Month: May 2018

Expect no justice from international bodies: Hizb Commander Riyaz Naikoo

Editor

A new audio statement by the Hizb Commander, Riyaz Naikoo has been doing rounds on Social Media on Tuesday. In the 10-minute audio clip, Riyaz Naikoo is heard saying, “I salute the people of Kashmir especially the youth, who have shown immense support to the Kashmir Struggle.” Riyaz Naikoo also says that the Indian State is using all its might to damage Kashmir both Economically as well as physically. “Promising the girls various favours, the Indian Army exploits Kashmiri girls turning them informers on Militants or for sexual benefits,” Naikoo…

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J&K Govt will lease land to Indian Army for firing range in Kargil

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The Jammu and Kashmir government has begun process to lease out 71,238 acres land to the army for field firing and artillery practice in Kargil district. The state government, in a notification, has asked the public that any objections in this regard may be communicated to the Kargil District Magistrate within a period of two months. “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 9 of the Maneuvers, Field Firing and Artillery Practice Act, 1938, a notice is hereby given that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir…

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‘Didn’t tie hands of jawans’ says Rajnath Singh on Kashmir’s Ramadan Truce

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Security forces are free to carry out operations against terrorists if there are attacks during Ramadan, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday, declaring that security operations could be resumed at any point if any terror activity takes place. Mr Singh cited the recent encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian to make his point in which five Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists including an assistant professor at the Kashmir University were killed. A top Hizbul commander Saddam Padder, once considered close to terrorist Burhan Wani, was also eliminated in this operation.…

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Home Minister Minister Rajnath Singh to visit Valley in June

Editor

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is visiting the Kashmir valley early next month to push forward the peace and dialogue process announced by him on May 26. He is expected to make a major announcement on the extension of Ramzan ceasefire which he had announced on May 16, on the eve of the start of the holy month, with the stated objective of creating an atmosphere of peace in the restive Valley and “to help the peace-loving Muslims observe Ramzan in a peaceful environment”. In a significant development, the Home…

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Major Gogoi, Girl consenting adults, can’t book them: Police

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The investigation so far conducted by the police has established that the girl who was briefly detained with Major Leetul Gogoi at a Srinagar hotel on May 23 is an adult. Since both of them are consenting adults, there is “no legal basis to register an FIR” into the incident as “nothing incriminating” against them has been found yet. However the police, which would also be submitting a status report of the investigation before the Chief Judicial Magistrate this week, is likely to “recommend” or “seek disciplinary action” against Major…

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Ambiguity over Kashmir Talks mar the seriousness of Talks: Hurriyat Leardership

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New Delhi is confused about what it wants to talk about in Kashmir, Hurriyat said in a statement. The statement released by All Parties Hurriyat Conference on Tuesday was a reaction to statements made on Monday by Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj. In a press conference held on Monday, Swaraj, in context of holding a dialogue with Pakistan, had said, “We are ready for talks. But there’s a caveat – terror and talks cannot go together. This has always been our position.” The Hurriyat said that there was a…

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54 killed in thunderstorms across Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, MP 

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Storms and lightning across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bengal killed at least 54 people in the past 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday, taking the toll from freak weather this month to around 290. Two people died in Bengal’s Malda district during heavy rain and thundershower on Monday night. Anima Ghosh, 40, died in the Englishbazar area when a big tree fell on the three-wheeler in which she was returning home from work. In another incident, Anup Saha, 35, died in the Rathbari area when part of…

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Patient’s time of death to decide private hospital bills: Delhi Govt

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Partial waiver of bills if patient dies in a day of being admitted to Delhi private hospital The Delhi government on Monday issued a draft policy with sweeping changes in charges levied by private hospitals in the city, including a controversial provision for a partial bill waiver if a patient dies within a day of being taken to a hospital emergency. Under the draft policy, which will be open for suggestions from the public for a month, if a patient dies within six hours of being taken to a hospital…

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Four Years in, How Successful are Modi Government’s Schemes?

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A look at how the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, Skill India programme, Ujjwala Yojana and Jan Dhan Yojana are doing. As the Narendra Modi government completes four years in power, its flagship schemes like the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Skill India programme, Ujjwala Yojana and Jan Dhan Yojana are struggling to make a difference, while others like Mudra and Housing for All by 2022 spell fresh trouble for the banking sector, which is already reeling under bad loans. DDUGJY The government recently announced that it has completed…

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Delhi-Meerut Expressway that Modi ‘Dedicated’ to the Nation is 69% Incomplete

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Narendra Modi held a massive roadshow to inaugurate a mere 8.3-km stretch of the 82-km highway. Given the elaborately choreographed roadshow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’ put on for the benefit of television to inaugurate phase 1 of the much-awaited Delhi-Meerut expressway one could be forgiven for thinking the wait for a quick drive between the two cities is finally over. In reality, however, nearly 90% of the 82-kilometre project is yet to be made operational. It emerges that Modi only inaugurated phase 1 (worth Rs 841 crore) of the Rs 7,500 crore…

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