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Hello Jammu News at 5:59:00 PM 0


New Delhi, Aug 5  :   Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday moved a resolution in the Lok Sabha for bringing a bill to reorganise the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Moving the resolution following the President's order abrogating Article 370, Shah sought the permission of the House to bring the bill.

He assured the opposition members that he would move the bill and the resolution for consideration of the House on Tuesday and was only seeking the permission of the House for the same now.

"I will move the bill for consideration and passage tomorrow. The opposition can have detailed discussion on the same. I am ready to give the reply," he told the House, amid protests by opposition members and thumping of desks by treasury benches.                                [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 4:52:00 PM 0



New Delhi, Aug 5   :   Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday moved a resolution in Rajya Sabha that Article 370 of the Constitution, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, will not be applicable in the state.

Making a statement, Shah said this will come into effect when the President gives assent and the central government notifies it.

The Upper House witnessed massive uproar soon after the announcement by the Home Minister.
                                   [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 4:22:00 PM 0


New Delhi, Aug 5   :  The government on Monday revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and proposed that the state be bifurcated into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, provoking outrage from the NC and PDP and triumph from leaders of India's ruling BJP.

Meeting a long-held promise of the BJP, Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved a resolution in the Rajya Sabha that Article 370, which allowed Jammu and Kashmir to have its own Constitution, will no longer be applicable.

"The president on the recommendation of Parliament is pleased to declare as from 5th of August 2019, all clauses of the said Article 370 shall cease to be operative... ," stated the resolution moved by the Home minister.

Shah also moved a bill proposing bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir division and Ladakh.

Shah, who introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation bill, said the union territory in Ladakh will have no legislature like Chandigarh. The other union territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature like Delhi and Puducherry.

The announcement, capping days of uncertainty in Jammu and Kashmir, led to an uproar, in the House and outside it too. 

India had failed Kashmir in keeping its promises, PDP chief and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufi said.

She said the government's unilateral decision "to scrap Article 370" is illegal and unconstitutional.

It will make India an occupational force in Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba said on Twitter. 

"It will have catastrophic consequences for the subcontinent. GOIs intentions are clear. They want the territory of J&K by terrorising its people. India has failed Kashmir in keeping its promises," Mehbooba, who is under house arrest in Srinagar, said on Twitter. 

"Not sure how long I'll be able to communicate. Is this the India we acceded to?" she asked. 

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah echoed her outrage, also labelling the government's move "unilateral". 

"Government of India (GOI)'s unilateral and shocking decisions today are a total betrayal of the trust that the people of Jammu & Kashmir had reposed in India when the state acceded to it in 1947. The decisions will have far-reaching and dangerous consequences. This is an aggression against people of the State as had been warned by an all-parties meeting in Srinagar yesterday," he said.

The government, he said in a statement, had resorted to "deceit and stealth" to lay the ground for these disastrous decisions. 

"Those of us who gave democratic voice to the people of Jammu & Kashmir, are incarcerated as lakhs of armed security personnel have been put on the ground... A long and tough battle lies ahead. We are ready for that," he said.

The mood was triumphant in the BJP quarters. 

The government's move on Article 370, said senior party leader Arun Jaitley, is a monumental decision towards national integration. 

His party colleague Ram Madhav also hailed the decision. 

"What a glorious day. Finally the martyrdom of thousands starting with Dr Shyam Prasad Mukherjee for complete integration of J&K into Indian Union is being honoured and the seven decade old demand of the entire nation being realised in front of our eyes; in our lifetime. Ever imagined?" he tweeted moments after Shah's announcement. 

Party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said the move had opened the path of growth and development for Jammu and Kashmir.                                                      [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 11:07:00 PM 0


New Delhi, Jun 28   :   Home Minister Amit Shah Friday accused the Congress of terrorism in Kashmir and responsible for the state's current situation, alleging that former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's decisions were behind India losing one-third of its territory to Pakistan.

He was replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the resolution to extend President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir for another six months from July 3.

Shah alleged that the policies of previous Congress governments widened the wedge between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the country.

He said his government is making efforts to bridge this gap and remove terrorism from its roots and restore democracy in the state.

The House passed by voice vote the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019, to replace an ordinance issued by previous government, extending President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, amidst opposition from the Congress and some other parties.

The Lok Sabha also cleared the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019, to replace an ordinance issued by the previous government.

He told the House that elections in the state will be held in a free, fair and democratic manner once the Election Commission announces the schedule.

Responding to a question, the Minister said assembly elections could not be held along with Lok Sabha elections in the state as large number of security personnel were required for the purpose.

