Navy Chief

04/12/2019
NEW DELHI, Dec 3: The post of Chief of Defence Staff should be adequately empowered to carry out strategically important plans relating to India's security challenges, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh said on Tuesday. Addressing his annual press conference ahead of the Navy Day, Singh also complimented Prime Minister NarendraModi for the historic decision to create the post of CDS which will be the single-point military adviser to the government. "The CDS should be adequately empowered. We h...

Priyanka security breach: Vadra calls it ‘very big lapse’

04/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 3: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's husband Robert Vadra on Tuesday described as a "very big" security lapse the incident of unidentified people driving up to the porch of their home last week, and alleged that the removal of the Gandhi family's SPG cover was a "political" move. The Congress general secretary's office has taken up the issue of the November 26 security breach with the Central Reserve Police Force. "Our security is not important as much as the security of ...

Govt shifts 116 employees of now abolished JKLC to various deptts

04/12/2019
JAMMU, Dec 3: The employees of the now abolished Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council (JKLC) on Tuesday were shifted to various department, officials said. As many as 116 employees, including one additional secretary, two deputy secretaries, three under secretaries and marshals, have been shifted and posted in departments of law, tribal affairs, election, women and child development, public service commission, advocate general, they said. After abrogation of Article 370 provisions and the re...

India, Sweden resolve to expand overall ties, ink 3 pacts

03/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 2: Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf on Monday held extensive talks with President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expand overall bilateral cooperation in diverse areas including in trade and investment, innovation and and culture. After talks between the King and President Kovind, the two sides inked three pacts providing for cooperation in polar science, innovation and research and in maritime spheres. Separately, Modi and King chaired a meeting of the India-Sw...

Chief Justice inaugurates Induction Training Course for newly appointed Munsiffs

03/12/2019
JAMMU, Dec 2: J&K Judicial Academy today started the ‘Induction Training Programme’ for newly appointed Munsiffs (Civil Judges Junior Division) here. Justice Gita Mittal, Chief Justice J&K High Court (Chief Patron, J&K Judicial Academy) inaugurated the training course and addressed the newly selected Munsiffs (Civil Judges Junior Division). Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Sindhu Sharma-Judges of High Court of J&K addressed the newly selected Munsiffs (Civil Judges Junior Division). Registra...

Will throw out all ‘intruders’ from the country by 2024: Shah

03/12/2019
Jamshedpur, Dec 2: Union Home Minister and BJP president Amit Shah said here on Monday that ‘infiltrators’ are cousin brothers of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "The Rahul Baba says why are we bringing in National Register of Citizens (NRC)? Why are we driving out infiltrators? Where they will go, what they will eat? Why are they your cousin brothers?" Shah said while addressing an election rally here today. "Before 2024, the BJP government will drive out every single infiltrator from the count...

Attempt to set shops ablaze in Srinagar averted, third incident in as many nights

03/12/2019
Srinagar, Dec 2: A fire in a posh market here was narrowly averted in the dead of night, the latest in a series of mysterious incidents in the city, officials said on Monday, suspecting that shop owners who have defied an undeclared shutdown against the abrogation of Article 370 are being targeted. Late on Sunday night, an inflammable substance was sprinkled on a few shops in Lambert Lane market on Residency Road but alert residents of the building foiled the attempt to set the shops on fire, ...

Assured that corporate sector will contribute generously for welfare of ex-servicemen: Rajnath

03/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 2: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said he was confident that the corporate sector and wealth creators in the country will "contribute wholeheartedly" to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund for the welfare of ex-servicemen. Addressing an event here ahead of the Armed Forces Flag Day on December 7, he also said people had generously contributed to the 'Bharat ke Veer' fund which had a corpus of Rs 300 cr at the time he had left the home minister's office. Singh was home minis...

Chief of Defence Staff to come under RTI Act; NSA-led panel submits report

03/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 2: A high-level committee headed by NSA Ajit Doval to finalise responsibilities and enabling framework for the proposed chief of defence staff (CDS) has submitted its report to the government. The government is likely make an announcement within next two weeks to appoint the CDS who will be the single-point military adviser to the government as suggested by the Kargil Review Committee in 1999, sources said. Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik said in the Rajya Sabha that ...

