Posts by Editor | Kashmir POST

The false promise of normalcy and development in Kashmir

October 22, 2020October 22, 2020 Editor

A year after the annexation of Kashmir, the socio-economic situation has gotten worse. Anam Zakaria & Womic Baba This August marks a year since the Indian government abrogated Articles 370 and 35(a) of the Indian constitution, revoking Indian-administered Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status and formally annexing the disputed region. Article 370, although reduced to an “empty husk” through a series of legislations since 1953, allowed the region to have its own constitution, flag and laws. Article 35(a) enshrined the rights of indigenous Kashmiris towards land, education and jobs. The move lent credence…

“IkkJutt Jammu” planning to launch strike, wants “Separate statehood for the Jammu Region”

October 21, 2020October 21, 2020 Editor

While in the Kashmir valley rivals are joining hands to take on the BJP-led Centre, the Jammu region also appears to be witnessing new political activity in the post-abrogation scenario. “Soon-to-be-launched political outfit ‘IkkJutt Jammu’, which has been demanding a “separate statehood for the Jammu region”, is planning to launch an agitation to press for its demand. IkkJutt chairman Ankur Sharma, who also condemns the ongoing delimitation on ‘fraud 2011 Census’, blames the ongoing “anti-national activities like Gupkar declaration, etc, on UT and Central Government not taking necessary follow-up steps…

Failing to fight politically, BJP employing its agencies to target Farooq Abdullah: National Conference

October 20, 2020October 20, 2020 Editor

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Monday asserted that BJP after failing to politically fight party president Dr. Farooq Abdullah has resorted to employing its agencies for the task. In a statement party spokesperson said, “The ED summon to Dr Farooq Abdullah is clearly the result of the unity that Dr Sahib has been able to forge among mainstream political parties in J&K. This is the price one faces when opposed to BJP’s ideology and divisive politics. Recent history is a witness to how BJP has been employing coercive and…

No property tax to be imposed in J&K: Manoj Sinha

October 20, 2020October 20, 2020 Editor

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said that no property tax would be levied on land, buildings or vacant lands in the UT, amid protests by the J&K Congress against the Centre’s earlier decision to impose a property tax in the Union Territory. “Some people are saying that property tax will be in J&K. Let me clarify, there will be no such tax be levied in Jammu and Kashmir by the UT administration,” Sinha said while addressing ‘My Town My Pride’ meeting after inaugurating a bridge in north…

Pakistan ready to talk to India if Kashmiri’s onboard: Moeed Yusuf to Karan Thapar

October 19, 2020October 19, 2020 Editor

Pakistan is prepared to sit down for talks with regional rival India, with whom it came close to an all-out military conflict last year, provided that Kashmiris are provided a seat at the table, Pakistan’s national security adviser has said. “I will tell you very honestly, in the past year, we’ve gotten messages about a desire for conversation [from India],” Moeed Yusuf told Indian journalist Karan Thapar during a wide-ranging interview on Tuesday. Yusuf advises Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on national security and strategic policy. “We have got to…

Pakistan readies plan to sabotage J&K telecom blackout with new mobile towers

October 19, 2020October 19, 2020 Editor

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government has readied a plan to expand coverage of its mobile coverage in Jammu and Kashmir that is not only designed to help Pakistan-trained terrorists infiltrating into the valley but also neutralise the impact of a future communication blockade imposed by the government, people familiar with the matter said. The plan, according to a top security official in New Delhi, to tweak existing telecom towers and build new ones has been in the works for about a year. It was initially conceived to strength the existing…

Enforcement Directorate questions Farooq Abdullah in J&K Cricket Association Scam

October 19, 2020October 19, 2020 Editor

National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah is being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Srinagar office in connection with its probe into the multi-crore Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam, officials familiar with the development said on Monday, prompting his party to condemn the questioning. Farooq Abdullah’s son Omar Abdullah said the questioning was political vendetta and connected to the alliance forged by six parties from Jammu and Kashmir over the restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. “The party will be responding to this ED summons…

My Wullar Lake

October 19, 2020October 19, 2020 Editor

Mushtaq Hurra Kashmir valley is laden with bewitching and unprecedented natural beauty and resources which give it prominence on the global tourism map. It has been one of the cherished tourist destinations for millions of people across the globe. Besides pleasant weather, lofty mountains, velvety meadows, lush green forests; the valley is studded with crystal clear water resources which add immensely to its natural beauty and fascinating sights. Water is indeed a bounty from Allah SWT which is one of the basic prerequisites of life. And we are fortunate enough…

As winter starts approaching unscheduled power cuts irks consumers

October 19, 2020October 19, 2020 Editor

Ahead of winter the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has resorted to unscheduled power cuts in both metered as well as non-metered areas, the officials however are putting onus on consumers for misusing electricity. The power crisis in Kashmir has become a natural phenomena owing to the fact that the power department has failed to enhance its transmission capacities to meet the demand for electricity in winter months when the temperature plummets below zero. From north to south Kashmir, consumers are complaining about frequent power cuts mostly during the…

Twitter lands in hot water after displaying J&K as territory of China

October 19, 2020October 19, 2020 Editor

Twitter was caught in a storm on Sunday after Jammu and Kashmir was shown as a part of China during a live broadcast by a journalist at a war memorial in Leh, the capital of Ladakh. Nitin Gokhale, author and national security analyst, started the live broadcast on Twitter from the Hall of Fame, a memorial for soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the country. The location tag displayed in the video was marked ‘Jammu and Kashmir, People’s Republic of China.’ Twitter users, including Gokhale himself, immediately pointed out…