Shivraj Singh Chouhan attends sixth convocation of Sher-e-Kashmir University in Srinagar
On the second day of his visit to Jammu & Kashmir on Friday, Shivraj Singh said, 'I've been in Srinagar since yesterday. The cool breeze, the fragrance of the soil, the natural beauty, and the warmth of the people have truly touched my heart. Jammu & Kashmir is the crown jewel of India. Yesterday, we had an in-depth review with the Chief Minister on agriculture and rural development. We held extensive discussions on accelerating Jammu & Kashmir's development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is determined to build a 'Viksit Bharat', and for that, a prosperous Jammu & Kashmir, with its empowered farmers, are essential. We are fully committed to achieving this goal.'
Referring to a past meeting of the NITI Aayog, Chouhan told CM Omar Abdullah, 'You had emotionally appealed to ministers to come to Jammu & Kashmir and hold advisory committee meetings. You highlighted how internal conditions are stable and only disturbed by external elements. We accepted your invitation and held the advisory committee meeting yesterday.'
Chouhan shared how he interacted with locals across Srinagar and received overwhelming love and affection.
'Even a Shikara boatman on the Dal Lake greeted me warmly. I am deeply moved and will share this affection with the rest of the nation,' he said.
He praised SKUAST-K's accomplishments and expressed confidence that it would soon become the top-ranking state university. He noted that the university hosts students not just from Jammu & Kashmir but from 30 Indian states and Union Territories, as well as from abroad, making it a nationally and internationally recognised institution.
Speaking to the graduates, he said, 'Convocation does not mean the end of learning; it marks the beginning of new knowledge. The lessons you've learned in your classrooms and labs must now be shared with society.'
He emphasised the irreplaceable value of agriculture, stating that 'without farming, neither Jammu & Kashmir, nor the country, nor the world can function. Agricultural produce cannot be made in factories.' He added, 'Agriculture remains the backbone of the Indian economy and the primary livelihood for over half the population.'
Thanking PM Modi, he highlighted that under PM's leadership, India's foodgrain stock has reached record levels, with a 44 per cent increase in foodgrain production over the past 11 years, including record growth in rice, wheat, maize, soybean, and groundnut.
Jammu & Kashmir's fruits, flowers, and vegetables are exceptional in taste and colour, he said, and reiterated his vision to make J&K a global horticulture hub.
He added that the Holistic Agricultural Development Program (HADP) is being implemented successfully in the region. Discussions were held on providing 'Clean Plants' under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). Currently, farmers often import planting material from outside the state, which may carry viruses or bacteria. To address this, a decision was made to establish a Clean Plant Center in J&K with a budget of Rs 150 crore.
He noted that in 5,000 hectares of apple orchards, per-hectare yield has increased from 10 tonnes to 60 tonnes, a six-fold rise.
'I want to see Kashmiri apples exported globally so that India doesn't need to import apples anymore,' he said.
The minister highlighted the Government of India's commitment to protecting farmers' interests under the leadership of PM Modi. He called for more innovation in agriculture, urging students to launch startups and develop advanced technologies in the sector. While praising the university's performance in civil services, he reminded students that true achievement lies in living for others, not just oneself. 'Apply practical knowledge, not just theoretical. Each of you has immense potential, and I'm confident you will do well,' he said.
Quoting Swami Vivekananda, Chouhan said, 'Man is a storehouse of infinite strength; there is nothing he cannot achieve.' He encouraged students to set goals, make a roadmap, and work persistently for the greater good.
He said both central and state governments are working together to implement these strategies. 'India belongs not only to itself but to the world. This is a land that considers the entire world as one family,' he concluded, calling for collective efforts to advance Jammu & Kashmir and the nation with the guiding mantra: 'Peace, not war; love, not hatred.' He expressed confidence that India would build a stronger global identity and emerge as the world's food basket.
At the convocation ceremony, nearly 5,250 students received undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD degrees. Additionally, 150 gold medals and 445 merit certificates were awarded to outstanding students for their academic achievements.
The event was graced by Lieutenant Governor and Chancellor of the University Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister and Pro-Chancellor of SKUAST-K Omar Abdullah, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Javed Ahmad Dar, Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Chaudhary, Education Minister Sakina Masood, along with vice chancellors, professors, senior officials, and other dignitaries. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
9 minutes ago
- NDTV
Arms Dealer Sanjay Bhandari Declared Fugitive Economic Offender By Delhi Court
New Delhi: A Delhi special court on Saturday declared UK-based arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari a Fugitive Economic Offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act, in connection with an income tax case involving undisclosed foreign assets. The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal following a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which alleged that Bhandari had deliberately evaded Indian legal proceedings and possessed foreign assets exceeding Rs 100 crore. The agency emphasised that the UK court's refusal to extradite Bhandari had no bearing on the current proceedings, which are independent and governed by Indian law. Sanjay Bhandari, however, contested the ED's plea, arguing that his residence in the UK is lawful and backed by a ruling from the London High Court, which denied his extradition, citing concerns over his safety in Tihar jail. His counsel, senior advocate Maninder Singh, claimed the ED's application was vague, lacked jurisdiction, and failed to meet the legal threshold under the FEO Act. Singh further argued that the monetary value of the alleged offence did not exceed Rs 100 crore, referencing a 2020 submission by the Income Tax Department. He also pointed out that Bhandari had been discharged by the UK High Court, and no fresh warrants were pending against him. Special Public Prosecutor Zoheb Hossain appeared for the Enforcement Directorate in the matter. The UK High Court had earlier blocked Bhandari's extradition on human rights grounds, citing risks of extortion and violence in Indian custody. The Indian government's subsequent attempt to challenge the decision in Britain's Supreme Court was also rejected.
Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- Indian Express
UK-based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari declared a fugitive economic offender
Accepting an application moved by the Enforcement Directorate, a Delhi Court on Saturday declared UK-based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari a fugitive economic offender. With this, the Central agency can confiscate the assets of Bhandari worth crores of rupees. This order comes as a shot in the arm for the ED after a UK court had recently ruled against Bhandari's extradition to India. '…the ED has been able to make out a case under Sections 2(f) and 2(m) of the FEO (Fugitive Economic Offenders) Act…this Court is satisfied that the individual Sh. Sanjay Bhandari, against whom an warrant of arrest i.e. NBW (non bailable warrant) has been issued…has left India so as to avoid criminal prosecution…despite knowing the pendency of the NBWs against him,' said Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal in the order. After the Income Tax department raided him in 2016, Bhandari, now 63, fled to London. A year later, the ED filed a criminal case against him under the anti-black money law of 2015. The agency is also probing Bhandari's links with businessman Robert Vadra, the husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. 'Further, this court is satisfied that the total value of the schedule offence is `100 crore or more…,' the court said. The principal allegation against Bhandari was that he owned certain assets worth Rs 100 crores abroad which he did not disclose to the I-T authorities. The ED had argued that Bhandari consistently chose not to return to India. The ED also submitted that the UK court's decision to disallow Bhandari's extradition would not be binding on the proceedings in the Delhi court. Bhandari's legal team, while opposing the ED's move to get him declared a fugitive offender, claimed that its 'client's stay could not be called illegal in the UK as he has a legal right to reside in the UK and the GOI is bound by the judgment of the UK court…. Bhandari is legally living there, and declaring him a 'fugitive' in that scenario is legally wrong'. The court said the 'extradition attempt may have failed, but it will not make the accused an angel or immune to prosecution for the violation of Indian laws'. Bhandari had alleged that he was subjected to undue harassment and pressure from various enforcement agencies to 'compel him to give false statements against the political opponents of the government' and that it was because of this harassment that he was forced to leave India. 'In any case, those who play with fire should be known to be aware of its consequences,' it said. The court held that the undisclosed foreign income or assets of Bhandari were worth Rs 655 crore and the total tax evaded by him, including penalty and interest, was Rs 196 crore. The ED filed its first chargesheet against him in 2020. The ED filed a supplementary chargesheet in the case in 2023, alleging that Bhandari 'acquired' the 12, Bryanston Square house located in London in 2009 and got it renovated 'as per the directions of Robert Vadra and the funds for renovation were provided by Robert Vadra'. Vadra has denied owning any London property directly or indirectly. He has termed these charges a political witch-hunt against him and claimed that he is being 'hounded and harassed' to subserve political ends. With this order, a total of 16 people, including liquor baron Vijay Mallya and diamond trader Nirav Modi, have been declared fugitive economic offenders by different courts. Bhandari's assets worth about Rs 21 crore have been attached by the ED under the PMLA.
The Hindu
30 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Anti-Hindi war creates a storm in Mumbai, says CM Stalin
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday said he was encouraged by the rally against Hindi imposition in Mumbai led by Uddhav Thackeray and his speech on the issue. 'The anti-Hindi movement launched by the people of Tamil Nadu and the DMK has crossed the State borders and has sparked a storm in Maharashtra,' he said in a message on his X page. He stated that the BJP government, which had made teaching Hindi a precondition for allocating funds to Tamil Nadu, backed down after the people of Maharashtra raised their voices against Hindi imposition. Mr. Stalin said the BJP-led Union government had no response to the question posed by Raj Thackeray, the cousin of Mr. Uddhav Thackeray, at the event. 'What is the third language for Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, or Rajasthan? All Hindi-speaking States lag behind us in development. Yet, we are being forced to learn Hindi,' Mr. Stalin quoted Mr. Raj Thackeray as saying. 'Vindictive policy' The Chief Minister questioned whether the BJP government would reconsider its vindictive policy against Tamil Nadu. 'It has said it would release ₹2,152 crore only if Tamil Nadu accepts the National Education Policy,' he said. Mr. Stalin emphasised that the struggle of the Tamil people against the imposition of Hindi was rational and aimed at protecting India's pluralism.
