SRINAGAR SEPTEMBER 14:-Care Foundation and Charitable Trust held a Jasn-e-Milad program at Tagore Hall to mark the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The event brought together community members, faith leaders, and local guests for a program of prayer, praise, and reflection. Mehjabeen Nabi, Chairperson of Care Foundation and Charitable Trust, and chief guest A.R. Hanjura each addressed attendees, highlighting the event’s focus on unity, compassion, and community service.
The evening opened with recitations and naats, followed by speeches that emphasized the importance of faith-driven service and social responsibility. Mehjabeen Nabi reflected on the organization’s mission to support vulnerable populations and strengthen communal bonds. “This Jasn-e-Milad is a reminder of our shared values of mercy and kindness,” Nabi said. “Through gatherings like this, we renew our commitment to serve those in need and to build a more caring, inclusive community.”
Chief guest A.R. Hanjura praised the foundation’s ongoing initiatives and encouraged continued community engagement. He underscored the role of faith-based events in promoting social harmony and mutual respect among diverse groups. The program also included community prayers and a brief presentation on the foundation’s recent projects, highlighting efforts in education, healthcare outreach, and support for low-income families.
The event attracted a broad cross-section of volunteers, and supporters of the foundation. Organizers stressed that public gatherings such as Jasn-e-Milad are central to the foundation’s strategy for community outreach, providing opportunities to raise awareness about charitable programs and to recruit volunteers. Light refreshments were provided after the formal program, allowing attendees to connect and discuss ways to support upcoming initiatives.
POONCH SEPTEMBER 14:-Rahul Dravid Cricket Club, in collaboration with the Department of Youth Services and Sports, Poonch, and J&K Sports Council (Poonch Unit), today organized an enthusiastic cricket match at the Sports Stadium, Poonch. The event was held under the aegis of the Viksit Bharat campaign initiated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, focusing on the holistic development of youth across the nation.
The match featured participation from young players under the U-14 and U-17 boys and girls categories, promoting inclusivity and encouraging budding talent in the region.
As part of the celebration, Physical Education Teacher and Cricket Coach, Mr. Pervaiz Ahmed Rek, engaged in an interactive session with the players. He emphasized the importance of the Viksit Bharat initiative, highlighting how it aims to empower the youth, promote sports culture, and build a stronger, more developed India.
He was joined by Mr. Syed Talit Waseem Rek, also a Physical Education Teacher, who shared his insights on the positive impact of sports in shaping disciplined, healthy, and goal-oriented individuals.
*The event witnessed enthusiastic participation and received appreciation from local sports enthusiasts. Youth from across District Poonch were encouraged to actively join and support the various programs and campaigns under Viksit Bharat, aimed at nation-building and youth empowerment*.
I am compelled to write this open letter to express my deep concern over your recent decision to invoke the Public Safety Act (PSA) against Mehraj Malik, Hon’ble MLA Doda. The grounds cited for this action raise troubling questions about fairness, proportionality, and the constitutional responsibility of your office.
At the outset, I must clarify that I do not write these lines merely as a political activist, but also as someone who has spent three decades in the employees’ movement and has worked as President of the JK Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) and Chairman of the JK Teachers Forum (JKTF). For 30 long years, I represented the employees’ community of all cadres, striving to protect their honour, dignity, and service rights. It deeply pains me to see government employees at any level resorting to undesirable actions, whether to please their bosses or to satisfy personal egos. I would not want to see a young officer like you embroiled in controversy so early in your career. Officers have long innings to play, and I have witnessed many who, by allowing provocation to dictate decisions, eventually suffered with no one to defend them.
As a public servant, your foremost duty is to uphold neutrality and fairness, inspiring confidence among the people. Governments may come and go, but the credibility of an administrator rests on restraint, maturity, and the ability to safeguard democratic values.
Let me also state clearly: I neither subscribe to nor support the language used by Mr. Mehraj Malik. Abusing or intimidating officers is unbecoming of an elected representative and must be condemned. I say this with some authority, as I have myself always stood firmly with the employees’ community in such situations—even when it meant facing hostility and reprisals from powerful politicians. I have suffered for standing my ground, but I never compromised on principles. That is why I believe strongly that invoking a stringent and extraordinary law like the PSA merely in response to rough language is neither justifiable nor sustainable. Administrative and constitutional mechanisms already exist to address such behaviour; bypassing them in favour of PSA sets a dangerous precedent.
What makes this decision even more unfortunate is the timing. At a moment when Doda is grappling with unprecedented floods and landslides, leaving hundreds of families shelterless and struggling for food, the presence of their elected representative was crucial. By jailing him, the administration has added to the public’s miseries and deepened the trust deficit when compassion and collective leadership were needed most.
History does not judge administrators by temporary provocations but by the fairness and restraint they demonstrate in difficult times. Statehood will be restored sooner or later, political realities will evolve, but your legacy as an officer will depend on whether you chose balance and magnanimity or allowed avoidable controversies to overshadow your service.
In the larger public interest, I urge you to reconsider this action. Releasing Hon’ble MLA Mehraj Malik will not be seen as a sign of weakness, but rather as an act of maturity, statesmanship, and compassion—qualities that define true leadership.
Sincerely,
Mohd Rafique Rather
Senior Leader, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Former President, JK Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC)
Former Chairman, Jammu Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF)