Rapists should be severely punished: Naidu

03/12/2019
Kurnool, Dec 2: Condemning the rape and murder of a woman veterinary doctor in Telangana's Ranga Reddy district, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said that the accused should be severely punished by the court. Speaking to ANI, Naidu said, "Those persons who committed such heinous crime should be severely punished otherwise criminals will not be afraid of the acts. There must be strict action. Courts should stand firm, should implement the Nirbhaya act amicably. The ...

Will change Jharkhand, just like Chhattisgarh: Rahul

03/12/2019
Simdega, Dec 2: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday promised to waive farm loans if the opposition coalition comes to power in Jharkhand and vowed to change the state, which has a significant tribal population, just like neighbouring Chhattisgarh where his party stormed to power last year. Addressing his first rally in the state, Gandhi said within a year of coming to power in Chhattisgarh, the Congress government has changed the scenario in the state. "During the BJP government in Chhattis...

‘Absolutely unfair’ to say Government averse to criticism: Sitharaman

03/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 2: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the criticism that the government is not willing to listen is "absolutely unfair" and emphasised that she herself goes around the country and speaks to people. Her comments in the Lok Sabha come in the backdrop of industrialist Rahul Bajaj's remarks that there was an "atmosphere of fear" and people were afraid to criticise the government. "We do take their criticism, many of them on my social media handle, call me names. I h...

Muslim party seeks review of Ayodhya verdict, says Babri be rebuilt for complete justice

03/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 2: A plea seeking review of the verdict which cleared the way for construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday stating that "complete justice" could only be done by directing reconstruction of Babri Masjid. A 5-judge bench, headed by the then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, had in a unanimous verdict on November 9 decreed the entire 2.77 acre disputed land in favour of deity 'Ram Lalla' and also directed the Centre to allot a ...

All appeals, complaints pending under RTI in J&K to be dealt by CIC: Govt

03/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 2: All second appeals and complaints pending with the Jammu and Kashmir State Information Commission under the erstwhile state's Right to Information (RTI) Act will be dealt with by the Central Information Commi-ssion (CIC), according to official documents. The move comes as Jammu and Kashmir state was divided into two union territories Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh with effect from October 31, 2019. A large number of applications and appeals filed under the Jammu and Kashmi...

NC advocates for creation of conducive political atmosphere

03/12/2019
Jammu, Dec 2: Senior National Conference leader Devender Singh Rana on Monday pitched for creation of a conducive political atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir to reach out to the people. The NC provincial president said secularism is the bedrock of Jammu and Kashmir's glorious existence and this spirit has to be nurtured and sustained for harmonious growth of the people. Referring to the prevailing political scenario after abrogation of Article 370, Rana stressed on the need for reaching out to ...

Truck driver carrying pistol arrested

03/12/2019
Jammu, Dec 2: A truck driver carrying a pistol was arrested on Monday in Bari Brahamna belt, 25 kilometers away from Jammu, police said. During security check at Balole bridge, police intercepted a truck and recovered a country-made pistol from the vehicle, they said. According to police, the truck was on its way to Kashmir. Parveen Singh, a resident of Nowshera in Rajouri, was arrested and the weapon was also seized, police said, adding that a case under the Arms Act was registered.

Mobile phone mess was scam tainted legacy of UPA: Prasad

03/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 2: Union Minister for Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday said that the mobile internet tariffs in the country are among the lowest in the world and alleged that the mobile phone mess was the scam-tainted legacy of the UPA government. In a series of tweets, Prasad said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government had inherited a high cost of the mobile internet from the UPA and turned it around. "Government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi inherited the high ...

2 Pak Army officers injured in retaliatory firing by India along LoC in Poonch

02/12/2019
Jammu, Dec 1: Two Pakistani Army officers were injured on Sunday in retaliatory firing by Indian forces in Poonch sector along the Line of Control in Kashmir after ceasefire violation by the neighbouring country left a 65-year-old civilian critically injured. "At about 4 pm, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing small arms and shelling with mortars in Shahpur and Qasba sectors of Poonch," a defence spokesman said, adding they targeted forward posts and villages. The Indi...

