Day: January 25, 2018

Padmaavat protests expose the political vulnerability of the BJP

Editor

To see a strong government, which is ideologically committed to the idea of a strong State, unable to control the worst impulses of society reveals the sheer hollowness of its beliefs and incompetence The protests over Padmaavat and the open vandalism on the streets across north and west Indian states exposes a peculiarly Indian political paradox. A hallmark of the ideological platform of conservative — or Right of centre — parties is their deep belief in the need to strengthen State authority and an uncompromising stance on its monopoly over…

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Rajnath Singh announces fresh measures to restore normalcy in J&K

Editor

MHA gives nod to withdrawal of stone pelting cases, asks JK Govt to frame surrender policy Over 9000 stone pelters to benefit from amnesty, state told to form panel on KPs Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday announced fresh measures which will be taken by the Jammu and Kashmir government to restore normalcy in the state. Singh said the Ministry of Home Affairs has given its approval to the state government to enforce amnesty scheme that it announced on November 23 last year to give relief to 3,685 students…

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‘Disaster’ near Disaster Management minister’s house at Lasjan

Editor

Raising question marks over state government’s flood mitigation measures, a large stretch of embankment of river Jhelum crumbed near Lasjan here on Wednesday. Coincidentally, the house of Disaster Management minister Javid Mustafa Mir is near the spot. Panic gripped the area on Wednesday afternoon after more than 200-meter portion of embankment at Lasjan crumbed alongwith boundary walls of several houses. Witnesses said several people had narrow escape as the embankment suddenly crumbled into Jhelum. “We were shocked to see vast portion of embankment crumbling into the river. There was panic…

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India has no right to observe Republic Day in Kashmir: United Jihad Council

Editor

United Jihad Council (UJC), a conglomerate of various militant outfits, Lashkar-e-Toyiba (LeT) and pro-freedom parties Dukhtaran-e-Millat and National Front have appealed people to observe January 26, the Republic Day of India, as “black day”. UJC said this would attract the world community towards the deteriorating situation in Kashmir. A local news agency KNS quoted UJC chief Syed Salahuddin as saying in a statement that “India has illegally occupied Kashmir in 1947 and is using brutal tactics to suppress the ongoing movement.” “In seventy years, India has killed over five lakh…

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Presidency University announces scholarships for Kashmiri Students

Editor

In view of providing exposure to the local students Presidency University, Bengaluru held a press conference Tuesday at Hotel Taj, Srinagar. The conference was organized by the chairman and founder of Presidency University, Nisar Ahmad in which he announced scholarships and other facilities especially provided to Kashmiri students. Presidency University is a Private University, established as such by the State Legislature under a self-regulating act, 2013. The University presently comprises of three schools, the School of Engineering, the School of Management and the School of Law. Professor Arun Kumar was…

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Alert in Kashmir, intel inputs warn of female suicide bomber

Editor

A security alert has been issued in the Kashmir valley following intelligence inputs that a teenaged girl from Pune, Maharashtra, might carry out a suicide attack on Republic Day. The alert, issued last night by Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone, warned that there was a “strong input” that the suspect “may cause suicide bomb explosion near or inside the Republic (Day) Parade venue”. The note identifies the suspect as 18-year-old Sadiya Anwar Shaikh, a resident of Yerwada in the Pune area of Maharashtra. The official functions to commemorate Republic…

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Military, Militancy can’t solve Kashmir Issue: UK Seminar

Editor

The seminar held in Birmingham on Sunday by Kashmir Voice International (KVI) attracted speakers from India and Pakistan. A seminar on international awareness about the Jammu and Kashmir issue was told that neither militancy nor military operations could solve the problem between India and Pakistan, and speakers called for more action to raise it at the international level. The seminar held in Birmingham on Sunday by Kashmir Voice International (KVI), an organisation comprising UK-based individuals with origins in the Kashmir Valley, attracted speakers from India and Pakistan who dwelt on…

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Students from Kashmir bowled over by Delhi University

Editor

Delhi University played host to more than 350 schoolchildren from Kashmir on Tuesday as part of the MHRD’s student exchange programme — ‘Maitreyi Yatra’. The students, studying in classes IX to XII, were told about the colleges, courses and the procedure for admissions. The students showed keen interest in the university and asked a number of questions on getting admissions. The screening of student films and the opportunity to showcase their talents when allowed to sing hit Bollywood numbers added an extra charm to the occasion. Mohammad Ayub, principal of…

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Teenage, Two militants killed, scores injured in Shopian Gunfight

Editor

Two militants were gunned down in an ongoing gunfight with security forces while a teenage boy was killed and two young girls were critically injured as security forces allegedly opened fire at protesters near the encounter site in Shopian district of south Kashmir. The injured girls have bullet wounds on their heads and are critical, as per health officials. The encounter raged in Chaigund village of Shopian district, some 50 km south of the summer capital. The slain teenager has been identified as Shakir Mir, son of Mohammad Yousuf Mir,…

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