Year: 2016

Govt open to debate return of KP’s with separatists: Akhtar

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The government Thursday said that separate colonies for Kashmiri Pandits are not possible in Kashmir and the Pandits have to live within the society, but said that it wants a debate over the issue. “Government is trying for dignified return of Kashmir Pandits. And if the Hurriyat, mainstream parties have any objections within our plan, we can have a debate with them how to facilitate their return. I appeal the separatists and mainstream parties that if you find any objections, kindly tell us how to go,” government spokesman and Minister…

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Measures to improve tourism underway: Nirmal Singh

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Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh today said the Bani Basohli areas of Kathua possessed huge potential for tourism and adventure sports and steps were being taken to bring the area on the tourist map. He was laying the foundation of a tourist hut at Kranwara area in Kathua district here today. Measures are underway to upgrade the existing infrastructure and create new assets to provide good facilities to tourists visiting these areas, he said. Singh also added that a community hall would be constructed in Kranwara with all modern facilities.…

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Resist or be ready to become homeless like Palestinians : Hurriyat Conference

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Hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik gathered at the residence of Geelani Separatist political parties on Wednesday put up a rare united show to corner Jammu and Kashmir government over the establishment of Sainik colony, separate townships for Kashmiri Pandits and the industrial policy even though the state government has stated that it has no plans to construct any such colony in Kashmir and will revise the industrial policy. Hard-line Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani and…

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BJP under ‘pressure’ to slow down plan to rehabilitate KPs in Valley

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Separatists, mainstream parties oppose transit camps Pressure tactics adopted by separatist organisations and opposition from mainstream leaders in Kashmir could again derail the plans of BJP-led Central government to go ahead with resettlement of 3.50 lakh displaced Kashmiri Hindus. Official sources said that the way separatists have reacted to the proposal of creating transit accommodation for Pandit youth in Valley, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has shared its concern to New Delhi over possible law and order problems arising in coming weeks. Though several high level meetings were held in New…

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Mehbooba Mufti to meet public twice a month for redressing grievances

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To ensure speedy redress of public grievances, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti would be meeting people, including delegations, deputations, organisations and individuals, every second and fourth Saturday of the month at the Chief Minister’s private office, Church Lane, Sonwar, here. The public delegations, deputations, organisations and individuals, who want to personally bring their grievances and demands in the notice of the Chief Minister, can contact the CM’s private office on telephone numbers 0194-2500750, 0194-2483236 and 0194-2500643 and fax number 0194-2501262 for prior appointment with the Chief Minister, an official spokesman said.

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Govt nod for setting up powerful solar telescope at Ladakh

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NLST will study astrophysics and the sun’s influence on earth The Jammu and Kashmir government has given a green signal to the establishment of indigenous National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) — one of world’s most powerful solar telescopes — at Merak village on shore of Pangong Lake in Ladakh. To address critical problems in astrophysics and sun’s influence on earth, the telescope with an aperture of two metres is a part of Central government-sponsored Rs 300-crore project to be established by Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore. The project came…

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Mirwaiz Omer Farooq threatens 2008 like strike

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Asks Govt to come clean on New Industrial Policy, Pandit townships, Sainik colonies Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Wednesday threatened 2008-like stir if the government failed to come clean on the issue of New Industrial Policy and establishment of Pandit and Sainik colonies. “If government decides to go ahead with the implementation of Industrial Policy or establishment of separate colonies for migrant Kashmiri Pandits or Sainik colonies, we will not sit back but launch a 2008-like mass agitation when the government had to roll back allotment of land…

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Complete projects on time : Mehbooba Mufti

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Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti inaugurated the 2 MLD sewage treatment plant (STP) to facilitate biological disposal of sewage from hotels, huts and residential houses in Pahalgam in Anantnag district of south Kashmir today. She also inaugurated an artificial ice skating rink at Pahalgam that would be an added attraction and make it a round-the-year destination. After commissioning the fully automatic sewage treatment plant, the Chief Minister was informed that the facility would benefit 170 hotels, 650 residential houses and 310 huts, thus paving the way for operationalising the biological disposal…

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“Do or Die” like situation has been created for the Kashmiri nation : Geelani, Malik

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Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Syed Ali Gilani, and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chief, Muhammad Yasin Malik, have said that Indian policymakers have created a do or die situation for the Kashmiris. Syed Ali Gilani and Muhammad Yasin Malik held a meeting at the office of the APHC Chairman at Hyderpora in Srinagar and discussed several issues including the establishment of soldier colonies, separate townships for the Kashmiri Pandits, implementation of new Industrial Policy in Kashmir, construction of shelters for the non-state labourers by the Indian government…

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Given its flavour and taste, this medieval feast is eternal

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As the middle-class affluence has grown here like in the rest of country, the list of guests has also become larger than manageable. Sheikh Qayoom To beat the deadline before the fasting month of Ramadan begins, marriage season has hit the peak in Kashmir as the traditional local cuisine, the ‘wazwan’, beckons guests to ‘baraats’ and receptions. “I had to wait for four hours for my wife to finish her food at a marriage party yesterday. It was 6.30 p.m. and the females had still not eaten their lunch,” said…

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