Shah said Article 370 of the Constitution which extends special status to Jammu and Kashmir, is "temporary in nature" and "not permanent".

In his maiden speech as Home Minister in the lower house, Shah launched a blistering attack on the Congress alleging that it made the maximum use of Article 356 of the Constitution to dismiss elected governments in various states in the past.

"Today one-third of Kashmir is not with us. Who announced ceasefire when Pakistan encroached in Kashmir after independence and occupied one-third of its territory.

"Jawaharlal Nehru announced ceasefire and Pakistan took away that part of Kashmir," he said alleging that Nehru did not take the then Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Patel into confidence.

"If he would have taken Patel into confidence before announcing ceasefire, then Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) would not have formed and terrorism would not have existed in Kashmir," Shah said.

He said one-third of Indian territory is with Pakistan now.

The Congress members reacted sharply to this on which Shah said he would not take Nehru's name but referred to him only as the first prime minister.

The Home Minister said the present government adopted "zero tolerance" towards terrorism and people who try to divide the country have fear in their hearts, which will increase in the coming times.

"We are not members of the 'tukde tukde' gang. Those who want to break India should have fear in their hearts...they should be scared and their fear will increase further in the coming times," Shah asserted.

Continuing his tirade against the opposition party, he said so far Article 356 (President's Rule) was imposed 132 times all over the country, of which the Congress used it 93 times to dismiss state governments.

"Some in the opposition said that through President Rule efforts are being made to throttle democracy. 132 times Article 356 has been imposed in the country, of which 93 times was by Congress. We have never used Article 356 for political gains," he said.

The Home Minister also said the government withdrew security of 919 people in the state as there was no security threat for them.

"Earlier people who used to speak against the country were given security cover," he said, adding whereas those who spoke for India were actually killed in the state.

Invoking Vajpayee's philosphy of 'Insaaniyat, Jamhuriyat and Kashmiriat', Shah, who is also the BJP chief, said during the Congress' rule at the Centre, the rights of common man was snatched.

"They could not even go for voting (in the state) as their democratic right. It is for the first time that rights were being given to common people and 3 families are taking a backseat," he said while also referring to the arrest of Sheikh Abdullah by the then Congress government.

Shah said this sowed "seed of distrust among people of Jammu and Kashmir that was planted by Congress".

Suggesting that only a strong "medicine" could stop terrorism, Shah said the government at the same time does not want to create an atmosphere of fear.

"We are taking steps to remove the fear which you (Congress) have put in the minds of people," he said, while mentioning various developmental initiatives carried out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government in the last five years.                   [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 11:06:00 PM 0


Srinagar, June 27  :   Governor Satya Pal Malik and Sh. Amit Shah, Union Home Minister, who arrived here yesterday on his two day visit to Kashmir had discussions on wide ranging issues relating to the equitable growth and development of the State.

Governor presented to Sh. Shah handicraft items representing the exquisite craftsmanship of Kashmir and Ladakh and commemorative coins of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.

Governor thanked Home Minister for his visit to the State.
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Hello Jammu News at 10:57:00 PM 0


Srinagar, June 27  :   During his first visit to the state of Jammu & Kashmir, the Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah, held a number of meetings with officials to assess the Security Scenario in the state, review preparations for the Shri Amarnathji Yatra and provide Good Governance in the state. He also interacted with a representative group of Sarpanches from the state to gain an insight into the current state of functioning of Panchayats in the state. During the visit, the Union Home Minister also visited the home of the martyred Inspector of J&K Police, Late Shri Arshad Khan.

The meetings in Srinagar were attended by the Governor, Union Home Secretary, all four Advisors, the Chief Secretary and Senior officials of the State and Central Governments, of Security Agencies and the Armed Forces.

The review of development programmes focused on improving the lives of the common man. The review covered a wide range of issues connected with improving the economic condition of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, providing them with employment and livelihood opportunities, providing them the benefit of social security schemes, and raising their incomes. The review included, among others, good governance, accelerating development, strengthening the Panchayat and Municipal system, fast tracking the implementation of the Prime Minister Development Package, building first rate infrastructure, inclusive growth for all communities, balanced regional development with special emphasis on employment generation, and reaching out to the youth.

The Union Home Minister’s focus was primarily on ensuring that the benefits of growth and development reach the poorest of the poor. He asked the State Government to focus on better and more efficient implementation of development schemes so that corruption and leakages are plugged and the citizens to get the intended benefits.