Militant hideout busted in Baramulla; arms, ammunition seized

02/12/2019
Srinagar, Dec 1: Security forces have busted a militant hideout in Baramulla district and seized a cache of arms, ammunition and other items, including a satellite phone, police said on Sunday. The hideout was busted in Rafiabad area of Sopore in north Kashmir, a police official said. He said the recovery includes two AK rifles, 2000 AK rounds, three RPG rounds, two wireless sets and a satellite phone. A case has been registered, the official said, adding that the incriminating material has ...

Anti-India forces trying to create trouble in Kashmir checked by BSF: MoS Home

02/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 1: Anti-India forces wanting to create trouble in Kashmir valley, post the abrogation of Article 370, have not been successful because of a strong security shield created by forces like the BSF, Union Minister Nityanand Rai said on Sunday. Addressing the troops and officers of the Border Security Force on the organisation's 55th Raising Day event here, the minister said the force is continuously thwarting infiltration and smuggling bids along the border areas as enemies of the c...

Huge rush at weekly flea market in Srinagar

02/12/2019
Srinagar, Dec 1: The weekly flea market here witnessed a huge rush of people and few shops at some places in the city stretched their business hours on Sunday, even as the uncertainty in Kashmir, following abrogation of Article 370, continued for the 118th day, officials said. The weekly flea market, locally known as 'Sunday market', was open as vendors had put up stalls on the TRC Chowk-Batamaloo axis through Lal Chowk city centre, the officials said. They said the market witnessed huge rush...

Winter chill grips north India, parts of J&K, Ladakh shiver at sub-zero temperatures

02/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 1: North India was swept by chilly winds on Sunday, with many places in Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh witnessing sub-zero temperatures and the mercury dropping to 9.4 degrees Celsius in the national capital. Leh town witnessed the coldest night of the season at minus 13.2 degrees Celsius, while Srinagar recorded a low of minus 0.9 degrees Celsius. The famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir, which experienced several feet of snowfall last week, was the coldest plac...

Indian economy has moved to era of bold, transparent & decisive decision-making under Modi Govt: Shah

02/12/2019
Mumbai, Dec 1: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the Indian economy has moved from the era of policy paralysis, scams and corruption pre-2014 to an era of bold, transparent and decisive decision-making under the Narendra Modi government since 2014. "Indian Economy has moved from the era of policy paralysis, scams and corruption pre-2014 to one of the era of bold, transparent and decisive decision-making under Narendra Modi Government since 2014," Shah said in an address at th...

Need to build trust, address problems facing J&K tourism sector

02/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 1: There is a need to build trust and ensure that problems of the Jammu and Kashmir tourism sector, which is on "ventilator", are addressed at the earliest, experts said at a seminar on the economic situation of J-K after abrogation of Article 370 provisions. Experts from various fields, including the travel industry, had gathered at the seminar "Kashmir-onomics", which was held in the national capital recently, and they said the time had come to bury the past and look towards a...

Indo-Pak border ‘sensitive’ after J&K bifurcation due to high infiltration attempts: BSF DG

02/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 1: The government's decision to bifurcate the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir has rendered the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir and the international border along Jammu and Punjab "very sensitive" as terrorists are making continuous efforts to infiltrate into India, a top BSF officer said on Sunday. Border Security Force chief V K Johri, during his address on the occasion of the 55th raising day of the force here, said his troops have avowed to ensure that the sanctity of t...

BJP will form majority Government in Jharkhand: Rajnath

02/12/2019
Seraikela, Dec 1: Union minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday claimed that the BJP will form a majority government in Jharkhand after the ongoing assembly elections in the state. Singh, addressing a public meeting at Adityapur in Seraikela-Kharswan district, said he had a discussion with a cross-section of people as well as political analysts after the first phase of the polls on Saturday. "The feedback indicated that the BJP is going to win 9 to 10 seats out of the 13 constituencies that went to p...

