Month: January 2016

Mufti Sayeed’s Chaharum observed, Mehbooba Mufti breaks down at father’s grave

Editor

People in large numbers gathered in Bijbehara town of South Kashmir on Sunday to offer congregational prayers (Fateha) on the Chaharum of former Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed who breathed his last in New Delhi on January 7. Early this morning, people—including Peoples Democratic Party supporters, political leaders from different parties and officials from state administration and police—arrived at Dara Shikov Park in the South Kashmir town to participate in the congregational prayers for Sayeed who was laid to rest in the Park where he started his political career to…

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Dry weather ahead for Valley

Editor

The Kashmir valley witnessed a sunny day today even as the state Meteorological Department said the dry weather would continue in the region over the next week. In Srinagar, the sky remained clear during the day and the night witnessed a low of -3.8°C, down from 1.7°C, the officials said. “The sky will remain clear for the next 24 hours and the minimum and maximum temperatures will be around -3°C and 10°C, respectively,” an official of the weather department said. The minimum temperature remained below the freezing point in the…

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Political guessing game on in J&K

Editor

With Mehbooba Mufti firmly refusing to take oath as chief minister before the four day mourning period is over for her father’s death, Jammu & Kashmir is a state in a political limbo. With governor’s rule imposed, rumours are flying thick and fast in Srinagar about possible new political configurations. Mehbooba Mufti is refusing to take oath until “chahurram” — the four day mourning period for most Kashmiri Muslims — a time when no ceremonial functions can take place is over. “By refusing to take oath, Mehbooba is giving a…

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I-League: LoneStar KFC beat Dempo Sports, Goa

Editor

LoneStar Kashmir Football Club (LKFC) continued its good show in the 2nd division of the I-League football tournament defeating Dempo Sports, Goa, 1-0 at the TRC Ground here today. Jammu and Kashmir Football Association (JKFA) secretary Abdul Hamid said Balvinder Singh scored the lone goal for LKFC. The team had moved up to the second spot and would play another match here next Sunday. The game was very important for the LKFC as Dempo Sports, Goa, had come to the Valley after 28 years. Today’s game had been dedicated to…

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Fresh intelligence inputs warn of terror strikes in J&K

Editor

Nine combat teams have been placed at maximum alert in Jammu and Kashmir following terror attack at Pathankot airbase. The teams comprise of India’s best fighting men, as per a report in Hindustan Times. Fresh intelligence inputs have warned of strikes against high-value military targets ahead of Republic Day, the report quoted a top army official as saying. The teams have been spread across the state with three Special Forces (SF) teams based in the Kashmir valley. Two are based in Jammu region and three reserve teams are stationed in Udhampur so that…

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Mehbooba rejects BJP’s demand of ‘rotational chief ministership’ in J&K?

Editor

Days after the demise of Jammu and Kashmir CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, it seems that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alliance has come under a serious strain. On one hand PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has put some conditions in front of BJP, while the latter, in a tough move, has put some counter terms. As per a ‘Times of India’ report, BJP has asked the PDP chief to agree on appointing a ‘rotational chief minister ship’ for Jammu and Kashmir, which has been rejected by Mehbooba.…

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Gadkari meets Mehbooba, hints Centre will fulfil Mufti’s dreams

Editor

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari today met PDP president Mehbooba Mufti to condole the death of her father and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Gadkari visited the Fairview residence in the posh Gupkar road area in Srinagar to express solidarity with Mehbooba on behalf of the Union Government and the BJP. He dropped the hint that Narendra Modi government would fulfil the dreams which the late Chief Minister had about Kashmir. Mehbooba is set to succeed her father as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, but has refused to…

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Sonia’s 20 minutes with PDP chief fuel ‘alliance’ rumours

Editor

Cong says party president arrived to share Mehbooba’s grief, visit personal At a time when suspense over the formation of the J&K Government continues, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday visited the residence of Mehbooba Mufti here to offer her condolences on the death of her father and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. While the Congress has described Sonia’s visit as “personal”, the visit is being interpreted as a “big gesture” by the Congress and a “possible warming up” by the grand old party to its former ally Peoples…

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Sympathy wave swells for Mehbooba Mufti

Editor

She is all set to become Jammu & Kashmir’s first woman chief minister. But the day after her father’s death, Mehbooba Mufti remained closeted in her home, refusing to take oath until the four-day mourning is over. Outside her residence on Srinagar’s Gupkar Road, mourners swarmed, with many in tears, shaking their heads, all expressing their shock at Mufti Muhammad’s Sayeed death. Mehbooba remained shut away from the crowds, not meeting anyone except close family and associates. “She has very big shoes to fill,” said Raza Haidar, a schoolteacher who…

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Rubaiya Sayeed (The kidnapped daughter of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed)

Editor

A 23-year-old Rubaiya was kidnapped by Kashmiri militants in 1989, five days after her father became the first Muslim Minister of Home Affairs. Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of late Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed  today lives a low-profile life in Chennai. A 23-year-old Rubaiya was kidnapped by Kashmiri militants in 1989, five days after her father became the first Muslim Minister of Home Affairs. The militants had demanded the release of five arrested in return of Rubaiya’s release. With no other option, government accepted their demand and freed…

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