Year: 2016

Mehbooba, Naeem RSS mouthpieces: MLA Rashid

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Protesting against coalition government’s ‘anti-Kashmir policies’ independent lawmaker from Langate, Engineer Rasheed Thursday said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ‘mouthpiece’. “Mehbooba Mufti is a RSS mouthpiece,” Rashid said while responding to a question about the Chief Minister’s denial regarding construction of Sainik Colonies in Kashmir. “I respect Mehbooba and Naeem Akhtar but unfortunately both of them are nothing but RSS mouthpieces,” he said, “If they have denied the allegations why are their friends in the BJP adamant that the colonies will be constructed.” Rashid and…

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Three students swept away in Ramban flash floods

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2 bodies recovered, several houses damaged in Chenani Three students were washed away in a flooded nullah following flash floods after a downpour at Ladhwal in the Batote area of Ramban district this afternoon. According to sources, the bodies of Rakesh Kumar, 14, a student of Class VIII, and Shallu Devi, 5, were recovered from a nullah this evening. However, efforts were on to trace the body of another missing girl, identified as Pallavi Devi, 14, a student of Class VIII. It is feared that she might have been washed…

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Govt to clear misconceptions about inclusion of non-state subjects in Industrial Policy

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Industrial policy to be reviewed The PDP-BJP coalition government has decided to review the industrial policy which was approved in March. It will revisit the policy for inclusion of some more areas that were not included earlier his year. “We will review the industrial policy and it will go to the Cabinet” for the final approval, said Education Minister and state government spokesman Naeem Akhter here today. He told media persons at the civil secretariat that there were many areas such as agriculture and horticulture which would be included in…

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Police foils Hurriyat (G) event, detains dozens of activists

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PDP-led govt implementing RSS agenda: Geelani Police Thursday foiled Hurriyat Conference (G) seminar and detained nearly two dozen members of the conglomerate during a sit-in protest at Hyderpora and lodged them in Humhama Police Station on Thursday. Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Geelani had organized a seminar titled “Present Situations and our Responsibilities” at its Hyderpora office. A large contingent of police was deployed in the area early morning and members were stopped from attending the scheduled event. Police sealed all lanes and bylanes near Hurriyat office and barred people…

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Celebrations across valley as 10 candidates clear UPSC

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Young boys and girls, born and brought up during turmoil, are now writing a new chapter of aspirational Kashmir by cracking civil services exams. This year, 10 candidates from the Valley have cleared the civils. At 28-year-old law graduate Sheema Nabi’s house in Srinagar’s Habak neighbourhood, proud parents are garlanding her, celebrating their daughter’s big achievement. “It is a very healthy trend in Kashmir because it is a good career option that’s open to everyone as long they are willing to work hard for it. It’s one of the fairest…

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UGC wants all universities, colleges to chant Om Shanti on Yoga Day

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The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all universities and their affiliated colleges to celebrate ‘International Yoga Day’ on June 21 by following a ‘Common Yoga Protocol’. The protocol, as per the official letter written by UGC to all universities, is a 45-minute schedule of exercises and prayers which starts with a posture where one has to chant OM Shantih Shantih along with a few verses from Rigveda, (a collection Vedic hymns) which literally translate to ‘May you move in harmony, speak in one voice; let your minds be in…

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Smokers spend more on cigarettes in JK than rest of India

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Smokers in Jammu and Kashmir spend Rs 514 on cigarettes per month against rest of India average of Rs 399, a study has revealed. The increased use of tobacco puts children and women at greater risk of lung cancer, warns Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI). “The state’s monthly spending on smoking tobacco as far outstrips the national monthly expenditure averages. While nationally, smokers aged 15 and above spend Rs 399.20 a month on cigarettes and Rs 93.40 on bidis, those in J-K spend Rs 513.60 and Rs 134.20, respectively,…

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Weeds take sheen off Dal lake vital basin

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Unbridled growth of weeds particularly in vital Hazrat bal basin of Dal lake is taking heavy toll on the fragile ecosystem of the water body. Dal receives waters into its Hazratbal basin from Marsar, a glacial oligotrophic alpine lake through two main sub-watersheds namely DharaDanihama and Dachigam. Before reaching the lake, the waters pass through denuded mountains carrying tons of silt and nutrients with it— propelling growth of weeds. In absence of sustained de-weeding by Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), a large expanse of Hazratbal basin overlooking the Foreshore…

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Chief Minister seeks opposition, separatists’ support

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‘Support me and I’ll quit politics in 5 years, or bear me in future too’ Calling upon mainstream political parties as well as separatist leadership to support her, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday said she could leave politics if she fulfills her mission for Jammu Kashmir in the five years of her government. “If my opposition and even others who do not agree with us would be supportive of me and I fulfill my mission in next five years, I may stay home,” the chief minister said in an informal…

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Extension of NEET to JK shows PDP-BJP govt’s failure : Farooq

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Opposition NC president Farooq Abdullah today termed the extension of NEET to Jammu and Kashmir as a “failure” of PDP-BJP government and alleged that there was a “systemic effort to undermine” the state’s institutional autonomy. “The government had assured the students and the people of the state in general that it would ensure NEET is not extended to J-K and that the state’s special status is upheld. “What happened to their appeal in the Supreme Court? They mounted a half-hearted effort and this was a pre-meditated arrangement with BJP and…

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