Syed Ali Shah Geelani addresses Nation, Full text of Geelani’s letter

My Dear Countrymen, Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. It is He who enabled this small, unarmed people to stand up to the violence and aggression of a mighty military power that occupies our land with brute force; it is He who turned the arms of the enemy useless against the valiance of our unarmed courageous people. And it is to Him that we turn to for the final victory for the freedom from the clutches of the arrogant Hindu imperialist. Dear Countrymen…

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BOSE censures Education Minister’s ‘Jail as exam Center’ proposal

Academics call it ‘RSS idea’ for detained Kashmiri students Amid massive controversy over holding of Class 10 and 12 exams from mid-November, the J&K government has put the career of detained students at stake. Interestingly, J&K’s Education Minister Naeem Akhtar has asked the police authorities to provide exact figures of detained students to set-up their exam centres in jails or police stations only, according to reports. However, officials say it is impossible to execute the minister’s plan. Talking to Kashmir Post, Chairman of Board of School Education—the examination conducting body—Zahoor…

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Words of Rage, Songs of Protest

Documentary shows how art as mode of resistance thrives in Kashmir The documentary “In the Shade of Fallen Chinar” ends with a note, ‘the peaceful ending of this film might appear to be a misrepresentation given the ongoing unrest. With the quotation the filmmakers try to cement the fact that Kashmir is unpredictable and never believe the silence that looks like peace, a fact often overlooked with deadly repercussions. Shot over a period of time just before the 2016 Kashmir uprising, the documentary by Fazil N C and Shawn Sebastian…

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Farooq hits out at coalition for ‘Reign of Repression’ in Kashmir

Assuage political aspirations of J&K people to address root cause of all problems: NC chief The National Conference today asked the PDP-BJP coalition to stop the alleged reign of “repression and coercion” unleashed against the entire population in the Valley, lest the situation takes such an ugly turn that it becomes beyond the control of the governments at Srinagar and in New Delhi to handle. “Enough is enough”, Farooq Abdullah, National Conference (NC) president and former Chief Minister of the state, said while referring to killings and large-scale arrests being…

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Sacking govt employees over protests a revengeful, inhuman act: Hurriyat (G)

With the J&K government terminating 12 employees for allegedly participating in street protests, the Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani on Friday said the act was “revengeful and inhuman.” In a statement here, the Hurriyat (G) said it is “most unfortunate and undemocratic to punish employees just for raising their voice against atrocities on people.” “Every day, the present regime is coming out with ridiculous and irresponsible verdicts, making themselves a laughing stock. Employees are part and parcel of our society and how can they be aloof and silent…

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Er Rashid calls for secretariat gherao on 24th Oct

Independent legislator Engineer Sheikh Rashid today called for a gherao of the civil secretariat on October 24 against the “illegal and unjustified” dismissal of 12 government employees by the state government. “Sacking of 12 government employees has exposed the true face of Chief Minister Mehbooba mufti, who has now openly dressed and coloured herself in RSS agenda. She needs to understand that government employees are part of society and like every Kashmiri, they have sentiments and aspirations,” reads a statement issued by Rashid here after interacting with people at various…

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Mehbooba govt’s push for ‘Normalcy’ in Valley is unwise when none exists

In Kashmir, normalcy has attained a distressing meaning. As the clock strikes five in the evening, people flock marketplaces in droves. The sight at the city centre Lal Chowk in Srinagar is remarkably confounding and soothing at the same time. Within minutes, the barren roads come alive with a mix of cheerful and anxiety-ridden faces. Traffic snarls are a common occurrence. And for a moment, it seems, all is well. As the sun sets and the darkness of night begins to take over, the abnormal normalcy returns. With shoppers long…

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Admin advises border people to evacuate villages, stay in doors

District administration Kathua on Friday advised people living near International Border (IB) to evacuate villages in view of fresh cross border firing. Sources said that India Pakistan engaged in heavy exchange of shelling and firing in Bobiya area Hiranagar sector after a sniper shot fired from across the border critically injured a Border Security Force (BSF) man. According to sources, administration has requested people living on zero line in Bobiya area of Hiranagar sector to move to safer places. “Administration has also established relief camps and assistance booths at government…

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130 Employees on govt’s hit list including docs, lecturers for termination

The government has prepared a list of 130 government employees including lecturers and doctors, whose services may be terminated. Sources said a government has prepared a list of 130 government employees, who have allegedly participated in anti-India protests and rallies. “The government is going to sack all these employees,” they said adding so far government has issued orders of termination of twelve employees. These employees have been terminated for allegedly participating in pro-freedom protests or “inciting violence” during the ongoing unrest. “Some high profile officials include lecturers and doctors are…

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Govt keeps fingers crossed, plans to reopen schools

If the government succeeds in reopening schools from November 1, the winter break will be cut short this year, said an official. During the past more than three months of unrest in the Valley, the government has been unsuccessful in reopening schools as parents have said they cannot risk sending their children to school in a volatile situation. The official said the government was keeping its fingers crossed as it wasn’t sure whether it would be successful in reopening the school this year. The schools in the Valley are lying…

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