Srinagar: Below is the timeline of weeklong public events and enagagements of top public functionaries witnessed this week within and outside Jammu & Kashmir:-
1. LG Sinha to Preside Over Republic Day Function in Jammu: Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, will preside over and take the salute at the main Republic Day function at MA Stadium in Jammu. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will be the chief guest for the event, as confirmed by an official statement.
2. J&K Cabinet To Meet On Jan 20 To Discuss Key Proposals: Jammu and Kashmir’s cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is set to meet on January 20 to finalize key administrative proposals. The meeting will address several issues, including the revision of dearness allowance (DA) rates for government employees, pensioners, and family pensioners effective from July 2024.
3. DM Rajnath Lauds CM Omar For Bridging ‘Dil Ki Doori’ With Kashmir: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday for supporting the Modi government’s efforts to bridge the “dil ki doori” (distance of hearts) with the people of Kashmir. Singh’s remarks came a day after the camaraderie between PM Narendra Modi and Omar Abdullah during the inauguration of the Sonamarg Tunnel. Singh highlighted the growing cooperation between the NDA government at the Centre and the NC-led government in J&K. He also noted that previous governments had treated Kashmir differently, which had hindered the region’s connection with Delhi.
4. Paralympic Medallist Rakesh Kumar Conferred With Arjuna Award: Indian Paralympic medallist Rakesh Kumar was honored with the prestigious Arjuna Award for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games 2024 by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Rakesh, who won a bronze in the mixed team compound event at the Paris Paralympics, received widespread congratulations from local leaders including Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
5. CM Omar Chairs Meeting On Mysterious Deaths In Budhal: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level meeting to address the unexplained deaths in Budhal. The government is committed to investigating the cause of these deaths, and officials from the health, police, and medical departments were tasked with leaving no stone unturned in solving the issue.
6. J&K To Set Up State-Of-The-Art Driving Testing Facility In Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir’s Transport Commissioner Vishesh Paul Mahajan announced plans to establish a state-of-the-art driving testing facility in Srinagar. This new facility, akin to those in Jammu, aims to improve driver evaluation and road safety. Mahajan also discussed the recently launched transport subsidy scheme to phase out old vehicles.
7. Waqf Board Finalizes Arrangements For Mehraj-Un-Nabi (Saw) At Hazratbal: Dr. Darakshan Andrabi, Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, announced that all arrangements have been made for the smooth and grand observance of Mehraj-un-Nabi (SAW) across the Valley on January 26. The arrangements include sanitation, water supply, shrine illumination, and crowd management, particularly at Hazratbal Shrine.
8. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Calls On Pakistan To Dismantle Militant Infrastructure: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh criticized Pakistan for sponsoring militancy and warned of consequences if it does not dismantle militant infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Speaking at a veterans’ rally in Akhnoor, Singh emphasized that PoK has become a hub for militancy and Pakistan must act to eliminate militant training camps and launch pads.
9. ED Attaches Properties Worth ₹2.25 Crore In Udhampur Fertilizer Scam: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) provisionally attached properties worth ₹2.25 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a fertilizer scam involving M/s Manoj Ji & Co. Pvt. Ltd. The investigation revealed that the company fraudulently claimed ₹2.25 crore for undelivered fertilizer, leading to the attachment of the company’s assets.
10. J&K Government Ruling Out Infection as Cause of Rajouri Deaths: Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo stated that extensive investigations into the recent deaths in Rajouri have ruled out viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities exploring a potential criminal angle. The health department has already deployed rapid response teams to examine the situation.
11. Tithwal Features In Battlefield Tourism Portal On Army Day 2025: Tithwal, a historic village, was proudly highlighted among the eight destinations in the newly launched Battlefield Tourism Portal during the Army Day 2025 celebrations in Pune. Sadiya, a Class XI student from Army Goodwill School (AGS) Hajinar, represented her village via video conference from the Azmat-e-Hind Memorial, inviting Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and fellow citizens to visit the village. Singh acknowledged the invitation, praised Tithwal’s military heritage, and promised to visit soon, bringing hope and pride to the village’s residents.
