Ending ceasefire, coalition break-up linked to 2019 poll: CCG Report

Concerned Citizens’ Group (CCG), a civil society group led by former union finance minister Yashwant Sinha which recently visited J&K, in its report released on Friday said that the local perception in the Valley was that centre’s decision to not extend the Ramadhan ceasefire followed by withdrawal of BJP’s support to its former ally PDP was “part of a grand strategy of the BJP with an eye on the 2019 general election”. The report expressed concern over the recent developments in the Valley including the assassination of journalist Shujaat Bukhari.…

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Character assassination of Hurriyat leaders plot to prolong detentions: Hurriyat (G)

Rejecting any possibility of submission or surrender before the “imperialism and military might”, Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani Friday termed “the fresh spurt in the character assassination campaign launched by the NIA, against the resistance leadership as a brazen plot to prolong the illegal and unjustified detention of the leadership”. Hailing the “exemplary and praiseworthy” role played by DeM chairperson Syeda Asiya Andrabi and her family, Geelani condemned the “sinister designs” of NIA to lodge “baseless” case against her. “It is the well-thought out ploy to defame leadership on…

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After triple talaq, Centre targets nikah halala and polygamy

After moving to criminalise instant triple talaq + , the Centre is all set to throw its weight behind a clutch of petitions filed in the Supreme Court to declare “nikah halala” and polygamy “unconstitutional”. Sources said the Centre would extend its support to petitioners when the matter comes up next in the SC, which earlier this year agreed to hear the petitions. Nikah halala is a controversial practice which forbids adivorced couple from remarrying until the woman marries someone else, consummates her new marriage and gets divorced or widowed.…

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Post heavy rainfall govt sounds flood alert across Kashmir Valley, Amarnath Yatra suspended

Authorities on Friday sounded a flood alert as Jhelum river flowed above the critical 21 feet mark at Sangam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district due to heavy rains over the past two days. “Due to continuous rains from the past two days, the guage at Sangam has crossed the flood declaration of 21 feet and was flowing at 21.33 feet at 6 pm,” an official of the Irrigation and Flood Control department said. The water level in Jhelum at Ram Munshi Bagh in the city was 13.34 feet at 6…

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One Dead, Scores injured as forces open fire in Pulwama

One youth was shot dead by the government forces near the gunfight site at Chatpora area of district Pulwama on Friday. The deceased youth has been identified as Faizan Ahmad Khan son of Abdul Gani Khan of Ladoo, Khrew area of the district. A medico at District Hospital Pulwama confirmed the killing of Faizan. “Faizan was brought dead to the hospital. He had received a bullet injury in chest,” he said. Over a dozen of youth have been injured in clashes at Chatpora gunfight site. Three to four militants are…

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Jhelum approaching danger mark at Sangam, I&FC declares flood alert

Fear of flood is again haunting the Srinagar residents, as the water levels is continuously increasing in Jhelum due to incessant rains in the Valley. As per the Irrigation and Flood Control Department Kashmir there is a possibility of flood like situation in the city. Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Department Mir Muhammad Shahnawaz told Kashmir Post that: “The Liddar Nallah, Vishow Nallah including the Sangam have crossed the danger level. After crossing the line of 21, we are declaring the flood alert. The way it is raining it…

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Sacrifice of soldiers cannot become political tool: Oppn accuse BJP of using surgical strike ahead of 2019 Polls

The Congress on Thursday accused the BJP of using the September 2016 surgical strike for political gains, inviting strong reaction from the ruling party which charged its principal rival with lowering the morale of armed forces. The political fight between the two parties erupted a day after some private TV news channels aired the video of the strike that the Indian Army carried out on militant launch-pads across the line of control in a retaliatory action shortly after the attack on an army base in Uri in September 2016. It…

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‘Valley Weekends’ set to return from tomorrow

The Tourism Department will be resuming ‘Valley Weekends’, which will have cultural and sports activities for tourists and locals from the wee hours to the evenings, from Saturday. An official of the Tourism Department said ‘Valley Weekends’ will be held on Saturdays and Sundays. “Tourists have been missing entertainment activities in the Valley. During ‘Valley Weekends’, we will be organising musical and theatre events in addition to sports and adventure activities, so that the visitors enjoy not only the beauty of the Valley, but its culture also,” he said. ‘Valley…

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Create Union Territory in Kashmir to resolve our problems: Panun Kashmir

The Panun Kashmir, a frontal organisation of 3.50 lakh displaced Hindus of Kashmir, on Thursday called upon the Central government to treat displacement of Pandits as a political issue. Reiterating the demand for creation of Union Territory in North and East of the Jhelum in the Valley for their permanent rehabilitation, Pandit representatives said it was the only way to do justice to lakhs of people. Addressing a joint press conference, the Panun Kashmir and Kashmiri Samiti Delhi urged the Central government to realise that the existing policy on “genocide…

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BJP not into government formation: Ram Madhav

Bharatiya Janata Party’s Kashmir point man Ram Madhav said on Thursday that his party was making no attempt to work out numbers needed for forming a government in the state, after it withdrew from the coalition with PDP. “No, not from our side,” Madhav said when asked whether BJP will try to work for a new political formation to avoid midterm elections in the state. In an exclusive interview with Kashmir Post, Madhav said his party has numbers in Jammu but “doesn’t have any say” in Kashmir. “Show me the…

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