DCC member, BDC chairperson in Rajouri quit Congress
Jammu: A district development council member and a block development council chairperson were among several activists who quit the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday protesting its “anti-Pahari community stance” over the demand of Scheduled Tribe status.
The Pahari community has been seeking Scheduled Tribe status for 30 years, ever since the Gujjars and Bakarwals in Jammu and Kashmir got the status in 1991 helping them get a reservation in jobs and admission to educational institutes.
Following the Delimitation Commission’s recent recommendation of granting political reservation for the Paharis as well, leaders of the community have come together to make a fresh push for the same.
“We have resigned from the Congress in protest against their anti-Pahari community stance over the grant of ST status to them. I along with BDC chairperson Thanamandi and party workers have resigned,” DDC member Abdul Qayoom Mir told reporters in Rajouri. He said they will join the party that helps in granting Paharis the Scheduled Tribe status.
Mir accused the Congress of creating roadblocks in the way of the Pahari community getting the status thus “forcing us to quit the party”.
Over 20 houses damaged in two fire incidents in Srinagar: Officials
KV News Network
Srinagar: Over 20 houses suffered extensive damage and property worth crores of rupees was destroyed in two fire incidents in old city area of Srinagar, officials said here on Thursday.
A fire broke out in one of the houses in a congested locality in the Noor Bagh area of the city in the early hours of Thursday, officials said.
They said the fire quickly spread to adjacent houses, they said, adding timely action by fire and emergency services personnel brought the blaze under control.
Two fire brigade personnel suffered injuries while fighting the fire, the officials said, adding at least 20 residential houses were damaged in the blaze.
Two houses were damaged in another fire incident in the Rajouri Kadal area of the city late last night, the officials said.
The cause of fire in both the incidents is being ascertained, they said.
Meanwhile, the district administration Srinagar reached out to the fire victims of Noor Bagh, Rajouri Kadal
On the directions of the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Srinagar, Dr Syed Hanief Balkhi visited Sheikh Colony Noor Bagh area of the district to take first hand appraisal and on the spot assessment of the damages caused due to devastating fire incident during the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday.
The ADC who was accompanied by the Tehsildar Eidgah, Ishfaq Ahmad and other concerned Officers met the fire victims whose residential houses were completely damaged in a massive fire incident.
While interacting with the fire sufferers, the ADC expressed sympathies with them on behalf of the District Administration Srinagar. He also assured that every kind of possible support shall be provided from the District Administration for their immediate rehabilitation.
The ADC was informed that 25 residential houses comprising 37 families were gutted in the devastating fire incident in Sheikh Colony Noorbagh.
On the occasion, essential assistance in the form of 185 blankets, 111 mattresses, 111 bed sheets and 37 kitchen sets, besides Rs 185000 to 37 families was provided out of Red Cross as an interim relief to the fire victims.
Similarly, the District Administration Srinagar also provided the immediate assistance of Rs 15000, besides 15 blankets, 9 mattresses, 9 bed sheets and 3 kitchen sets to the fire victims of Rajouri Kadal area in Shaher e Khaas of the district in which one house was gutted in a fire incident on Wednesday rendering 3 families homeless.
Meanwhile, the DC has also sanctioned structure wise financial assistance of Rs 25,47,500 in favour of 25 house owners of Noorbagh and Rs 1,01,900 in favour of Rajouri Kadal house owners under SDRF.
Further, the District Administration has appealed to the General public to follow all precautionary measures while handling electric/electronic gadgets, LPG cylinders and other appliances being used for heating and cooking purposes to avoid such fire incidents.
