Day: November 4, 2017

Who’s ‘Sabotaging’ Kashmir’s power import capacity?

Editor

Despite availability of funds and New Delhi’s nod, 2 major transmission projects grounded It appears that a certain section of bureaucracy derives pleasure from restricting Kashmir’s capacity to import power. How? At current, the peak demand for power in Kashmir Valley is more than 1700 MW. But the existing transmission system has the capacity to import only 1250 MW. In 2006, under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme, then Congress-led UPA government in New Delhi approved construction of several grid stations across the state to enhance its transmission and supply capacity.…

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Exam staff in trouble for ‘Facilitating’ copying, several centers shifted after complaints

Editor

Despite roping in the district administration and the police, the menace of copying in examination continues in Kashmir, forcing authorities of the School Education department to shift some examination centers. An official said that the department is expected to order suspension of staff deputed for the exam duty in centers where reports of copying prove to be authentic. The department, the official said, received complaints of copying at higher secondary school Kelar, a designated exam centre for Class 12 students. Later, the authorities shifted the exam centre to higher secondary…

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115 Militants active in south Kashmir, 80 killed in 6 months: Army

Editor

Around 80 militants have been killed in south Kashmir in the past six months and around 115 militants are still active in the region, a top Army official has said. “There are around 115 militants in south Kashmir and out of them, 99 are local and 15-16 are foreign militants. The actions that we have taken in past 6-7 months, we have killed nearly 80 militants including top leadership. As soon as the number of militant decreases, the situation will improve,” General Officer Commanding of the Army’s Victor Force, Major…

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Engineering degrees secured since 2001 via correspondence invalid: Supreme Court

Editor

In a major setback to thousands of students who pursued engineering studies through correspondence courses offered by deemed universities in the last 16 years, the Supreme Court declared on Friday that the degrees were invalid, putting them at risk of losing jobs obtained on the basis of the certificates. A bench of Justices A K Goel and U U Lalit noted that the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) did not approve distance learning programmes in engineering studies and the approval granted by…

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Friday prayers at Jamia after 5 weeks, Mirwaiz slams Govt for ‘Linking liquor with Tourism’

Editor

Govt’s promotion of un-Islamic ways unacceptable: Mirwaiz Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Jamia Masjid chief cleric warned the government that promoting tourism through “un-islamic ways isn’t acceptable to the people of Kashmir.’’ Mirwaiz was delivering the sermon on the occasion of congregational prayers at the Masjid which were allowed after five weeks. “We all want that more and more tourists visit Kashmir. No one is against the promotion of tourism. But promoting tourism through un-islamic ways is totally unacceptable to us,” he said. During his Friday speech, Mirwaiz said…

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Nov 6 Jammu bandh call gets support

Editor

Lambasting the PDP-BJP coalition regime for allegedly betraying people of Jammu in general and unemployed youth in particular, Team Jammu today called for a strike on November 6 to lodge a protest against “discriminatory policies” of the present dispensation. “Every section of society is bearing the brunt of the discriminatory policies being propagated by the coalition but the youth are the worst victims. Selection lists of the J&K Public Service Commission and other recruitment bodies are glaring example of discrimination against qualified and deserving youth of the Jammu region,” Zorawar…

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Stop ads if papers print ‘Anti-National’ articles: Centre to State

Editor

The home ministry told the state government that some publications were publishing “highly radicalised content”. The ministry of home affairs has asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to stop advertising in local newspapers that allegedly publish “anti-national articles”. Without naming any newspaper, the ministry has told the state government that some publications were publishing “highly radicalised content glamorising terrorists and anti-national elements”. The Centre has written to the Mehbooba Mufti-led government in the state to deal strictly with such newspapers. In a letter dated October 18, 2017 and addressed to…

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Talks only meaningful when held with resistance leadership: Joint Civil Society

Editor

Joint Civil Society (JCS) today said the engagement of the nominated representative of Government of India can only be meaningful if and when unconditional talks are held with Joint Separatist Leadership. “We the members of Kashmir civil society have witnessed with distress hindrances to the process of resolution of Kashmir dispute sought to be facilitated by nominating Dineshwar Sharma as a representative of Government of India. Unfortunately the terms of reference for the proposed dialogue have not been specified,” the Joint Civil Society said in a statement. “Needless to state…

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Article 370 should remain intact, PM can create history by changing narrative on J&K: Mehbooba Mufti

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s statements come at a time when some state BJP leaders have demanded removal of Article 370. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has reiterated that Article 370, that grants special autonomous status to the state, should remain intact. In a series of tweets, Mufti demanded for autonomy and self-rule in the Valley, saying “Democracy is a battle of ideas and dialogue is the only way forward. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has an unprecedented mandate and can create history by changing the narrative…

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Article 35A was never part of Indian constitution: J&K Advocate General

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir Advocate General Jehangir Iqbal Ganai on Friday said Article 35A, which is being contested in the Supreme Court (SC) through a number of petitions, “is not a part of the Indian Constitution.” “There is an argument projected that the President has no powers to amend the Constitution. The fact of the matter is Article 35 (A) is not part of the Constitution of India. It’s a part of the Constitution only applicable to J&K. There is a difference. So there was no requirement of Parliament amending it,”…

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