Year: 2015

Is Kashmir issue dead and buried for OIC?

Editor

None except Pak mention K-word Though the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OICs) contact group on Kashmir once again referred to the resolution of Kashmir issue but political experts believe that events taking place throughout the muslim world may well reduce the Kashmir issue to a footnote. Political experts too point out that economics is driving politics as far as the OIC’s stand on Kashmir is concerned. Dr. Irshad, who teaches Political Science at the University of Kashmir says many Islamic Countries stay away from Kashmir issue because they have ties…

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Unemployment real challenge for J&K Government – Mufti Sayeed

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that unemployment was the real challenge faced by his government, which is committed to complete the process of recruiting educated unemployed youths in time. “Unemployment is the real challenge faced by the government. All recruitment will be sped up and made in a fair, transparent and time-bound manner,” Mr Sayeed said in the Legislative Council during Question Hour. “Immediately after coming to power, the government strengthened the institutions by appointing persons of integrity in PSC and SSB so that vacancies…

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Kashmiri Language – Need to trace our Roots

Editor

Syed Shahinda The Kashmir valley is home to various great mystic poets, for which, it is also referred to as Resh Waer (The land of Reshis’). In Vedic texts, Reshi means an inspired poet, who invokes the deities with the poetry. However, this Sanskrit word, despite its more appropriate usage in Hindu texts has been used for the people irrespective of their faith. Poetry and spirituality are inseparable and this close proximity can be seen in Kashmir valley. The history of Kashmir is full of the epitomes of such great…

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After Oranges, Kashmirs now claim growing Lemon

Editor

Growing lemon is commercially not viable: SKUAST After oranges, now some people have started growing lemon in Kashmir for last few years. Few families in Tengpora, Magarmal Bagh in Srinagar and Pinglish, Naibasti area in Tral have got the lemon yield also. Earlier, some families in Srinagar and Rajouri had grown oranges in their kitchen garden. Rukhsana Bakshi of Magarmal Bagh in Srinagar, Srinagar has been growing lemon at her farm in Tengpora.  “Everyone is surprised to see lemons in our farm. We have been cultivating Kashmiri lemons since 2012.…

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Jammu Airport to be upgraded to international standards – Mufti

Editor

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said he had convinced the Army to vacate land for the expansion of the Jammu airport, which, he said, would be upgraded to international standards. Sayeed stated this during the Question Hour in the Legislative Council (LC). He further said the issue was discussed threadbare at the recent Civil Military Liaison meeting in which it was decided that the Army and the Civil Administration would exchange land, which would enable the execution of work on the expansion of the Jammu airport. Elaborating further, Mufti…

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Home Secy promises bunkers for villages in forward areas

Editor

On his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Secretary, Rajiv Mehrishi today gave an assurance about the Centre’s positive response on bunkers for villagers living along the 198-km Indo-Pak border. He did not give any commitment on five-marla plots for them in safer zones to escape shelling and described the subject a prerogative of the state government. Mehrishi assumed charge on September 1 after his predecessor LC Goyal was allegedly forced to take voluntary retirement. Mehrishi was accompanied by Special Secretary (Internal Security) in Home Ministry, Ashok Prasad;…

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Geelani appeals clerics to aware Muslims on ‘Qadiyaniyat’

Editor

Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani Tuesday appealed the Imams (clerics) and Islamic scholars to aware the Muslims about the new sedition of “Qadyaniyat” and asked them to stay away from this ‘Fitnah’. He said the whole Muslim Ummah has collectively rejected the fake prophesy theory of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadyani and has termed him and his followers as non-Muslims. In a statement Geelani said Islam teaches respect, tolerance and affection to the Muslims and this religion has no place for the duress and coercion. Muslims have been instructed to…

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Centre asks state to identify land for AIIMS in Jammu, Srinagar

Editor

The Central Government has asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to identify land measuring about 200 acres each in Srinagar and Jammu for establishing All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the two capitals of the state. This was stated by the J&K Government in a written reply to Aijaz Ahmad Mir (PDP) in the state Assembly today. The state government, in reply to a question, also stated that the Central Government had constituted two teams for visiting and finalising the sites for establishing AIIMS in both state capitals.…

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No lesson learnt after devastating earthquake, guidelines remain on paper

Editor

Ten years after the devastating earthquake, J&K has learnt no lesson as far as construction of quake-resistant buildings and structures is concerned. Following the deadly earthquake, most safety norms have been flouted not only by the government but the general public as well. Experts feel that most of the buildings in Kashmir may not withstand a high-magnitude quake like the one that hit Nepal recently, more particularly because Kashmir, including Srinagar, falls in Zone 5 or very severe intensity seismic zone. Following the 2005 quake, building bylaws were amended, making…

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Mufti Govt hopes to get financial package for flood victims soon

Editor

While the state and Central government have been under fire over the delay in granting relief package to the last year flood-affected people, the J&K government today said it hoped that the financial package would be released soon. “We are pursuing the financial package with New Delhi and we are hoping that it will be released soon,” J&K Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Basharat Bukhari said during the calling attention notice moved by MLA from Kulgam MY Tarigami in the Assembly. The previous Omar Abdullah-led…

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