Rahul Gandhi to visit J-K's Poonch on May 24, meet kin of civilians killed in Pakistani shelling
New Delhi [India], May 22 (ANI): Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday (May 24) to meet the families of civilians who were killed in recent cross-border shelling by Pakistan, sources told ANI.
Earlier, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had visited the victims of the shelling in both Poonch and Rajouri, stressing that the proper rehabilitation of affected families is his top priority.
According to an official statement from Raj Bhavan, the closest kin of the victims will be offered government jobs, and assistance will be provided to the families from the Central government.
'The proper rehabilitation of affected families is my top priority. The J&K administration, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, is committed to ensuring proper rehabilitation, enhanced border infrastructure, and security for the residents of border areas. We are significantly expanding our efforts to construct individual and community bunkers across Jammu and Kashmir, under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE),' said the Lieutenant Governor.Apart from Poonch, Rajouri district has also been affected. Locals have suffered damage to their homes and lost their sources of livelihood due to the shelling. The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of those killed.
Lieutenant Governor Sinha has held several meetings with civil administration officials, police, and local residents to assess the situation. He added that a rehabilitation package for the victims will soon be approved by the Central government.
'A necessity for bunkers is being felt. New bunkers will be built so that people of J&K can stay safe,' Sinha said.
On May 9, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly condemned Pakistan for deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including schools and places of worship. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri criticised Pakistan for attacking religious sites along the Line of Control (LoC), calling the strikes 'a new low even for Pakistan.'
According to the MEA, one shell fired by Pakistan hit the home of two students from the Christ School in Poonch.
Bhai Surender Singh, Head Granthi of Sahab Mahant Saab Ji Gurudwara, also confirmed the damage to religious places.
Speaking to ANI, Bhai Surender Singh said, 'It wasn't done by the Indian Army; it was actually firing from Pakistan. There was damage to gurdwaras, mosques, and temples, and we also had casualties. A teacher who was teaching children was killed. Pakistan fired on our city, on people's homes, and even our gurdwaras were hit.'
India had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, post the 'Barbaric' Pahalgan terror attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including a Nepali national.
Following the launch of the operation, Pakistan attempted to carry out a series of drone and missile attacks targeting Indian military sites. However, India's Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems successfully neutralised all incoming threats, preventing any major damage. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Cost of Shambhu border protest: Farm group Kisan Mazdoor Morcha got 20.6L for 13-month stir, left with Rs 1,734
Bathinda: Farmer forum Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) on Saturday released details of the donations it received and the expenses it made during the 13-month-long protest helmed by the farmers' body at the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana from Feb 13, 2024, to Mar 19 this year. The protest, along with another stir helmed by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) at Khanauri border between the two states, was carried out to demand a legal right for farmers on the minimum support price (MSP) for their crops, calculated for a 50% profit over comprehensive cost. KMM claimed that it received Rs 20,58,254 over the 13 months and spent Rs 20,56,520, leaving it with cash at hand of Rs 1,734. KMM also released a month-wise account of the funds for the period from Feb 2024 to Mar 2025. According to details, KMM received the highest amount in donations in May 2024, getting Rs 6,53,650. The lowest collection was made in Jan 2025, with the group getting just Rs 39,095 for the entire month. The highest expenditure was incurred in April and May 2024, when over Rs 5 lakh each were spent. Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) is yet to release the details of its accounts. The group headed by Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who went on a hunger strike for MSP, said it will make public its accounts on June 25. KMM accounts committee member Guramneet Singh Mangat said they audited their accounts in April, but a couple of receipt books went missing when police forcibly demolished the morcha site on March 19. "We had to find those receipts and then audit the accounts. This is why the process was delayed," he said. SKM (Non-Political) functionary Abhimanyu Kohar said both forums met on June 19, where accounts from both sides were shared. "We are busy with some engagements and the accounts will be put in the public domain on June 25," he said. The collection of funds was mired in controversy even during the previous 2020-21 farmers' protest on the borders of Delhi, as certain leaders alleged misappropriation of funds. MSID:: 121991783 413 |
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Trump says he deserves Nobel Peace Prize for global diplomacy, including India and Pakistan efforts
Washington, DC [US], June 22 (ANI): US President Donald Trump has said he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomatic efforts in resolving various global conflicts, including a cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. Speaking to reporters after landing in New Jersey, Trump mentioned several instances where, in his view, his actions merited the prestigious award. 'They should give me the Nobel Prize for Rwanda, and if you look at Congo, or you could say Serbia, Kosovo, you could say a lot of them. I mean, the big one is India and Pakistan,' he said. 'I should have gotten it four or five times. I would think the Abraham Accords would be a good one too. But they won't give me a Nobel Peace Prize because they only give it to liberals,' he added. Trump also highlighted his efforts with India and Pakistan, stating, 'We did a very great job with India and Pakistan. And we had India in. It looks like we're going to be making a great deal with India and Pakistan.' When asked about the reports of planes landing in Iran from China, Trump responded, 'They say that they're there to take people out. But I can't tell you about that.' He also commented on his rapport with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying, 'I get along very well with China. I get along very well with President Xi. I like him. He likes me. We have a very good relationship. I can't imagine them getting involved.' Since the start of the Israel-Iran war on June 12, several Internet users have been claiming that China is secretly supporting Iran militarily, based on images from Flightradar24 (a website that tracks real-time aircraft movements), France 24 reported. On Monday, a pro-Iranian account on X called SilencedSirs claimed that 'two giant cargo planes flying from China to Iran turned off their tracking signals before entering Iranian airspace'. According to SilencedSirs, the proof is two-fold: a video shared in a post viewed over six million times made by a supposed media outlet called Prime Scope, and a screenshot of an aircraft's route tracked by Flightradar24, purporting to show one of the planes in Iranian airspace. According to France 254, since Friday, many Internet users have also been sharing other Flightradar24 images purporting to show several flights from China entering Iran. (ANI)
