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Shutdown against VDCs affects normal life in Kashmir

December 26, 2015

Srinagar, Dec 26: Normal life was partially affected across the Kashmir valley on Saturday after separatists called for a shutdown demanding disbanding of Village Defence Committees (VDCs) in Jammu and Kashmir.

kashShops, business establishments, public transport, and banks remained closed in summer capital Srinagar and other district headquarters of the valley. Inter-district public transport was only partially affected due to the strike call.

Attendance in government offices was thin due to scant availability of public transport here.

Senior separatist leader and chairman of his groups of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani had called for strike on Saturday against the VDCs which, he said, had been inflicting "atrocities" on the civilian population.

The strike call was supported by separatist leaders Shabir Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Aasiya Andrabi, High Court Bar Association Kashmir and others.

Separatist leaders allege that the VDCs have been behaving like "government's private army".

On Thursday a VDC member murdered a woman and her minor son in Budhal area of Rajouri district in Jammu, just days after another VDC member killed a youth leader of regional National Conference (NC) in the Kalakote area of the same district.

VDCs are groups of armed civilian volunteers that were set up by the government in the mid-1990s to tackle militancy in remote villages of the Jammu region, but there are around 196 cases of murder, rape, theft and abduction registered against VDC members.

Opposition National Conference and separatist leaders have demanded disbanding of the VDCs. The state government has ruled out any such move, saying the VDCs have played a major role in stamping out militancy and defending populations in remote and rural areas of the state.

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Agencies
June 7,2020

New Delhi, Jun 7: The Islamic Centre of India on Saturday issued an advisory for those visiting mosques in view of the Centre’s decision to allow reopening of religious places from June 8.

Islamic Centre of India chairman Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali advised people above 65 years and under 10 years of age not to visit mosques and instead offer prayers at home.

He also advised against crowding in mosques, stressing that not more than five people should be present at a time and social distancing be maintained, with the ‘namazis’ using masks and keeping a distance of six feet among themselves while offering prayers.

He added that the situation would be reviewed after 15 days and if required, another advisory would be issued.

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News Network
June 30,2020

New Delhi, Jun 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), a free ration scheme, for 80 crore people across the country till end of November.

In a televised address to the nation, Modi also said the government was working on a "one nation, one ration card" initiative.

On the extension of the PMGKAY, he said it will cost the government Rs 90,000 crore more.

Under the scheme, five kgs of wheat or rice and one kg of pulses per month will be given free of cost to the poor. The scheme was initially rolled out for three months.

The prime minister also said timely lockdown to contain coronavirus and other decisions saved many lives, but added that since "Unlock 1" has begun, people have shown negligence.

He said in comparison to other countries across the globe, India has done well in dealing with the pandemic.

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News Network
May 11,2020

May 11: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said many states were amending labour laws, but the fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic cannot be an excuse to exploit workers, suppress their voice and crush their human rights.

Gandhi said there cannot be any compromise on the basic principles by allowing unsafe workplaces.

"Many states are amending labour laws. We are together fighting against corona, but this cannot be an excuse to crush human rights, allow unsafe workplaces, exploit workers and suppress their voice," he said.

"There cannot be any compromise on these basic principles," he added.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also said it would be dangerous and disastrous to loosen labour, land and environment laws in the name of economic revival and stimulus.

"In the name of economic revival and stimulus, it will be dangerous and disastrous to loosen labour, land and environmental laws and regulations as the Modi govt is planning.

"The first steps have already been taken. This is a quack remedy like demonetisation," Ramesh tweeted.

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