Supreme Court to hear petitions challenging Article 35A today

The Supreme Court is slated to hear the petitions challenging Article 35A, relating to special rights and privileges of permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday. The main petition filed by “We the Citizens” group is listed at serial no. 59 in the supplementary cause list before the apex court. The matter is sensitive in nature, particularly in the Kashmir valley, where the separatists today urged the people to launch a mass agitation if the Supreme Court delivers a verdict against the interests and aspiration of people of the…

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Ram Madhav tells cadres to mix with people across state

Ram Madhav, national BJP general secretary, today urged party cadres to walk an extra mile to remove misgivings about the party in the Kashmir valley amid a surprise entry of Works Minister and senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar and Social Welfare Minister Sajad Lone at the BJP’s maiden executive meeting. Sources said in the closed-door meeting at the SKICC on the banks of the Dal lake, Madhav admitted that the alliance with the PDP was initially “difficult”, but urged the cadres to make an effort and “mix with people”. He…

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Will continue struggle for restoration of J&K’s autonomy: National Conference

The opposition National Conference passed a resolution today, vowing to continue its struggle for restoration of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir as enshrined in the Constitution of India. “We continue to strive for the restoration of autonomy and restoration of Article 370 to its original, pristine form, while condemning those divisive voices who are opposed to the sovereign constitutional guarantees extended to the people of the state,” the resolution passed at a delegates’ session of the National Conference here reads. NC president Farooq Abdullah and working president Omar Abdullah were present…

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The accession of Kashmir, The beginning of a 70 Year long dispute

October 27 is the day Kashmir became a part of India through accession and Indian troops first landed on Kashmir to help it fight its battle against invaders. October 27 is the day Kashmir became a part of India through accession and Indian troops first landed in Kashmir to help it fight its battle against invaders. But the separatist forces see that day as the start of an occupation of the Valley that they are still fighting. Kashmir’s Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has called for a shutdown in the Valley…

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Kashmir Interlocutor will talk to all stakeholders, Including Hurriyat: Ram Madhav

In an exclusive interview, Madhav said, “If Hurriyat wants to come forward and talk to the interlocutor, I am sure he will be open to that.” With the October 23 announcement made by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh of appointing former director of Intelligence Bureau, Dineshwar Sharma, to resume political engagement with Kashmir, questions are being asked about government’s policy towards Kashmir. Is this appointment an admission of failure of its ‘muscular’ Kashmir policy? What has prompted this new level of engagement with Kashmiri leaders? Will the government appointed representative,…

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When people of Kashmir ask for ‘Azadi’, most want Autonomy: P Chidambaram

P Chidambaram said the appointment of Dineshwar Sharma to open talks with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir was a “diversionary move” to appease a section that was asking why the government was not holding talks in the troubled state. Former Union Home Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday said the appointment of an interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir was a “diversionary” tactic and felt the “azadi” demand meant people want autonomy which should be seriously examined. He said the appointment of former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar…

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Displaced Kashmiri Pandits feel sidelined

Even as the BJP-led government in New Delhi has appointed former Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Dineshwar Sharma as the special representative for Jammu and Kashmir, displaced Kashmiri Pandits are feeling sidelined. Ever since the appointment of Sharma to “hold talks with stakeholders in Kashmir”, not even a single mention has been made of the 3.5 lakh Hindus who were forced to leave the Valley by terrorist groups in 1989-90. Majority of the community members have been living in camps in Jammu for the last 27 years. When it comes to…

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Joint Separatist Leadership slams property damage ordinance: ‘Outrageous, Dictatorial’

The joint separatist leadership on Saturday called as “outrageous” and “dictatorial” the government’s ordinance that make persons and organisations calling for shutdowns, demonstrations or other forms of protest wherein properties are damaged, liable for imprisonment and fine. Governor NN Vohra, on recommendations of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, promulgated “The Jammu and Kashmir Public Property (Prevention of Damage) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017” on Thursday, leading to what the government called “amendment in the existing law relating to damage to public property to more effectively discourage and prevent the deleterious activities of individuals…

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From Aadhaar to Love Jihad and Article 35A a Big day in Supreme Court

From Article 35 A to Love Jihad. The Supreme Court will hear a host of important cases today. A bench led by Justice AK Sikri will also hear the West Bengal government’s petition against the Centre’s move to make Aadhaar, a 12-digit unique identification number for citizens, mandatory to get social welfare benefits. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra will take up petitions seeking repeal of Article 35(A), a law that guarantees special privileges to the restive state of Jammu and Kashmir. The main petition in the case…

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Be ready for agitation if Article 35A removed: Joint Resistance leadership

With the Supreme Court set to hear pleas against Article 35-A on Monday, the joint separatist leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik on Sunday warned of “mass agitation” if the apex court “delivers a verdict against the interests and aspirations of people of the state.” The leadership also said that any move to tinker with the state subject law will lead to a “Palestine-like situation” in the state. The pleas against Article 35-A that confers special rights and privileges on J&K’s permanent residents are…

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