Month: September 2015

RSS inroads in Valley challenge for Kashmiris: Dr Zafar-ul-Islam

Editor

President of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mashawarat, the umbrella body of Muslim organizations in India, Dr Zafar-ul-Islam Khan on Thursday said inroads by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) into the valley is a challenge for Kashmiris and asked people to be cautions of its “nefarious designs and fascist ideology.” “Tougher and challenging times are ahead for Kashmiris and Muslims of India because for the first time RSS is ruling India through its political face BJP and in Kashmir as partner of the government here. Kashmir should be cautious of nefarious designs and…

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Authorities sit on Jhelum encroachments

Editor

Restoration of river Jhelum has hit a roadblock as authorities have failed to take measures for removal of encroachments from its banks. Encroachments dot the river embankments at various places in the summer capital. In absence of any regulation, many hutments have come up on river banks at Pandrethan, Pampore, Chattabal and Qamarwari and its adjoining areas. “These hutments not only affect aesthetic beauty of Jhelum but also weaken its embankments. In case of rise in the river’s water level, there is risk that adjoining habitations can be submerged,” said…

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2 Armymen, 2 Militants Killed in Encounter in Kupwara

Editor

Two army personnel and two terrorists have been killed in an encounter at Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The gun-battle, that began last night after the army cordoned off an area where terrorists were hiding, is still on. The encounter broke out in Laribal village of Zachaldara in Handwara, 100 kms from Srinagar. The soldiers who were killed belonged to the 21 Rashtriya Rifles.

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1985, When South Kashmir defied Jagmohan’s diktat on meat

Editor

In 1985, the then Governor Jagmohan’s diktat banning sale of meat on Janamastami—a festival of Hindus—triggered a month-long agitation in South Kashmir. The diktat, according to local residents, led to cohesion among various Muslim organizations. During his rule in 1985, Jagmohan ordered ban on sale of all kinds of meat including mutton in Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir on Janamashtami allegedly at the behest of right-wing extremist forces. However, the then Mirwaiz South Kashmir and Umat-I-Islami founder, late QaziNisar Ahmad along with Jamiat-I-AhlihadithKhateeb, GhulamRasoolQadri, defied the ban and slaughtered two sheep…

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Protection of Environment in Kashmir

Editor

One of the significant decisions in the environmental history is the recent climate change encyclical of Pope Francis. The document is now the church’s official position on the environment which includes the practical guidance and is being hailed as a major intervention in the climate change debate. It presents a rare locking of arms between the church and the scientific community. The truth that climate change is happening is now an established fact, although there is section which does not agree with it. The day in and day out flood…

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Leaders call for shutdown on Saturday aganist beef ban

Editor

Strongly reacting to the beef ban order of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik called for a valley-wide shutdown on Saturday. Geelani also appealed people to stage post-Friday prayers’ protests. In a statement issued to GNS, the octogenarian pro-freedom leader termed the Court decision as “politically motivated”. He said that the Jammu and Kashmir is a Muslim Majority state and the court has not taken the “consequences” of its decision into…

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Kashmiri students in Punjab allege fraud; demand JK govt’s intervention

Editor

The students from Kashmir who had sought admission in various colleges affiliated with Punjab Technical University (PTU) are on a protest against the move by the Punjab Government for bringing these colleges under the domain of a “non-recognized” university. Various Kashmiri students who had sought admission in various engineering and management colleges here affiliated with Punjab Technical University (PTU) were “shocked” to know that the Punjab government has ordered to bring these colleges under the “newly established and non-recognized” Maharaja Ranjit Singh State University (MRSSU). “We had sought the admission…

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‘JK lags behind in quality higher education’

Editor

2-day national seminar begins at CUK Jammu and Kashmir continues to trail behind other states in higher education with only two universities having National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation. Meanwhile, none of the Indian universities figure among the top-notch universities of the world. The concerns over the quality of higher education were expressed by academicians during a seminar organised by Central University of Kashmir in collaboration with NAAC Bangalore which began here on Thursday. University of Kashmir and University of Jammu remain the only two institutes of higher learning…

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103 new villages to be brought under ambit of Jammu Master Plan-2032

Editor

CM orders survey of LIG, EWS families to assess requirement of housing colonies in J&K The state government has announced to bring 103 villages under the ambit of the Jammu Master Plan-2032 for planned development of the winter capital and its suburbs. Prior to this, the government has decided to put the new Master Plan in public domain to seek suggestions from the citizens for a comprehensive proposal before it is vetted by the state Cabinet. These decisions were taken by a high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad…

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Kashmir traders to seek foreign aid if Centre fails to announce rehab package

Editor

The Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), an amalgam of various trade bodies, today said they would seek international aid and hold protests in New Delhi if the Centre failed to announce a relief package for the victims of last year’s September floods by Diwali. “In case the Centre fails to announce a relief package by Diwali, we will take our fight to New Delhi and hold protests at Jantar Mantar. We will also knock the doors of embassies to seek aid from foreign countries. We are also preparing letters that will…

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