‘When out of power, they rake up issues of autonomy, talks’

All Parties Hurriyet Conference has hit out at pro-India National Conference (NC) President Dr Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah for playing vote bank politics over issues of autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir and talks Pakistan-India talks. APHC Spokesperson Ayaz Akbar in a statement issued in Srinagar, “Whenever National Conference is out of power they suddenly start remembering the autonomy and talking about the friendship with Pakistan. But when they are in government, they not only hate talks but also suggest India to attack Azad Kashmir and occupy it.”…

Read More

Is Governor’s rule proving better than elected Govts?

Vohra cuts red tape, directs officers to be austere Unlike the elected government which witness excessive bureaucracy, governance in the State is improving during the Governor’s rule as the Governor has been able to cut the red tape. During the past two months, an impression that governance in the State has improved drastically under Governor Narinder Nath Vohra is gaining ground. According to top officers in the administration, during this stint of the Governor’s rule in the State, Governor Vohra has been after them, pushing them to implement decisions meant…

Read More

Indo-Pak cricket match turns nightmare for Darbar move employees, their families in Jammu

Guards joined saffron group, shouted provocative slogans, harassed Govt quarters’ inmates: Employees NGCSEU to take up issue with Chief Secretary Minutes after India won 20-20 cricket match against Pakistan last evening, saffron groups allegedly with the help of locals entered the government quarters’ premises in Old City where Darbar move employees have been staying and allegedly shouted ‘provocative slogans’. The incident has spread fear among the move employees and their families who have decided to meet Chief Secretary B R Sharma on Monday and seek proper security arrangements. “Security guards…

Read More

Umar Khalid’s connection with Kashmir; Revealed

It was in Srinagar where he had dreamed to represent the state’s under-19 cricket team. Some 10 years ago, Umar Khalid’s little less known passion had led him to Kashmir. It was in Srinagar where he had dreamed to represent the state’s under-19 cricket team, even though he wasn’t a native of Jammu and Kashmir. His father, Syed Qasim Illyas Rasool, had many friends working as government officials back then and it was because of them that Umar managed to play some district level matches. “Umar wanted to play for…

Read More

Proposed bus stops nowhere to be seen

Traffic Congestion In Srinagar Despite collecting Rs 2 crore as fine from traffic violators last year, the state government has failed to ensure proper bus stops in the city, which has worsened the traffic congestion situation. Srinagar, the state’s summer capital, has a population of nearly 1.3 million. The city requires more than 300 bus stops but the absence of the same continues to be a cause of concern for locals, for whom travelling has become a difficult experience. “The buses do not have proper stops here. They stop wherever…

Read More

JK hopes Budget will help boost economy

As the BJP-led government at the Centre will present its third Budget tomorrow, the business community in the state is waiting for some state specific announcements which will help revamp the economy of Jammu and Kashmir post the floods in September 2014. Already miffed over the Centre’s ‘failure’ to rehabilitate the flood victims and the delay in extending the Central package for industries by the successive governments, the Jammu region and the Kashmir valley are hoping that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will bring cheer to the people in J&K,…

Read More

Kashmir schools to reopen tomorrow – Post winter break

Schools across Kashmir are set to reopen from Tuesday (March 1) after being closed for more than two months for winter vacations. The schools are opening a week earlier than the scheduled date of March 8 this time. Officials said the weather in the Valley has shown drastic improvement, making them pre-pone the date. “All schools will open from March 1 as the weather has also shown drastic improvement,” said Director, School Education, Kashmir (DSEK), Shah Faesal. The weather had mostly been dry this winter as there has been less…

Read More

Guv reviews relief disbursement in Valley

Governor NN Vohra today reviewed the disbursement of relief to traders in Kashmir whose business establishments were affected due to floods in September 2014. The Governor was informed by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, that an amount of Rs 6.54 crore had been disbursed during the last three days, since February 25, in various district of the Kashmir valley. A Raj Bhawan spokesperson said disbursement of relief to traders had been resumed this week after Governor’s directions to Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, during his visit to Srinagar on February 16. The Governor…

Read More

Advance registration starts today for Amarnath Yatra 2016

Shrine board asks pilgrims to follow do’s and don’ts The advance registration of pilgrims for Amarnath yatra will commence tomorrow all over the country for both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes through 432 designated bank branches of Punjab National Bank, J&K Bank and Yes Bank. This year’s 48-day yatra will commence simultaneously on both routes from July 2 and culminate on Raksha Bandhan, August 18. In an official statement, PK Tripathi, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), said the step-by-step procedure which the pilgrims needed to follow to…

Read More

Federation of Industries Jammu & Kashmir meets Governor

A joint delegation of Federation of Industries, Jammu (FOIJ) and Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), met Governor N.N Vohra, at the Civil Secretariat here today. The delegation discussed with the Governor various issues regarding the development of the industrial sector in the State. The matters raised included the need of taking various measures for promoting fresh investment in the State, including the extension of Central Excise Duty and Income Tax Holidays, presently available to the industrial units till 2017. The delegation requested the Governor for early implementation of the…

Read More