While reviewing the preparations for the Shri Amarnathji Yatra, the Union Home Minister’s focus was on a safe and smooth conduct of the Yatra. The review focused on the preparations made so far by security forces in this regard, the improvements made in the arrangements as compared to the previous years and any further requirements of security forces. The review also examined the administrative and other arrangements made for ensuring smooth conduct of the Yatra.

In the Security Review, the security agencies gave a detailed briefing on the security scenario in the state, the results of the last one years’ efforts in containing militancy and their future plans. While the improvements in the security scenario were noted and appreciated, there was a detailed discussion on what further improvements could be made for restoring peace normalcy in the state.

The Home Minister gave directions on a number of issues:

1. The State Government should ensure that old age, disability and widow pensions reach all those entitled to these, in a timely manner. There should be a quick scrutiny of all eligible people who are left out and ensuring that they are included. The Central Government will ensure additional funds.

2. The dairy and animal husbandry sector has great potential in this state. The State should work towards signing an MOU with Amul or Mother Dairy and create a programme for ensuring that it becomes surplus in this sector. This is a sector whose benefits would flow to even small households.

3. The Poultry sector too has great potential with the state importing large volumes of poultry products. The State should create schemes for improving the poultry sector as this sector improves the livelihoods of the poorest. The Central Government would support efforts in this direction.

4. The Handloom and Handicraft Sector is one of the brightest spots on J&K’s economic landscape. The potential in this has not been fully captured. The state should take the help of the Khadi & Village Industries, MSME and Textiles departments of the Central Government to improve nearly 40 various spheres in this sector. The growth of this sector would increase employment and livelihoods of poor households.

5. The state should ensure that the newly established Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Body systemtakes deep roots and establishes itself as the third tier of government. There should be a drive to ensure that Panchayats and ULBs spend the funds given to them. These funds run into thousands of crores and ensuring their proper utilization would benefit the people.

6. There are many socially disadvantaged groups in the state such as Paharis, Gujars, Bakarwals and other Economically Weaker Sections. The reservation benefits extended to them should be implemented vigorously and no posts in these classes should go vacant.

7. The State Government should take steps to ensure that the newly created Anti-Corruption Bureau focuses on cases of rampant corruption by the High and Mighty.

8. Women being the key to any development process need to be at the centre of all programmes. The state should work in this direction so that women can get better employment opportunities and livelihoods.

9. Similarly, the state should prepare a programme for reaching out to the youth who are highly skilled such as MBBS, Engineers, MBAs etc. and do not have gainful employment or livelihood.

10. State Officers should be fully be sensitive towards balanced development of all the three regions, - Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.

During the review of the preparations for the Shri Amarnathji Yatra, the Union Home Minister directed all security agencies to be fully alert and take all preventive steps to ensure violence free Yatra. He directed that:

1. There should be no laxity in the enforcement of the SOPs. Senior officers should personally supervise the arrangements at all levels.

2. Forces should ensure best possible optimum use of latest technologies and the gadgets not only for the security of the Yatra but also to facilitate the movement of the devotees and the tourists. He specifically drew attention of the Forces towards anti-sabotage as well as anti-subversion drills and the access control procedures.

Appreciating the whole-hearted cooperation of the people of the State in successful conduct of the Yatra, the Union Home Minister reassured his commitment towards best possible arrangements.

After a detailed briefing on the prevailing Security Scenario in the state, the Union Home Minister, while appreciating the significant improvement in all the parameters relating to the security situation, directed that:

1. There should be zero tolerance towards terrorism and terrorists.

2. There should be continued strict action against terror funding.

3. The Rule of Law should be enforced.

The Union Home Minister also visited the home of the martyred Inspector of J&K Police, Late Shri Arshad Khan and consoled his bereaved family. He handed over an appointment letter to his wife for a job in the State Government.

The Union Home Minister praised the work of JK Police in countering terrorism and militancy and directed that the State Government should commemorate the martyrdom of its policemen in their hometowns/ villages in an appropriate manner each year. Prominent public places should also be named after martyred policemen.

The Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah further added that he would review periodically the performance of the state on multiple fronts.

Later Chief Secretary, J&K Mr. B. V. R.Subrahmanyam, Union Additional Secretary Home Mr. Gyanesh Kumar and Union Special Secretary (Internal Security) Mr. A. P. Maheshwari briefed the media at Srinagar about the two days visit of Union Home Minister, Mr. Amit Shah to J&K. Principal Secretary Home, J&K Mr. Shaleen Kabra was also present on the occasion.          
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Hello Jammu News at 4:21:00 PM 0


New Delhi, Jun 10 :  Governors of five states including West Bengal Monday met Home Minister Amit Shah and discussed various issues concerning their respective states, an official said.