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
KTR showcases Telangana's transformative journey at Oxford India Forum in UK
London [United Kingdom], June 21 (ANI): Former Minister and BRS Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) delivered a powerful and inspiring talk at the prestigious Oxford India Forum held at Oxford University, highlighting Telangana's exceptional growth story since its formation. Speaking on the theme 'Governing Innovation - A Telangana Case Study', KTR articulated how India's youngest state has emerged as a beacon of inclusive development, resilience, and economic transformation. In his address, KTR emphasised that Telangana was not created by chance but was the result of decades of peaceful democratic struggle. He referred to it as 'the most successful startup state of independent India' and proudly stated that Telangana has shown not only promise but also consistent delivery of development goals across sectors. He underscored that the formation of the state in 2014 was the culmination of decades of aspiration, and in just a short span, it has transformed into a model state admired across India and globally. KTR highlighted the impressive economic indicators that back Telangana's growth story. The state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has grown from Rs 4 lakh crore to Rs 15 lakh crore, and its per capita income has surged from Rs 1.12 lakh to Rs 3.57 lakh. Telangana has risen from the 12th position in the national economic rankings to among the top in multiple sectors, including agriculture, industry, and technology. However, KTR noted that Telangana's story goes beyond numbers and it is a tale of restoring dignity, empowering citizens, and building a resilient society. He illustrated how bold and innovative decisions led to revolutionary transformations. He pointed to landmark achievements such as the Kaleshwaram Project, the world's largest lift irrigation project, which was completed in a record four years and has dramatically transformed the irrigation landscape, contributing to Telangana becoming the number one state in inland fisheries. He noted that Telangana has provided safe drinking water to all one crore households and eradicated fluorosis. KTR also spoke of the immense strides Telangana has made in attracting global investments. Hyderabad, the state capital, is now home to the world's largest campuses of Amazon and other top global tech companies. The state also houses the world's largest innovation campus, T-Hub, which fosters thousands of startups. Telangana is also a global pharmaceutical hub, producing one-third of the world's vaccines. KTR stressed the importance of legislative reforms such as the TS-iPASS, which guarantees industrial clearances within 15 days or grants automatic approvals, making Telangana the top state in India in the ease of doing business rankings by NITI Aayog. He attributed the state's success to shifting from personality-based governance to process-driven, institutionalised systems that ensure transparency, efficiency, and accountability. Speaking of agriculture, he highlighted the landmark initiative of directly depositing $9 billion into the accounts of 70 lakh farmers under the Rythu Bandhu scheme, the largest of its kind in the world. He described this as a conscious choice to empower farmers with financial autonomy, leading to a phenomenal rise in agricultural output, including a jump in paddy production from 68 lakh metric tons to 3 crore tons in under a decade. During the fireside chat that followed, KTR responded to questions about his personal journey and political choices. He recounted how he left a promising career in the US to support the Telangana statehood movement led by KCR. He admitted that while politics is a challenging and often thankless field, it offers the unmatched reward of affecting meaningful change in people's lives. On the question of replicating Telangana's success in other Indian states, KTR identified two crucial elements: visionary leadership with a clear sense of purpose, and a strong institutional framework that encourages cooperative federalism. He stressed the need for a 'big brother' role from the Union Government in helping states complement each other's strengths rather than compete destructively. KTR also addressed the contentious issue of redistricting and regional disparities in India. He argued that basing the redrawing of Lok Sabha boundaries solely on population would unfairly penalise southern states like Telangana that have effectively implemented population control measures. Instead, he advocated for a GDP-based formula to reward high-performing states and ensure equitable representation in Parliament. When asked about the future priorities if he were to serve as Chief Minister, KTR asserted that economic growth would be his foremost focus. He emphasised the need to continue attracting investments, creating jobs, and expanding the state's economic base while also ensuring welfare measures for vulnerable sections of society. He advocated for a balanced approach that combines growth with compassion, economic expansion paired with inclusive development in health, education, and social welfare. KTR also addressed the question of women's participation in politics. He welcomed the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill and said the mandated one-third reservation would be a game-changer. However, he expressed hope that the country could aim even higher. Acknowledging that women often bring more focus and discipline to leadership roles, he predicted that their increasing participation in politics would significantly accelerate India's progress. At this global forum, KTR reiterated that he was not in Oxford to make a pitch, but to build partnerships. He said Telangana's journey is not just a geographic transformation but a blueprint for hope and aspiration that others could emulate. He invited institutions like Oxford to join hands with Telangana in scripting the next chapter of innovation and inclusive growth. KTR added, 'India is the future, and Telangana will continue to tell its story. This is not just a presentation; it's a promise. We authored a new chapter of Indian democracy, and we are ready to compete with the best in the world.' (ANI)
