Year: 2015

Protests in JK Assembly for second day

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was rocked by protests for the second day today as opposition members stormed the well of the House demanding adjournment of Question Hour to discuss various issues including regularisation of casual workers. The opposition members also demanded a discussion of Article 35 A which upholds the unique status of the permanent residents of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Yesterday, opposition members had protested over beef ban and other issues in the Jammu and Kashmir legislature with banner-waving MLAs of NC and Congress storming the well,…

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Buying second-hand smartphones? 7 things to remember

Editor

Thinking of buying a used smartphone because it’s an awesome deal? You may be right, but it is always better to keep a check list with you while purchasing gadgets second-hand. Keep the following 7 tips in mind before you buy a second-hand smartphone to get the best deal… Ask for bill, box and accessories Asking for bill not only assures that the seller is not giving you a stolen product but also makes it easy for you if you ever need to sell it or replace it (Apple replaced…

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A Hindu love story that echoes in Muslim homes

Editor

Javaid ul Salam Kashmiri historian, Mohammad Yusuf Taing, said that the legend of Hemal and Nagrai is a true story which reveals that the Aryans had invaded Kashmiri to clear the aboriginal Nagas from the land. “The story of Hemal Nagrai depicts that  Nagas were aboriginal inhabitants of Kashmir  and were ethnically cleansed by Aryan invaders, who came to Kashmir from Central Asia and committed genocide of Nagas on a scale which can be matched by events like massacre of Red Indians by Spanish Europeans of America in 1492,”  Taing…

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Mahrajganj loses sheen, traders pin hopes on tourism

Editor

Mahrajganj, first wholesale market of Kashmir, has lost its sheen to government’s negligence. Ignored by successive government, this old market has started losing its pivotal position in Kashmir’s economy. It was developed in 1864 AD by Maharaja Ranbir Singh, on the bank of river Jhelum in Downtown Srinagar. Traders from Punjab locally known that time as Khaetris would visit this place for business dealings. “Before 1947, the businessmen of this market had trade relation till Tibet in the Eastern side and Yarkand (in Afganistan) on its western side. Most of…

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‘Despite floods income tax collections in Kashmir showing upward trend’

Editor

Principal Commissioner, Income Tax department (J&K), Sangeeta Gupta, said the tax collection in Kashmir is satisfactory with J&K Bank being the highest taxpayer in the state. Talking to us, Gupta said JK Bank continues to be the highest taxpayer in the state. “Our collections from Kashmir have increased considerably,” she said. “Despite floods our collections in Kashmir are showing upward trend,” she said, adding that in this quarter the department had collected Rs 43.5 crore tax in the state as compared to Rs 29.3 crore during the corresponding period last…

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Former MP, eight ex-MLAs involved in liquor trade: Minister

Editor

A former member of parliament and eight ex-legislators are involved in liquor trade in Jammu and Kashmir, where over 225 wine shops are running with majority of these in the winter capital. Eight former legislators and an ex-MP are having licenses for the sale of liquor in Jammu, Samba, Kathua and Leh districts, Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu informed the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in a written reply today. All the 10 districts of Jammu region have liquor shops, while only four shops are running in summer capital Srinagar, among the…

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Building new house distant dream for this Kulgam villager

Editor

Muhammad Yousuf Dar’s house was washed away during the devastating floods in September last year. This was not the end to his misery as an accident left him bedridden and penniless soon after the floods. With little done by the state and Central governments to rehabilitate persons like 50-year-old Dar, he is finding it hard to feed his family, leave alone building a new house for them. Dar lives in the Gund area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. The roaring waters of Vaishwa nullah wreaked havoc in Gund and adjoining…

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PDP-BJP Govt forgets promises to Pandits

Editor

No progress in implementation of rehabilitation package With the PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir tangled in controversies and policy paralysis creating pessimism in the state, 3.5 lakh displaced Kashmiri Pandits have lost hope of any concrete plan for their rehabilitation and resettlement in the Valley. Seven months after assuming charge, coalition partners are silent on the promises made in ‘Agenda of the Alliance’, the guiding document which binds two ideologically different parties. Surprisingly, after large-scale protests by separatists against the composite township project in April, Narendra Modi-led BJP…

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Samba polytechnic faces staff, facility shortage

Editor

Students of the government polytechnic in Samba district are facing shortage of permanent staff, basic infrastructure and other facilities. The polytechnic was set up in 2012 and was being run from a private building till last year. Later, it was shifted to the new campus at Painthi in Samba, offering courses in civil and automobile engineering. Official sources said there were over 270 students at the polytechnic at present from various districts, including Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Reasi, Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Ramban, Leh and Kargil. “The building that was supposed…

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Army cannot be withdrawn from J&K overnight: Omar Abdullah

Editor

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the army cannot be withdrawn from the state overnight keeping in mind the current situation, however, its role can be decreased. “Today, three jawans of army are dead. If in these circumstances you will say that there is no role of the army, then this will be huge injustice. The role of army can be decreased, but it cannot be withdrawn overnight,” Omar told reporters here. Omar was referring to Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s assertion that the logistic requirement…

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