Need mass movement at district-level to ‘save Constitution, reservation’: Congress

02/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 1: Congress leader and SC/ST rights activist Udit Raj on Sunday alleged that the Constitution was under threat and a mass movement was needed to protect it, else the reservation for underprivileged will "remain just on paper". Addressing a national rally at Ramlila Maidan here, he also raised the issues of privatisation, unemployment and EVM tampering, and reservation in private sector and judiciary. "Our Constitution is under threat, democracy is under threat and if we do not ...

Judicial Officers took stock of the basic necessities available to the prisoners

02/12/2019
Jammu, Dec 1: In compliance with the directions of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal Chairman SLSA and under the supervision of Ramesh Kumar Wattal, Chairman SLSA (Principal District Judge Jammu), Mr Sandeep Gandotra, Sub Judge, Passenger Tax and Shop Establishment Act Magistrate and City Judge Jammu Prem Sagar Jammu inspected Central Jail Kot Bhalwal, Jammu and District Jail Jammu, to take stock of the basic necessities available to the prisoners including food, safe drinki...

BSF Jawans have always worked hard to protect & serve nation during crisis: MoS Rai

02/12/2019
NEW DELHI, Dec 1: Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on Sunday said that BSF personnel have been diligently protecting borders of the country and worked hard in serving the citizens during difficult situations. “BSF personnel has been diligently protecting our borders and worked hard in serving the citizens during crisis situations. The country is proud of the sacrifices made by the BSF while defending the country,” Mr Rai said addressing the gathering. He took salute at the 55t...

Centre sanctions Rs 325 crore for medical college for Handwara

02/12/2019
Jammu, Dec 1: The Centre has given its approval for a new government medical college, which will be attached with the district and referral hospital Handwara in north Kashmir, an official spokesman said on Sunday. The college in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district will be set up at a cost of Rs 325 crore under a centrally-sponsored scheme, he said. "The J&K government has received the sanction letter in this regard from the Union health and family welfare ministry," the spokesman said quotin...

Naqvi slams AIMPLB, Jamiat for Ayodhya decision review bid, says matter closed for people

02/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 1: Hitting out at the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind for their decision to seek a review of the Ayodhya verdict, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday said they are trying to create an "atmosphere of division and confrontation" after the matter was laid to rest by the Supreme Court. He also said that for the Muslims the important issue is not just "Babri (mosque) but barabri (equality)" in the areas of education and economic and...

UK Labour leader takes exception to party endorsement from “terrorist organisation JKLF”

02/12/2019
London, Dec 1: Dr Neeraj Patil, a Labour leader and former Mayor of the London Borough of Lambeth, has expressed deep concern over the endorsement of the party by terrorist group JKLF in the December 12 General Election and sought immediate remedial measures. In a letter addressed to Labour Party General Secretary Jennie Formby, the Indian-origin doctor said the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) had kidnapped an Indian diplomat Ravindra Mhatre in February, 1984 in Birmingham and brutally m...

PM greets BSF on its raising day

02/12/2019
New Delhi, Dec 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended greetings to Border Security Force personnel on the organisation's 55th raising day. "Greetings to all BSF personnel and their families on BSF's Raising Day. This force has been diligently protecting our borders," the prime minister tweeted. During natural disasters and crisis situations, BSF personnel have always worked hard to serve the citizens, he pointed out. The BSF was raised in 1965 with the specific purpose of manning...

2 soldiers killed in avalanche at Siachen

01/12/2019
Srinagar, Nov 30: Two soldiers were killed after an Army patrol operating in Southern Siachen Glacier was hit by an avalanche. Indian Army spokesperson, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said, "An Army patrol operating at an altitude of approximately 18,000 feet in Southern Siachen Glacier was hit by an avalanche during the early hours of November 30." An Avalanche Rescue Team (ART) following the patrol immediately rushed and managed to locate and pull out all members of the patrol. Simultaneously, Army he...

