Over a month after demonetisation was announced, Jammu and Kashmir has come out of long queues outside banks and ATMs. States such as Delhi, UP, Punjab and many others are still facing cash crunch even after the 40 days of demonetisation. Queues have vanished outside banks and ATMs. People faced cash crunch initially, but the situation has started coming to normalcy. Sources in banks claim that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has special concern for the state, as security agencies didn’t want to take any risk in Kashmir due…
Read MoreDay: December 20, 2016
Kashmir braces for ‘Chillai Kalan’, Leh records season’s coldest night, temp drops to minus 13.8
As Kashmir braces for Chillai Kalan, the harshest 40-day spell of winter, the fast dipping sub-zero temperature has slowed down the pace of daily life here. Srinagar recorded a minimum of minus 4.2 degree Celsius on Sunday night, a minus-three-degree Celsius departure from the normal. The maximum day temperature too fell to nine degree Celsius. “Most shops open after 10 a.m. in Srinagar to avoid the morning cold wave,” said Reyaz Ahmad, a shopkeeper at Srinagar’s commercial hub Lal Chowk. Government employees too are showing up late for work. Chillai…
Read MoreWith key elections around corner, PDP and NC cash in on people’s emotions
While Kashmir is yet to come out of the trauma and despondency after months of violent protests, strict curfews and shutdowns that took an immense economic and human toll, the two major political parties from the Valley — the National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party — are back to what they know best: Playing politics. With the elections to the two key Lok Sabha seats of Srinagar and Anantnag set to be held early next year, the political leadership of the National Conference and PDP is leaving no stone unturned…
Read MorePeople of India don’t know the truth about Kashmir: Geelani
If we want Kashmir to stay in India we will have to see where our faults lie: Morarka ‘Article 370 critical to the relationship between India and Kashmir’ People of India do not know the truth of Kashmir and if they come to know about it then many righteous Indians would understand our problems and position, senior separatist leader, Syed Ali Geelani told a delegation of Indian civil society. The delegation was led by former Rajya Sabha member and minister in charge of PMO, Kamal Morarka here Monday. He was…
Read MoreHC notice to Govt, Private schools on 25% quota for poor children
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has issued notices to the state government and private schools in a contempt petition for not complying with the previous orders wherein the authorities were asked to accord consideration to 25 per cent reservation in admission for underprivileged students in private schools of the state. Issuing notices to the J&K Government through the Chief Secretary, Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department, Commissioner Secretary, Revenue Department, and the principals of private educational institutions, the High Court has directed these respondents to file their compliance report by…
Read MoreAnger brewing in ‘Power-Less’ Kashmir
We’re supplied electricity just 3 to 4 hours a day, and are being sermonized by Govt to use it ‘judiciously’; Is this a joke? Ask consumers The arbitrary and prolonged power cuts continue to increase people’s woes in Kashmir amid chilly winter despite repeated assurances by the Government to ensure better supply of electricity. Amid the deteriorating situation, anger is brewing among people in different parts of Kashmir who have threatened to hit roads in case the Government failed to improve the supply. For the past few weeks the situation…
Read MoreFarooq Abdullah, Saifuddin Soz reiterate support for Resistance
National Conference president, Farooq Abdullah and senior Congress leader, Saifuddin Soz have reiterated their support for Hurriyat in their separate meetings with an Indian civil society delegation. Interacting with the delegation led by Kamal Morarka, the NC president said: “New Delhi has adopted policy of divide and rule, but now we have decided that we’ll not let them succeed in their policy anymore. That is why I said I am standing with the Hurriyat.” Farooq cautioned the government against taking the semblance of normalcy in the valley at face value.…
Read MoreValley witnessed a working Monday after 23 weeks
Kashmir markets and educational institutions opened for normal activities for the first time on Monday after 23 weeks since the unrest erupted in the Valley on July 8. This is for the first time that the separatists, jointly issuing protest calendars, have extended the “relaxation” in the shutdown to five days, which began on Sunday. The five-day “relaxation” practice is going to continue for two weeks till the end of this month. Issuing the scaled-down protest programme last week, the separatists have indicated to work out a protest plan for…
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