2015 | Page 135 of 206 | Kashmir POST

‘Jammu rope-way project to be commissioned by 2017’

September 17, 2015 Editor

Having faced years of delay, the ambitious Jammu Ropeway Project, that will connect Mubarak Mandi and Bahu (Shahbad)-Mohmaya areas of the city, is likely to be commissioned by the year 2017. The idea of the project, which is being executed at the cost of Rs. 66 Crores, was conceived about two decades ago. However the construction on the ground was started only last year, several months after laying of foundation stone in Feb 2014 by the then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Managing Director (MD) Cable Car Corporation Nazir Ahmed…

What led to Kashmir’s division in 1947 – Tribal Raid or Poonch Uprising?

September 17, 2015 Editor

Gowhar Geelani For almost previous seven decades, 68 years to be precise, India’s argument while laying its full claim on erstwhile princely state of Jammu & Kashmir has been that the Pakistani raiders (Tribals) were the first “aggressors” at the time of India-Pakistan Partition in 1947, which subsequently led to war, rioting, massacre of Jammu Muslims, destruction on a large scale, and division of the Himalyan region. But the recent revisionist history seriously challenges India’s argument and official claim on Kashmir. Christopher Snedden — renowned Australian historian, author, politico-strategic analyst…

Minister calls for e-commerce to promote handicraft sales

September 17, 2015 Editor

Chander Prakash, Minister for Industries and Commerce and JKHC Chairman, visited the Kashmir Government Arts Emporium and took stock of its functioning here today. He inspected various handicraft items displayed for sale at its showroom, including silk carpets, pashmina and woollen shawls, readymade garments, silk saris, chain stitch rugs, ‘numdas’, paper machie, leather goods, metal machie, walnut wood, furniture items and jewellery items. Impressed with the quality and design of the products, the minister appreciated the craft and work of the local artisans. The minister stressed upon officials concerned to…

BJP, NC claims belied as NHAI says no toll waiver for locals

September 17, 2015 Editor

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the state government have nailed the lie of political parties and said no ‘official concession’ had been granted to the local commuters at the Ban Toll Plaza on the Jammu-Udhampur national highway. The BJP and the National Conference recently claimed that the locals were exempted from toll at the Ban plaza. The move has, however, created confusion and chaos at the Ban Toll Plaza, triggering verbal spats and clashes between the local commuters and those looking after the affairs of the plaza…

BJP losing face on chopper tax issue

September 17, 2015 Editor

2 weeks on, tax on commercial helicopter services not withdrawn Although the ongoing beef controversy has overshadowed the decision of the Finance Ministry to impose service tax on devotees going by helicopter to Vaishno Devi, the issue has given sleepless nights to BJP leaders as the Finance Minister appears adamant on not rolling back his decision. The BJP is losing people’s faith because it has failed to fulfil its commitment to get the controversial service tax order, which has been dubbed as “jazia” by saffron organisations, withdrawn so far. On…

Violence rises again in Valley, in mysterious, unusual patterns

September 17, 2015 Editor

A series of incidents in recent months, most of them leaving a trail of questions and confounding serious observers of conflicts, is dragging the Kashmir Valley back into chaos. The overall improvement of the security scene under way for many years has been stalled in these months, as several mysterious killings, repeated attacks on mobile networks, weapon snatching and other alleged militant activities change the very nature of the over 25-year-old Kashmir militancy. The lowest number of militancy-related incidents, 113, was reported in 2013, but climbed to 155 in 2014.…

“Geelani completed 150 days under the house detention”

September 17, 2015 Editor

Appealing for impartial investigation by independent international agency into the Pattan killings: Hurriyat Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani has completed 150 days under the house detention while as senior Hurriyat Conference leaders Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Sayed Agha Hassan has also been imprisoned in their homes and they are not been allowed to move out. While strongly condemning the government action, Hurriyat Conference said that Jammu & Kashmir is practically ruled by the army and police and the state law and constitution has been…

Pak rains mortars in Poonch district

September 17, 2015 Editor

Pakistan is paying no heed to the Director General-level agreement between the BSF and its Rangers as its army again pounded posts along the Line of Control in the Balakote and Krishna Ghati (KG) sectors of Poonch district last night and this morning with 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, triggering panic in villages in the forward areas. “There were unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Pakistani army along the LoC in Balakote last evening. Pakistan opened heavy machine gun fire on our posts. The Indian troops retaliated appropriately,” said defence…

Kashmiri Students allege discrimination at Baba Farid University

September 17, 2015 Editor

Career of hundreds of Kashmiri medical students studying medical courses like MBBS, BDS and BSc Nursing has been put on stake in Punjab as their affiliating Baba Farid University has resorting to failing them without any reason, students allege. The situation with regards to BDS is particularly worrisome as atleast 45 Kashmiri students most of whom are girls are being kept in their Ist year despite them being in their third year. “We came here in 2013 under Prime Ministers Scholarship Scheme (PMSS). Our first tragedy was that the scholarship…

Abrogation of Art 370 national need, says BJP leader

September 17, 2015 Editor

Article 370 of the Constitution is the mother of all ills and the time has come to remove it from the Indian statute book in the larger national interest and in the interest people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. This was stated today by BJP leader Hari Om, former political adviser to the state BJP president. “If India is to survive as one nation, Article 370 has to go lock, stock and barrel,” he said. He asserted that its abrogation was a national requirement. He termed the PDP as a…