Pak violates ceasefire for 2nd consecutive day in Poonch

01/12/2019
Poonch, Nov 30: The Pakistan army on Saturday targeted forward posts and villages along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, violating the ceasefire for the second consecutive day, a defence spokesperson said. "The Indian army is retaliating befittingly to silence Pakistani guns," he said, adding the cross-border firing between the two sides was on when the reports came in last. "Pakistan initiated the unprovoked ceasefire violation with small arms firing and mortar she...

Dr. Jitendra inaugurates conference on ‘Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat’ with focus on Jal Shakti & Disaster Management

01/12/2019
JAMMU, Nov 30: The Union Minister of State (PP), Dr Jitendra Singh said that all Central laws applicable to other parts of the country will now be applicable to the newly created UTs of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh. He said that there are about 854 such laws which are citizen-friendly and will benefit the common man of J&K and Ladakh, who were previously deprived of it. The Minister said that now everybody should understand that Article 370 is gone and gone forever; and not in pieces, but...

Cold wave intensifies in Ladakh, parts of Kashmir record sub-zero temp

01/12/2019
Jammu, Nov 30: Cold wave intensified in the Union Territory of Ladakh while parts of Kashmir, including the famous hill resort of Gulmarg and Pahalgam, also reeled under sub-zero temperatures after the recent snowfall, the MeT office said on Saturday. At a low of minus 9.2 degrees Celsius, Kargil town was the coldest recorded place in Ladakh region followed by Leh town which recorded a minimum of minus 8.7 degrees Celsius, a spokesperson of the MeT department said. He said the maximum temperat...

Terrorism in Kashmir at minimum in first six months of Modi 2.0: Javadekar

01/12/2019
New Delhi, Nov 30: Terrorism in Kashmir has been at a minimum level after the repeal of Article 370, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said Saturday, describing the first six months of the Modi government's second term as dedicated to development and security of the country. Javadekar said India has had a little impact of the global economic slowdown and efforts to recover from it have been hastened by the government. Simulta-neously, this government is continuously addressing economic challeng...

Pak waging proxy war as it can’t win conventional one: Rajnath

01/12/2019
Pune, Nov 30: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said Pakistan was indulging in a "proxy" war as it had realised that it cannot win a "conventional" one. The path of the "proxy" war chosen by Pakistan would only lead to its defeat, he added. Singh was speaking at the passing out parade of the 137th course at National Defence Academy in Pune. Pakistan had realised right from 1948 through the wars in 1965, 1971 and 1999 that it could not win against India in any conventional or limited w...

Sawhney hails to convene General House of Lawyers

01/12/2019
JAMMU, Nov 30: A meeting of general house is a welcome step to discuss thredbear and know the views of members of the legal fraternity, Mr A K Sawhney (Advocate) former president JKHCBA Jammu said. He also said that he is confident that Mr. Abhinav Sharma, president JKHCBA will provide a fair opportunity to maximum members to give their valuable views as how to achieve the goal. He may provide some valuable achievements or information to members which may help members to decide about future cou...

Army chief visits northern command, asks troops to be aggressive

01/12/2019
Jammu, Nov 30: Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat on Saturday visited the Northern Command headquarters at Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir and urged troops to be alert against any inimical design of the enemy and stay aggressive in their approach. "The Chief of Army Staff interacted with the troops and conveyed his appreciation to the soldiers for their steadfastness and high morale, which were reflective of their unwavering commitment and selfless dedication to the nation," a defence spokesperson said....

Internet services across all platforms continued to remain suspended

01/12/2019
Srinagar, Nov 30: Internet services across all platforms continued to remain suspended in Kashmir since August 5 even as there was considerable improvement in the situation, officials said on Saturday. Internet services continued to remain barred in the entire valley except for few government offices and business establishments, the officials said. They said there is no word from the authorities on the restoration of the services so far, even as demands, especially from journalist community, ...

SPO recruitment drive gets huge response in J&K, over 77,000 apply

01/12/2019
Jammu, Nov 30: A recruitment drive by the Jammu and Kashmir police to fill about 5,200 posts of Special Police Officers (SPOs) has evoked a huge response as over 77,000 candidates applied, a police spokesman said on Saturday. While 51,047 youths applied for the SPO recruitment in the Jammu region, the number stands at 26,594 in different districts of Kashmir valley, the spokesman said. "The recruitment drive has evoked a tremendous response from aspiring youths. A total of 77,641 candidates a...

