Month: September 2015

All Eyes on PM for Flood Relief

Editor

It’s already too late. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should live up to his word of helping the flood-affected population in Jammu and Kashmir without any further delay. He had promised that he would make this state a model one in the country. That was in December last year. The masses are looking up to him. The Prime Minister is aware of each and every problem of the people of the Valley and the rest of the state. He is not new to the state. He has known the state over…

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This Kashmiri journalist feels Amarnath temple is a ‘phallic block of ice’

Editor

An article in the United States’ Foreign Affairs Journal has brazenly stated that the sacred Hindu shrine, Amarnath temple in Jammu and Kashmir, is a large, ‘phallic block of ice’ inside the cave and is being used as pilgrimage to assert Indian government’s political control over the region. The article named ‘A Political Pilgrimage in Kashmir’ further says that in recent years the shrine has become a political flashpoint between Hindus and Muslims. Quoting excerpt from Professor Ian Reader’s book ‘Pilgrimage in the Marketplace’, the article also suggests that pilgrimage…

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Pakistan to highlight Kashmir, Indian interference at UN: Sartaz

Editor

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will raise the Kashmir issue and alleged Indian interference in the country at the UN General Assembly’s upcoming session later this month, a top official said today. “Pakistan will highlight the Kashmir issue at the UN and other fora as bilateralism envisaged in Shimla Agreement failed to achieve any progress,” Prime Minister’s Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said today. He briefed the Senate about the issues to be raised during Sharif’s visit to New York to attend the annual session of…

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Mehbooba first Indian woman to head Haj team

Editor

PDP president and Member of Parliament Mehbooba Mufti will head a two-member delegation representing the country at Haj. Mehbooba Mufti, whose Kashmir-centric party shares power in J&K with the right-wing BJP, is the first woman to lead the Haj delegation of the country. The other member of the delegation is a senior BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh, Anwar Mohammad Khan. The two-member delegation left New Delhi for Jeddah today. “Mehbooba left Srinagar yesterday. She is heading the delegation,” said Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, political adviser to Mehbooba. A official in the…

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Mirwaiz to launch agitation against liquor sale

Editor

Liquor should be completely banned in the Muslim majority state of Jammu and Kashmir,” Mirwaiz said after a resolution demanding ban on liquor was passed in the MMU session here. Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) and head of Muttaheda Majlis-e-Ulema Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Thursday said he would launch an agitation against sale of liquor in Kashmir. “We will ensure that sale of liquor is banned in Kashmir. It is our religious duty to disallow any activity which is against Islam. Liquor should be completely banned in the Muslim majority state…

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Arrangements for 13th “Tour de Kashmir” cycling event reviewed

Editor

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon today convened a meeting of officers of divisional administration in connection with conduct of 6 day National Level 13th “Tour de Kashmir” cycling event. The event is being organized by J&K Sports Development Association in-collaboration with Tourism department Kashmir. The event would start from October 3 and will conclude on October 09, 2015. It was informed in the meeting that the “Tour de Kashmir” which is a regular feature for past 12 years is scheduled to cover a distance of 350 Kms. in…

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Kashmir in turmoil again

Editor

Ashok Bhan The recent developments in Kashmir are certainly alarming and have added fuel to fire not only owing to non-fulfillment of the promises made to people but also showing no signs of improvement in socio-economic conditions of people. The alienation among the people, particularly the youth, has increased so much that an atmosphere is created to encourage militancy, on the scale and intensity that was witnessed in the early nineties. Who is responsible for this – the alliance government or the people of the state? Unfulfilled Promises The BJP…

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J&K to get additional power from Baglihar-II project

Editor

The energy-deficient state will be generating additional 300 MW power as the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) is commissioning two turbines of the Baglihar-II hydroelectric project with power generation capacity of 150 MW each,. Senior officials of the JKPDC said they had begun the generation of 150-MW additional power by commissioning the first turbine of Phase-II of the Baglihar hydroelectric project in the Chanderkote area of Ramban district, while the second turbine of Phase-II would be commissioned by the end of this month. They, however, remained tightlipped over…

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Train Services in to Remain Suspended For 2 Days During Eid

Editor

Train services in Kashmir Valley will remain suspended for two days- September 26 and 27- on the occasion of Eid as part of precautionary measures to prevent any untoward incident. In a meeting with government officials on July 25, Railways had decided to “temporarily suspend train services between Banihal and Baramulla apprehending untoward incidents on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Azha on September 26 and 27”, a Railways spokesman said. He said that on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr in July, “incidents of vandalism and obstruction to train crew” had affected train…

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Intrusion inputs keep Army on toes

Editor

Schools in Samba closed as precautionary measure; Pak targets Poonch again Following intelligence inputs of possible infiltration by a group of heavily armed Pakistani militants from across the international border in theSamba sector, the Army has been put on high alert in the garrison town on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway. As a precautionary measure to pre-empt a possible terror strike, the Army today closed a Kendriya Vidyalaya and an Army school in Samba, said a top Army source. Searches were still on and they were on high alert, he said.…

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