Day: June 9, 2016

Guv calls for effective tactics to check infiltration

Editor

Discusses border security and counter-terrorism steps with Central panel Governor NN Vohra has impressed upon the Committee to Strengthen Border Protection (CSBP) to work out an effective strategy to counter infiltration from across the border to ensure that there is no repeat of the Pathankot terror attack. Vohra made this point during a meeting with the CSBP chairman and former Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta. The Governor was briefed about the CSBP assessment of the situation on the international border in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir and the steps that…

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5,000 Kanals of Wakf land in illegal occupation : Govt

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A day after the J&K Government said that no land of Wakf Board is under illegal occupation, Minister of State for Haj and Auqaf Farooq Andrabi today said that over 5,000 kanals of Wakf Board is under illegal occupation of government departments, security forces and civilians. The minister’s contradicting response in two days drew flak from Congress’ Legislative Council member Ghulam Nabi Monga who requested Upper House Chairman Anayat Ali to take notice of the “misleading” information being provided by the minister on the issue. “The Wakf land in possession…

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Valley’s floating marvels dying a slow death

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A trip to Kashmir was once considered incomplete without a stay in a houseboat that used to lodge celebrities like Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison and Bollywood legend Dilip Kumar. Guests like Nelson Rockefeller, the 41st US Vice-President, and ambassadors of foreign countries too would prefer to stay at the houseboats during a visit to the Valley. However, now its owners fear that the houseboats may soon become extinct. The number of houseboats on the Dal and Nigeen Lakes is reducing with every passing year and its owners say repairing…

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Ruckus over Sadhvi Prachi’s remarks on Muslims

Editor

Whosoever has said this is wrong: Govt Quote “Muslims are equal stakeholders in the country. There is no need to divide the House. Our state is facing many problems and we want to grapple with them. We all have to live in this country as equal stakeholders.” Naeem Akhtar, Minister for Education The Legislative Council today witnessed a ruckus over the remarks of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Sadhvi Prachi against Muslims. As the council proceeding began, National Conference’s member of Legislative Council (MLC) Shehnaz Ganai raised the issue and…

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BJP asks Mehbooba to change its soft policy towards separatists

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Asking the Mehbooba Mufti government to revise the “soft policy” towards separatists as it was affecting business and tourism in Kashmir, BJP today demanded that security given to separatists be withdrawn and they be put behind bars. The party also demanded that concrete steps be taken to prevent the youths from being lured by terrorist groups. State BJP spokesman Virender Gupta said that despite their anti-India activities, the separatists were enjoying special privileges, including security cover provided by the state government. “The government should revise its policy towards the separatists.…

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BJP MLAs prefer to stay in Valley, Ignoring party diktat

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Leadership told them to rush to Jammu to address power woes Notwithstanding strict directives given by the BJP leadership to its legislators to reach out to people in Jammu province that is reeling under a power crisis, a majority of the party ministers and legislators preferred to attend the ongoing Budget session of the legislature and enjoy the pleasant weather of the Kashmir valley. The BJP leadership on Tuesday had directed all its elected representatives to immediately rush to their respective constituencies to address the problems of the common man.…

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BJP warns officials against tarnishing JK Govt’s image

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“No leniency will be tolerated towards the government officials who are in league with opposition parties,” said BJP. The BJP on Wednesday warned the government officials who are allegedly colluding with the opposition parties and working to tarnish the image of the PDP-BJP coalition in Jammu and Kashmir. “No leniency will be tolerated towards the government officials who are in league with opposition parties and working with an objective to tarnish the image of the PDP-BJP alliance government,” BJP MP from Poonch Jugal Kishore Sharma said during a party meeting…

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Separatists join hands to ‘Campaign’ against Pandit townships

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Coming together, different Kashmiri separatist groups on Wednesday came out with a “campaign” schedule to oppose setting up of separate township for Kashmiri Pandit migrants and Sainik Colonies, notwithstanding the government’s assertion that there are no such moves. The two factions of Hurriyat Conference — one headed by hardline leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and the other by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq — said a seminar would be organised on June 12 and a sit-in protest will be held on June 15 to “create awareness about the anti-Kashmir plans” of the…

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