Gas cylinder blast: 2 more succumbed, toll rises to six

01/12/2019
Ramban/Jammu, Nov 30: Two critically injured minor siblings Saturday succumbed to burn injuries at a hospital, raising the death toll in a gas cylinder blast at a house in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir to six, officials said. With their death, Bishan Dass had lost his wife and five children four daughters and a son in a blast which took place at Maitra village of Ramban late Friday evening. Five-year-old Anita Devi and her one-and-half-year-old brother Jagir Chand along with their rela...

India to become $5 trillion economy by 2024: Shah

01/12/2019
Mumbai, Nov 30: Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday expressed hope that by 2024, India would become USD 5 trillion economy and be placed among the top five global economies. The last five years were of the detoxification of the economy and in the next five years, a series of reforms will be taken to make it one of the most powerful economies of the world, Shah said. India is already a destination of global companies due to its huge market and FDI is at record level today, the minister said. ...

India & Japan ask Pakistan to take concrete action against terror infrastructure

01/12/2019
New Delhi, Nov 30: In their inaugural foreign and defence ministerial dialogue, India and Japan on Saturday voiced serious concern over the threat posed to regional peace and security by terror networks operating from Pakistan and asked it to take "resolute and irreversible" action to contain terrorism. The two countries, under the new framework of two-plus-two dialogue, discussed a raft of strategic issues including the latest developments in the disputed South China Sea, evolving security sc...

Abrogation of Art 370 will have adverse impact: Salman Khurshid

01/12/2019
New Delhi, Nov 30: The purpose behind the introduction of Article 370 in the Constitution was to integrate Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country, and an abrogation that “hasn’t been thought out through" will only have adverse impact on the region, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid said here on Saturday. "It's going to have an adverse impact...you haven't given us the alternative as to how Kashmir would get integrated in a manner in which it should, and integration doesn't mean ob...

Modi announces USD 450 million Line of Credit to Sri Lanka

30/11/2019
New Delhi, Nov 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced a financial assistance of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka, including USD 50 million to fight terrorism, after holding "fruitful" talks with the island nation's newly elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on maritime security, demands of Tamil minorities, concerns of fishermen and ways to boost security and trade ties among others. Assuring New Delhi's unflinching support to Sri Lanka's journey for prosperity, Modi, in a media stat...

Confidant Sri Lanka will pursue Tamil reconciliation process: Modi

30/11/2019
New Delhi, Nov 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the Rajapaksa government will take forward the reconciliation process to meet the aspirations of Tamil community in Sri Lanka which also includes the implementation of 13th Amendment. Prime Minister Modi made these remarks after holding talks with Sri Lanka's President Gotayaba Rajapaksa, who is on a three-day visit to India. "President Rajapaksa told me of his inclusive political point of view on ethnic harmony. I am confide...

I want to take ties with India to very high level: Sri Lankan Prez

30/11/2019
New Delhi, Nov 29: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday said he would strive to take his country's bilateral relationship with India to a "very high level". Speaking to reporters after a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, he also said both India and Sri Lanka need to work together on issues relating to security and overall welfare of the people of the two countries. Rajapaksa arrived here on Thursday on a three-day visit, in his first overseas tour after taking over th...

Srinagar-Jammu metro project to start operations by Sept 2024

30/11/2019
Jammu, Nov 29: The Jammu and Kashmir government has set a September 2024 deadline to start operations on the Rs 9,590 crore metro project for twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar, an official spokesperson said on Friday. Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu chaired a meeting here on Thursday evening to review the proposed Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) and the Light Rail Projects for Jammu and Srinagar. Dheeraj Gupta, principal secretary, Housing and Urban Development department gave a deta...

LG sets ‘2021 deadline’ for achieving 100 PC piped water supply in J&K

30/11/2019
Jammu, Nov 29: Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu has set 2021-end as the deadline to provide 100 per cent piped water supply to households in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, an official spokesman said on Friday. The L-G gave the deadline while chairing a meeting here to review the operations of the public health engineering (PHE) and the irrigation and flood control departments. Commissioner-Secretary PHE and I&FC Ajeet Kumar Sahu gave a detailed presentation on the functioni...

