Month: June 2016

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as it was affecting business and tourism in Kashmir, BJP today demanded that security given to separatists be withdrawn and they be put behind bars.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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Burhan Wani, Most wanted terror leader assures safe Amarnath yatra

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For the first time the most wanted militant commander of Kashmir has reached out to the Hindu pilgrims assuring them of the incident free Amarnath yatra starting from July 2 in the Himalayas. Burhan Muzaffar Wani, the 22-year old most wanted Hizbul Mujahideen commander of Kashmir, has released a new video in which he has opposed separate colonies for Pandits and reassured the Amarnath pilgrims of no-attacks from the ultras. “A BSF officer had recently said militants plan to attack the Amarnath yatra. His statement is absolutely untrue and false.…

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HC seeks fresh status from DCs over Russian poplar ‘nuisance’

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‘2 lakh trees chopped in Kulgam, 4 lakh to be chopped in Pulwama’| DCs of Ganderbal, Bandipora districts directed to appear in person for ‘explanation’ The J&K government on Tuesday informed the High Court that nearly two lakh Russian poplar trees were cut down in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district so far while four lakh such trees will be chopped in Pulwama district this month. In his compliance report, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam stated that till the end of May 2016, about 1,88,027 poplars of Russian species have been cut down in…

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41% increase in crime against women in JK since 2008

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There has been a 41 percent increase in crime against women over the last eight years in Jammu and Kashmir, the government revealed on Tuesday. In 2008, 2087 cases of crime against women were registered in the state while in 2015 this figure went up to 3535. In a written reply to a question by Naresh Kumar Gupta in the Legislative Council, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, who also holds the Home portfolio, said the crime rate against women has shown a marginal increase in respect of certain offences and decrease…

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‘Better live in Tihar jail than separate colonies’ : Hindu business families

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As the controversy over establishment of separate colonies for Kashmiri Pandits is gaining momentum, more than 35 Hindu business families are living safely among Kashmiri Muslims in the heart of north Kashmir’s Kupwara town. It has been more than 21 years since they voluntarily returned from Jammu after their brief migration in 1995, but these families say they never experienced any kind of violence or threat here. They celebrate festivals together with their Muslim neighbors and attend weddings and funerals, and are an integral part of the local community. Manoj…

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Usman Majeed seek steps to save Wular Lake

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Congress MLA from Bandipora Usman Majeed today cautioned the government against environmental disaster in case immediate efforts were not taken to save Wular Lake, the only freshwater lake in Asia, from further degradation. “A plan is required to remove willow trees and prevent their re-growth in the periphery of the lake,” said Usman Majeed while participating in the discussion on demand for grants for the forest, ecology and environment in the state Assembly here today. “If we lose Wular, it will lead to an ecological imbalance,” he said. The MLA…

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Rains, gusty winds create panic in Valley, 1 dies in Anantnag

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One woman died after a tree fell on her at Hapatnar village in Anantnag district on Tuesday as rains and gusty wings wreaked havoc at various places in Kashmir. According to reports, 52-year-old Jabeena wife of Ghulam Hassan Khan of Khayar Hapatnar died when a tree fell on her during the speedy winds in her village. Meanwhile, moderate rains lashed Srinagar Tuesday evening even as Meteorological Department has predicted clear weather in next 24 hours. “There were moderate rains in Srinagar for some time,” MeT officials said. “The weather will…

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