Month: March 2016

Jaitley has “cleverly” made Opposition’s job difficult, says Omar

Editor

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has “cleverly” made opposition parties’ job difficult by not making Corporate sector the focus of the Union budget, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Monday. “By not focusing the benefits of #UnionBudget2016 on the #suitboot (reference to corporate) people, @arunjaitley has cleverly made the opposition’s job a bit tougher,” Omar tweeted. The BJP-led NDA government has been accused by opposition parties, including the Congress, of favouring the Corporate sector.

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Official apathy pushes historic silk factory at ram bagh into ruins

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‘Govt Has No Plans To Revive It’ Once one of the largest producers of silk in the world, the famous Silk Factory at Ram Bagh here is in ruins due to failure of successive regimes to ensure its functioning. In absence of any maintenance, the mega British architecture buildings housing cocoon reeling and silk processing units are dilapidated. Some of the historic buildings of the factory have been converted into offices of various departments. The transformer repairing workshop set up near historic building points out towards non-seriousness of the authorities…

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Late strikes help Maharashtra beat JK; Santosh Trophy

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Late double strike amid thunderstorm helped hosts Maharashtra to beat J&K by 3-1 in the opening game of the 70th Santosh football championship at Nagpur, Maharashtra on Monday. Going into match without Ishfaq Ahmad who had left team only days before the start JK started game positively and were able to hold on much fancied hosts in first half. Despite the pressure applied by host’s, JK’s young side gave no chance to Maharashtra to get an early lead. The first half ended 0-0. However, in second half, everything changed as…

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Mehbooba can’t escape responsibility for sellout: NC

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‘She must explain who benefited from 10-month PDP-BJP Govt’ National Conference Monday said PDP President Mehbooba Mufti cannot escape responsibility for party’s sellout to the BJP and its complete failure for its 10-month-long tenure. In a statement issued from Party Headquarters here, NC Chief Spokesperson Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani said since Mehbooba Mufti had now accepted publicly that the people of J&K did not benefit from the PDP-BJP Government, she is answerable to explain who benefitted from this alliance and the previous PDP-BJP…

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Teacher convicted of rape, sentenced to 10-yr rigorous imprisonment

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A local court on Monday sentenced a teacher, accused of raping a 9th class student, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The Second Additional District and Sessions Judge Srinagar Sham Lal Lalhal convicted Pervaiz Ahmad Dar of New Colony Old Barzulla for raping the minor student after prosecution proved the accused guilty on February 26 and announced the quantum of punishment on Monday. “Under section 376 (1) RPC the accused/convict is sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and (he) shall pay a fine of Rs 25000, and in default…

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Will absence of JK specific measures in budget strain PDP-BJP relation?

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At a time when Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wants New Delhi to initiate J&K-specific CBMs ahead of re-stitching its alliance with BJP, omission of J&K from the Union budget could further strain the relation between the two parties. In the run up to the Union budget, the PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti had asked Government of India to take initiatives, both on political and economic fronts, to create an atmosphere for ending political uncertainty in J&K. But contrary to the expectations that the budget may set the tone to renew efforts…

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South Kashmir on high alert as Viral Hepatitis spreads fast

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Over 100 suspected cases found in Kulgam district alone South Kashmir is experiencing nearly daily increase in new Hepatitis-E infection cases due to contaminated water. The health officials are apprehensive that the situation may get worse, prompting the Divisional Administration to closely monitor the rate of infection to identify potential clusters of disease. Officials said the number of suspected Hepatitis-E tests has jumped to over 100 in Kulgam district alone, about 40 miles south of summer capital Srinagar. That number includes 8 confirmed cases in Qazigund area. Following the disclosure…

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Why Kashmir’s militants have become ‘heroes’ again

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For the first time in more than 25 years of conflict in Indian-administered Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir police on 18 February issued what would seem like an obvious security advisory – asking people to stay away from battles being fought between armed forces and militants. “(They) should not venture out as they can get hit by stray bullets. Residents are also requested not to come out of their houses or peep out of windows,” a police spokesman said, adding that they had requested village elders and headmen to warn…

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Fiery Chinars to light up cold desert landscape

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The gorgeous Chinar trees that dot Kashmir valley’s landscape and are a major attraction of the famed Mughal gardens would soon be seen in the cold desert region of Ladakh. Department of Floriculture would plant the famed royal tree – Chinar in Ladakh, an extremely cold and dry desert with rocky and uneven terrain where the harsh climate and low temperatures limit the number and type of vegetation. Talking to us, Director Floriculture Talat Parvez said, “We will plant around five saplings each at five to six locations adjoining water…

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Kashmiri innovator among seven to stay at Rashtrapati Bhavan

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A Kashmir youth is among the seven innovators who has been selected to stay for two weeks at Rashtrapati Bhavan under a Scholars-In-Residence program starting from March 12. President Pranab Mukherjee Monday selected the seven innovators for a two-week stay at Rashtrapati Bhavan under a Scholars-In-Residence program starting from March 12. Mushtaq Ahmed Dar of Islamabad district has been selected for developing walnut cracking machine. Hailing from Kreeri village of the district, Dar’s machine can peel the green walnuts and crack it for its kernels. The traditional walnut cracking is…

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