Jammu-Srinagar national highway reopened after remaining closed for 2 days

30/11/2019
Jammu, Nov 29: Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was reopened for vehicular traffic after two days of closure due to landslides triggered by heavy rains, leaving over 4,000 vehicles stranded, officials said on Friday. Only stranded vehicles will be allowed to move from both sides, they said. "The highway has been reopened for the vehicular traffic. The highway will be cleared of stranded vehicles first", a traffic official said. The official said no fresh traffic from the two sides Jammu to Sri...

28 OGWs arrested, militant surrendered in past month in Kashmir: Police

30/11/2019
Jammu, Nov 29: Twenty-eight over ground workers (OGWs) were arrested and one militant surrendered as six terror modules were busted in the past one month in Kashmir, police said on Friday. The Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with the Army and other security agencies, has taken various steps in to intensifying the fight against terrorists in the Valley, a police spokesman said. "The coordinated efforts by the security forces have mounted tremendous pressure on terrorists and their OGWs, leadin...

4.5 per cent GDP growth rate unacceptable, worrisome: Manmohan Singh

30/11/2019
New Delhi, Nov 29: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh said on Friday a GDP growth rate of 4.5 per cent was unacceptable and worrisome, and urged his successor Narendra Modi to set aside "his deep-rooted suspicion" of society and nurse India back to harmonious, mutually trustworthy society that can help the economy soar. Delivering his valedictory address at a national conclave on economy, Singh said mutual trust is the bedrock of societal transactions fostering economic growth, but "our soci...

SC releases new roster, PILs to be heard by CJI & 3 senior most judges

30/11/2019
New Delhi, Nov 29: The Supreme Court has released a new roster of work saying that PILs would now be heard by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde and three other senior most judges of the apex court. In the roster of allocation of work that took effect from November 26, CJI Bobde has kept Public Interest Litigations and letter petitions to himself along with Justices N V Ramana, Arun Mishra and R F Nariman. The new roster is slightly different from the last time when the outgoing CJI Ranjan Gogo...

2 former MLAs, detained since Aug 5, admitted to hospital

30/11/2019
Srinagar, Nov 29: Two former J&K MLAs, who were under detention for the last 116 days, were admitted to a hospital on Thursday night after their health condition worsened at the place they were kept at, officials said on Friday. National Conference general secretary and former minister Ali Mohammed Sagar and former Ganderbal MLA Ishfaq Ahmed were taken to the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) at Soura, a specialised hospital in the Kashmir Valley, on Thursday night. These f...

NRC implementation India’s internal matter, which will be resolved internally: Bangladeshi envoy

30/11/2019
New Delhi, Nov 29: India has conveyed to Bangladesh that the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam is an internal matter, which will be resolved internally, Bangladeshi envoy here Syed Muazzem Ali said on Friday. "We have been told that this is our internal issue and it will be resolved internally, so Bangladesh need not concern itself. Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has said it is our internal matter and we will resolve it internally," he said in response to a que...

12 MPs from Northeast write to PM opposing Citizenship Amendment Bill

30/11/2019
New Delhi, Nov 29: Twelve non-BJP MPs on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to exclude the northeastern states from the purview of the proposed Citizenship Amendment Bill, saying if it comes into effect the tribal population of the region will be vulnerable to displacement. The MPs, most of them belonging to the Congress and from the Northeast, said civil society organisations of the region are also opposing the Bill. "We collectively believe if such a Bill is implemented uniformly acr...

Kashmir hangover hasn’t weaned off yet: Malik

30/11/2019
Panaji (Goa), Nov 29: Goa Governor SP Malik on Thursday said that his Kashmir hangover has not "weaned off" yet. Malik was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 50th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Panaji. "I have come to Goa only 3 weeks ago from Kashmir. My Kashmir hangover hasn't weaned off yet," the Goa Governor said. Emphasising on the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, he said that no casualty has taken place in the Valley since August 5, the day...