Even as the nearly three-month stalemate on government formation has come to an end, the ruling party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is mired in fresh controversy with Member of Parliament Tariq Karra questioning the induction of some senior leaders in the Council of Ministers by Mehbooba Mufti. Karra boycotted the oath-taking ceremony and has sought removal of three senior leaders Haseeb Drabu, Altaf Bukhari and Naeem Akhtar. He blamed them for being in the “forefront” of a “coup” against Mehbooba Mufti when the latter was negotiating the re-alliance with the…
Read MoreMonth: April 2016
Road ahead of Mehbooba
Sheikh Shabir So Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti has taken oath as Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir. As the first woman CM of the state, she has created history. Her willingness to take over the hot seat boldly shows she likes to accept challenges. In view of her talking over, it can be said that the situation is tailor made for her in Jammu Kashmir which is full of challenges in every walk of life. These challenges are going to test her mettle and her leadership abilities though…
Read MoreMehbooba Drops Four Party Ministers, 22 Ministers took oath in five languages
Taking everybody by surprise, PDP chief Mehoboba Mufti, who took over as first woman chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, dropped four party ministers including a senior leader. Mehbooba dropped Altaf Bukhari and Javed Mustafa Mir, who were cabinet ministers in late Mufti Sayeed’s 10 month long government. Both are senior leaders. Bukhari is party treasurer and represents Amira Kadal constituency in Assembly while Javed Mustafa Mir represents Chadoora constituency. He won three elections in a row from Chadoora. Besides, Mehbooba also dropped two former MoS in Mufti-Sayeed’s…
Read MoreBJP-PDP Alliance will take JK to ‘Newer Heights’ : Amit Shah
BJP chief Amit Shah today asserted that the party’s alliance government with PDP in Jammu and Kashmir will take the state to “newer heights”. “Congratulations to CM Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy CM Nirmal Singh. I am sure the BJP-PDP alliance will take state to newer heights,” he said in a tweet soon after the PDP leader took oath as the first woman chief minister of the state. Finance Minister and senior party leader Arun Jaitley also congratulated Ms Mufti. “Congratulations Mehbooba Mufti ji on being sworn in as the first…
Read MorePDP, BJP to axe important faces in Mehbooba Govt?
As officials at the Jammu and Kashmir Raj Bhavan and the civil secretariat skipped their Sunday holiday to address protocol and legal issues related to Monday’s swearing-in of an elected government, intense speculation did the rounds on who will get a berth or will be axed in new council of ministers. Governor N.N. Vohra formally invited Mehbooba Mufti, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief, on Saturday evening to be sworn-in as the new chief minister of the state on Monday. Initial reports about the composition of the council of ministers…
Read MoreGovt mulls separate bus corridor in Srinagar
In its endeavor to streamline the traffic system in Srinagar, the Government is mulling to construct separate bus corridors—the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS). Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a high-quality bus-based transit system that delivers fast, comfortable, and cost-effective services at metro-level capacities. It does this through the provision of dedicated lanes, with busways and iconic stations typically aligned to the center of the road, off-board fare collection, and fast and frequent operations The plan has been envisaged by the Town Planning Organization (TPO) Kashmir in revised Master Plan…
Read MoreJewellers remain on strike
There is no let-up in the ongoing strike by jewelers with the traders saying the strike is causing daily loss of Rs 1.5 crore in Kashmir. Meanwhile, a team of Valley jewellers will leave for New Delhi tomorrow to participate in the protest at the Jantar Mantar. “Our strike entered day 33 today and we will not call it off till our demands are met. Tomorrow, president of the association Bashir Ahmad Rather will lead a team from here to the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi where jewelers and gold…
Read MoreSMC sits on encroachment of footpaths
Failure of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to remove encroachments from footpaths in Srinagar is taking a heavy toll on pedestrians. In absence of regulation, footpaths across the summer capital have been occupied by street vendors. The problem is severe is city centre areas including Lal Chowk, Hari Singh High Street, Amira Kadal and Batamaloo. At Ghanta Ghar, the street vendors have even occupied roadsides hampering smooth flow of vehicular movement. “It is ironical that vendors have occupied both sides of footpath at Lal Chowk. There is hardly any space…
Read MoreStudents to face axe on bunking school for 7 days
In the backdrop of the authorities’ failure to control the menace of ‘bogus’ admissions in high and higher secondary schools in Kashmir, the school education department has decided to strike off a student’s name from rolls on staying away from classes for seven consecutive days. Officials said that a meeting was held at the Directorate of school education here, during which the menace of “bogus admissions” was discussed. “Several students secure admission in government schools but do not attend the school and rather go for private coaching. These students never…
Read MoreMehbooba to be sworn in today as first female CM
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti will be sworn in today as the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, also becoming the first-ever Muslim woman Chief Minister, heading a coalition government with BJP in the only Muslim-majority state. The 56-year-old leader, daughter of PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, will take oath of office at Raj Bhawan in Jammu today at 11.00 am. Mehbooba Mufti assuming office will be a landmark event in the history of Jammu and Kashmir as well as rest of the country. Governor NN Vohra yesterday invited…
Read More
