Month: September 2015

Package or no package, Kashmir will rise again

Editor

Two tragedies that I witnessed in my recent past are stuck to my memories- the disastrous earthquake that hit on Oct. 8, 2005 and the floods of September 7, 2015. The earthquake hit the Pakistan-administered Kashmir region and the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan; it also affected adjacent parts of India and Afghanistan too badly. At least 79,000 people were killed and more than 32,000 buildings collapsed in Kashmir, with additional fatalities and destruction, making it one of the most destructive earthquakes of contemporary times. Morning 8:50 AM; I was…

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Bat industry struggles to stay afloat

Editor

The dwindling cricket bat manufacturing industry in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district has made minimal recovery since its infrastructure was hit by the last year’s floods. More than 50 cricket bat manufacturing units — operating from Halmulla and Sangam villages along the Srinagar-Jammu highway — are struggling to recuperate their business as little help has come from the government. The industry was already grappling with dislocation due to the widening of highway when the floods created havoc last year. Most of the bat manufacturers incurred heavy losses during the deluge and…

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‘RSS statement reflection of true of face of Hindu outfit’

Editor

Hurriyet leaders Shabbir Ahmed Dar, Mohammad Iqbal Mir and human rights defender Mohammad Ahsan Untoo have condemned the RSS statement asking the BJP government to deal with the pro-freedom leaders with iron hand. The leaders in their joint statement issued in Srinagar, today, termed the statement as reflection of the real face of the Hindu extremist organization. They also denounced the steps taken by present PDP-BJP regime in the territory and said that these steps had put a question mark on the democratic credentials of the regime.The leaders said that…

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Ex-CM Omar decries Modi Govt’s ‘step-motherly treatment to Kashmir’

Editor

Former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Sunday accused the BJP-led NDA Government of giving “step-motherly” treatment to Kashmir. He was referring to New Delhi’s non-commitment to sanction rehabilitation package for flood victims. Omar equally blamed ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for “letting the Centre go away” and not “taking firm commitment from BJP on the package before joining hands with it.” “This non-commitment on flood rehabilitation package is more of NDA and BJP’s step-motherly treatment (towards Kashmir),” Omar said, in an exclusive interview to us. He was responding to a…

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Geelani reveals India’s secret mission to create Sainik Colony in Kashmir

Editor

Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani Sahab revealed that the PDP and BJP have entered into a secret agreement over the issues like creation of Sanik Colony in Kashmir, permanent settlement of the west Pakistan refugees in the state and isolated colonies for the Kashmiri Pandits and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had assured the New Delhi for his full cooperation in this regard. While addressing a seminar titled “Indo-Pak Hostilities – Causes and Solution” at Hyderpora, the pro-freedom leader announced that this dangerous plan will be resisted tooth…

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PDP has no role in govt affairs: Geelani

Editor

The hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani today hosted a seminar on the Indo-Pak hostilities, its causes and solution. Speakers at the seminar expressed their viewpoint. Geelani also spoke at the seminar and alleged that the state was being ruled by the RSS. Syed Ali Geelani said Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was being used for implementing New Delhi’s policy and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had no role in the affairs of the government.

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80% roads restored, bridges to be fully repaired by 2017: Bukhari

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir has been struggling to restore the damaged infrastructure since the floods last year left a trail of destruction. About 500 bridges and 6,000 km of roads were fully or partially damaged, snapping connectivity to thousands of villages. The large-scale devastation pushed the state’s development planning back to several decades. The Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department is racing against time to rebuild basic infrastructure lost to the nature’s fury. Talking to us on the first anniversary of the floods, Minister for Public Works Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said: “Nearly…

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PM to take final call on Rs 1.35 lakh-cr financial package soon

Editor

The wait for Jammu and Kashmir to get a financial package may end soon and the package could be staggering Rs 1.35 lakh crore. The file is pending with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has to take a final call on it. This package will cater to all needs of the state government, including rehabilitation of flood victims, who have been waiting for the past one year. Since the PDP and the BJP joined hands to run the coalition government in the state on March 1 this year, they were…

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Who will ostracise ghosts of the Sept 6, 2014 Kashmir floods

Editor

Few Kashmiris can forget the night of September 6, 2014 and the horror that continued for nearly a month after unprecedented floods hit Jammu and Kashmir this day last year. Summer capital Srinagar bore the brunt of nature’s fury on that day. As scores of houses collapsed in Srinagar’s posh residential areas, so did the state government and the capacity of the administration to organise timely rescue and relief operations. Thousands of people in Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Wazir Bagh, Gogjibagh, Rambagh, Solina, Barzalla, Chanapora, Bemina, Natipora, Nowpora, Karan Nagar, Shetrashshi…

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World peace linked to Kashmir settlement

Editor

The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has said that peace in South Asia will remain a far-fetched dream unless the Kashmir dispute is resolved as per aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Syed Ali Gilani was addressing a seminar on “Factors behind Pak-India Tension”, held under his chair at Hyderpora in Srinagar, today. He urged the world community to intervene for settlement of the Kashmir dispute, saying that eruption of a war between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India this time could engulf peace of the entire world. The relations between the…

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