The governors met Shah separately and officials described the meetings as courtesy calls on the new Home Minister, who assumed charge about 10 days ago.

Besides West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, others who met the Home Minister are: Tamil Nadu's Banwarilal Purohit, Telangana's E S L Narasimhan, who is also the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand's Draupadi Murmu and Arunachal Pradesh's Brigadier (Retd) B D Mishra, a home ministry official said.

The Governors discussed with the Home Minister issues concerning their respective state, the official said.          [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 5:23:00 PM 0

New Delhi, Oct 5: Blaming Pakistan for the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir, Home Minister Rajnath Singh Friday claimed that 90 per cent people in the state would like to participate the panchayat and urban local body polls scheduled this month.

The home minister, however, admitted that there were difficulties in bringing back underworld don and 1993 Mumbai serial blasts mastermind Dawood Ibrahim, currently hiding in Pakistan.

Singh said approximately 6,000 terror incidents had taken place in Jammu and Kashmir in 1995 and the number has come down to about 360 in 2017.

"I do agree that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir should improve. But, the problem that we face is mostly because of Pakistan.

"We have always tried to improve relations with Pakistan. But the country will not mend its ways. It continues to sponsor terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir," he said speaking at the HT Leadership Summit here.

Referring to the forthcoming elections to the panchayat and urban local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir, the home minister said 90 per cent people of the state would like to get involve in the poll process, which the current government has started after a long break.

When asked about the several BJP candidates getting elected to the local bodies unopposed, Singh said in the recently held panchayat elections in West Bengal, 43 per cent candidates won uncontested and such things are not uncommon.

Talking about the now-snapped BJP-PDP alliance, he said both the parties had joined hands, honouring the mandate of the last state assembly elections, but the "experiment did not succeed".

Singh said naxalism was the biggest challenge the nation was facing till a few years ago, but the menace has been contained to a great extent now.

"Naxalism was spread in 126 districts and it has come down to just 50-52 districts now, and among them the worst hit is just 10 to 12 districts," he said.

Asked about the arrest of some alleged Naxal sympathisers and terming them as "urban Naxals", Singh said there are people who are trying to incite violence or support violence using Maoism and the government would allow them to do so.

On Congress President Rahul Gandhi's allegation that the BJP has taken over some institutions, Singh said the "allegation is baseless".

"He (Gandhi should have given at least one example where this has happened. We have always maintained the dignity of every institution in the country," he said.

On incidents of lynching, the home minister said even though the law and order is a state subject, the central government has issued a number of advisories to the states asking them to take action.

Commenting on the recent agitation by farmers, Singh said the government has given some promise to the protesting farmers and those will be fulfilled.

"I have invited the protesting farmers and had discussions with them for two-three hours. We have been in touch with the farmers. I spoke to them when they were agitating. We are still in touch with them and are arriving at a consensus on many matters," he said. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 5:40:00 PM 0

New Delhi, Aug 7: With opposition parties raising serious concern over the alleged sexual exploitation of girls at a children's shelter home in Uttar Pradesh, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today termed the incident shameful and declared that no culprit would escape action.

Singh also told the Lok Sabha that two senior officials of the state government were probing the matter.

Opposition members, including those from the SP and the RJD, raised the issue and referred to a similar incident at Muzaffarpur in Bihar.

"No culprit will escape action", Singh said, adding that the state government has taken quick action in the case. He described such incidents as unfortunate, sad and shameful.

On the action taken, he said the district administrative officer has been suspended and the manager of the shelter home as well as her husband have been arrested.

Additional Chief Secretary and a Director General level officer are probing the case, Singh said.

The Home Minister also said that he would ask the ministries concerned to send out advisories to states to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.

Soon after the Home Minister's response, members of the SP, RJD, Congress and TMC staged a walk out from the House.

Amid the protests and heated exchanges between the Treasury and the Opposition benches, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said everyone is concerned about these incidents which are not good. She urged everyone not to play politics with it.

She suggested that all members should also keep a tab in their constituencies so that such incidents do not happen.

Twenty-four girls were rescued from a shelter home in Deoria in Uttar Pradesh after allegation of sexual exploitation of the inmates came to light a few days ago. As many as 18 inmates are reportedly missing.

Raising serious concerns about the case, SP member Dharmendra Yadav said strict action should be taken against the culprits. Atrocities have been committed against the girls, Yadav said, adding that he does not want to play politics on the issue.

