New dawn’ for air connectivity in J&K, says Scindia after UT slashes VAT on Aviation Turbine Fuel from 26.5 pc to 1 pc

New Delhi: Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday announced that the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday reduced the Value Added Tax (VAT) on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) from 26.5 per cent to 1 per cent and termed the decision as a ‘new dawn’ for air connectivity in the region.
Scindia also appreciated the governments of Uttarakhand and Andaman and Nicobar Islands for being the initiators of slashing VAT on ATF.
In a series of tweets today, Scindia said, “The UT of J-K marks a new dawn for air connectivity in the region. Following the lead of the pro-active governments of Uttarakhand and Andaman and the Nicobar Islands, the UT of J&K has also drastically reduced VAT on ATF from 26.5 per cent to 1 per cent.”
Scindia also lauded Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for his prompt action owing to his commitment to bring prosperity to the UT.
“I thank Manoj Sinha for his prompt action owing to his commitment to bring prosperity to J&K. I also thank the two states and the UT of J&K for being the first movers in heralding a new course for aviation in their States. @pushkardhami@Admiral_DKJoshi,” said Scindia in another tweet.
He further urged other states to follow suit for greater regional connectivity.
Scindia in another tweet said, “I would also urge the remaining States to emulate, and get on to the bandwagon of greater regional connectivity. Lower operational costs for airlines has a causal effect on flight connectivity.”
He also urged the states to work in collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to bring the aviation sector back on track after the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Given the disruption caused by the pandemic, it is important that States collaboratively work with @MoCA_GoI
to not just bring the sector back on track, but also trigger greater economic activity in their respective regions,” he added. ( KINS)
Mehbooba accuses J&K admin of ignoring inputs about target killings in Kashmir
Jammu, Oct 12 ( KINS): PDP president Mehbooba Mufti claimed on Tuesday that the Jammu and Kashmir administration had prior information about attacks on minority community members but ignored the inputs to provide security to Union ministers, who came here to amplify the BJP”s “fake narrative and propaganda” about normalcy in the Union Territory.
At least seven people have been killed by terrorists this month in the Kashmir valley. Of those killed, four belonged to minority communities and six of the deaths were reported from Srinagar.
Mufti also claimed that 700 civilians were arrested in the aftermath of the recent killings with the intention to “shift the blame and absolve themselves”.
“J&K admin had prior information about attacks on minorities. Yet they chose to ignore these inputs. Instead they were busy providing security to Union Ministers who were brought to Kashmir to amplify BJP”s fake narrative & propaganda of so called normalcy in J&K,” she wrote on Twitter.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister is on a five-day tour of the Chenab valley region. During her visit, she has addressed PDP workers” conventions at different places since Sunday.
“Not taking responsibility & arresting 700 civilians shows their intention to shift blame & absolve themselves. Collective punishment & humiliation of an entire population has become the one size fits all approach to resolve problems caused due to GOI”s punitive policies,” Mufti said in another tweet.
Two teachers — Supinder Kaur, a Srinagar-based Sikh, and Chand, a Hindu from Jammu — were killed two days after The Resistance Force, a shadow outfit of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the deaths of three people on October 5.
Makhan Lal Bindroo, a prominent Kashmiri Pandit and the owner of Srinagar”s most famous pharmacy, was shot dead at his shop that evening. Minutes later, a “chaat” vendor, Virendra Paswan from Bihar, was gunned down elsewhere in the city. Around the same time, another civilian, Mohammad Shafi Lone, was killed at Naidkhai in Bandipora.
On October 2, militants shot dead Majid Ahmad Gojri at Srinagar”s Karan Nagar locality and Mohammad Shafi Dar at the city”s Batamaloo area. ( KINS)