London Mayor condemns plans of anti-India march over Kashmir on Diwali

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has condemned plans to hold an anti-India march in the capital city on the Kashmir issue on Diwali next Sunday, saying it would deepen divisions in the UK capital and called on the organisers and prospective participants to cancel the protest rally. According to Met Police details on the permissions sought for the proposed march, an estimated 5,000-10,000 protesters plan to commence their march from Richmond Terrace near Downing Street and converge outside the Indian High Commission in London. 

In response to a letter by Indian-origin London Assembly member Navin Shah, Mayor Khan said, "I absolutely condemn the plans for a protest march to take place on the auspicious day of Diwali, in the vicinity of the Indian High Commission in London.

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Kashmir situation

A day after reviving postpaid mobile phone services, the Home Ministry has decided to snap text messaging services in the Kashmir valley taking cognisance of the security situation.  Republic Media Network sources have notified that the decision was taken by the Home Ministry after a meeting in the north block telecommunications. 

Mobile phones in Kashmir buzzed back to life on Monday, connecting 40 lakh postpaid subscribers to their families and friends in the country, the Valley and their neighborhoods after 72 days but without any internet facilities. Jammu & Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik lifted the Home Department’s advisory on October 12 and urged the tourists to visit the valley. The valley will be welcoming tourists after 69 days. In a full-page advertisement published in local dailies this week, the state administration asked people not to be afraid of terrorist threats and resume their normal activities.

Ahead of the date when Union territories Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh come into existence, the J&K government on October 11 sent out invitations to all administrative secretaries to the 'appointed day' i.e October 31, 2019. The two Union territories will be formed according to the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Re-organisation Act, 2019. It also directed all the secretaries to not move out of the state during the transit period October-November 2019. It has asked all the secretaries to be present for the ceremony in Srinagar. 

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