RJD member Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav also raised the issue.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge asked the Speaker to set up a House Committee to probe the incidents which have happened in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Noting that it is a "serious issue", he also said the committee should visit all states and try to find out why such things are happening.

BJP member from Uttar Pradesh Kalraj Mishra said the licence of the children's shelter home was cancelled a year ago and then the matter went to court. The process of shifting the girls and the boys had started, he added.

Holding placards, TDP members also walked into the Well seeking to raise issues related to Andhra Pradesh. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 7:55:00 PM 0

Dhaka, Jul 14: Home Minister Rajnath Singh today held an "extremely fruitful" meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during which the two leaders discussed issues of mutual concern, including the menace of terrorism.

Singh arrived here yesterday on a three-day visit.

"Had an extremely fruitful meeting with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka today. We discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest," Singh tweeted after his meeting with Hasina at her official residence.

"It is possible to uproot militancy and terrorism if all the countries in the region join their hands," Singh told Hasina.

According to a Bangladesh prime minister's office spokesman Singh also told the prime minister, without naming any country, that the expected collaborative actions were not possible due to some nations in the region.

During the meeting, Hasina said that Bangladesh and India have so far settled several outstanding issues, including the land and boundary agreement, through dialogue.

"We expect that the other issues will be sorted out through talks as well," she added.

Hasina reiterated Bangladesh's stand of not allowing its soil to be used by terrorists to carry out their activities against any other country.

After his meeting with Hasina, Singh along with his Bangladeshi counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal inaugurated the largest Indian visa centre in the world at Dhaka's Jamuna Future Park.

The new integrated state-of-the-art Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC), spread in an 18,500 square feet commercial area, will replace all the existing centres (Motijheel, Uttara, Gulshan and Mirpur Road) in Dhaka in two phases.

"The new facility would replace all four existing visa centres in different parts of the (Bangladesh) capital and it will be the lone visa centres to receive applications without any prior appointments," the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said in a statement.

Bangladeshis constitute one of the largest number of visitors from a single country to India. Last year, India had issued 1.4 million visas to Bangladeshi nationals, BD News reported.

Five Bangladeshi citizens were issued visas of different categories to mark the opening of the centre, which has 48 counters and other facilities, including food shops.

"The location of the new IVAC inside a spacious and secure shopping mall is expected to provide comfortable and seamless visa services to applicants and is expected to reduce waiting time considerably," the statement said.

During his visit, Singh will co-chair the 6th India-Bangladesh home minister-level talks tomorrow, along with his Bangladeshi counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. (PTI)

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Hello Jammu News at 6:52:00 PM 0
New Delhi, Jun 25 : Anti-terror cooperation and ways to check radicalisation of youths will be high on the agenda during Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Bangladesh next month, officials said today.

During the three-day visit beginning July 14, the home minister is also expected to meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and discuss various bilateral issues.

In his meeting with Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Singh will discuss how to strengthen the anti-terror mechanism between the two countries and check radicalisation of youths by terrorist groups, a home ministry official said.

Singh, who will be accompanied by top officials of the home ministry and Border Security Force, will also discuss how to strengthen the existing mechanism set up to check movement of illegal immigrants, smuggling of cattle, arms and ammunition, narcotics and other items through the porus Indo-Bangla border.

The Indian side is expected to take up the issue of the continuous inflow of fake Indian currency notes (FICN) from across the border and the attacks on its personnel by criminals based in Bangladesh.

The FICN with face value of about Rs 13.66 lakh have been seized along the border till March this year, another official said, adding the FICN with face value of more than Rs 68.96 lakh were confiscated last year.

The attacks on BSF personnel by criminals based in Bangladesh is expected to be flagged by the Indan side during the delegation level talks.

Two BSF men were killed and 122 injured in criminal attacks on this frontier last year. 109 personnel were injured in 2016, the official said.

All these issues are a big concern for India and for the overall security situation on the India-Bangladesh international border and the talks will aim at finding better solutions to reduce and stop these instances, the officer said.

The Bangladesh side is expected to raise the issue of their nationals being killed or injured in BSF firing at the border and the illegal transport of drugs into their territory from the Indian side.

India shares a 4,096-km-long border with Bangladesh.  PTI

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Hello Jammu News at 1:21:00 PM 0
New Delhi, Jun 25 : The Monsoon session of Parliament will commence from July 18 and end on August 10, the Cabinet Committee of Parliamentary Affairs recommended today.



The CCPA, chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, met here today to recommend the dates. The President will now formally convene the session.

The session will have nearly 18 sittings, Parliamentary Affairs minister Ananth Kumar told reporters here.PTI

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