Open letter to Mehbooba Mufti

Prof. M Y Ganai Respected Mehboobaji Assalam-u-Aliakum From the core of my heart, I offer condolence to you on the sad demise of your beloved father. May God grant eternal peace to the departed soul. I do realize that it is not the proper time to write an open letter to you. But, being the son of the soil I consider it my moral obligation to make a sincere suggestion to you. The main purpose is that if you want your organization should live long and should address the people’s…

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Coalition with BJP in JK will continue, says PDP

PDP spokesperson Mehboob Beigh said, “The coalition between BJP and PDP to stand. No question of any other option like Congress.” In its first official confirmation, the PDP today has announced that coalition with the BJP will continue in Jammu and Kashmir. PDP spokesperson Mehboob Beg said, “The coalition between BJP and PDP to stand. No question of any other option like Congress.” He also said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti will take oath as the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister anytime after the end of the seven-day official mourning for…

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No relief in traffic congestion, commuters continue to suffer

There has been no let-up in traffic jams, particularly in the evening hours, in parts of Srinagar even as the Traffic Department has initiated various measures to decongest the city. Residents blamed the absence of traffic policemen at the prime locations for the existing mess. They said flyover construction had compounded the problem. “Traffic jams have become a regular feature in Jawahar Nagar. The authorities have failed to find a permanent solution to the problem. The roads remain crowded all the time and the traffic policemen are nowhere in sight…

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Shutdown continues in Pulwama for 13th Day

For the 13th straight day, the strike in southern Pulwama Town continued over the demand of installing a militant memorial at ‘Shaheed Park’ in the area. Eyewitnesses told Srinagar-based news agency GNS that all the markets of the Town and its adjoining localities were closed while the traffic also remained off the roads. Reports said that the shutdown was also observed in Kakapora hamlet of the Pulwama district. The situation in the Town remained peaceful throughout the day and there was no protest or stone-pelting incident. Meanwhile, reports said police…

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BJP to open cards after first move by PDP for Govt formation

Ram Madhav, Avinash Khanna hold meet with state leaders in Jammu Although the alliance partners have denied differences, the BJP is awaiting a word from the PDP on government formation in the state. “We are waiting for a response from the PDP in this regard. Let the PDP take an initiative in government formation,” said Avinash Rai Khanna, BJP national vice-president and in charge of J&K affairs, after coming out of a three-and-a-half-hour-long meeting with party leaders. BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav, who was the architect of PDP-BJP government…

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PDP will tie up with Congress or BJP? Mehbooba keeps everyone guessing

Keen to reset terms of coalition, but will not overturn her late father’s last biggest political decision, suspense surrounds government formation in Jammu and Kashmir after Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passed away. Mehbooba Mufti, who has been almost unanimously picked to be the next chief minister, is in no hurry to form a government. Speaking to the NDTV, sources said that Mehbooba was hurt the way the BJP government at the Centre treated PDP in relation with the release of economic packages. Political circles were teeming with speculations that an alliance between…

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SVC recommends restoration of land worth crores to J&K Govt

The State Vigilance Commission (SVC) today recommended restoration of prime land worth crores of rupees to the state government after the land was ‘illegally sold’ off by some private persons to other people. During an enquiry into an alleged illegal transfer of land, it surfaced that Kulwant Singh and Bikarm Singh of Tral in Pulwama district have sold prime state land, vested in them by virtue of section 4 and section 8 of The J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976, SVC officials said. Kulwant Singh, while recording his statement during proceedings…

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Omar rules out unilateral support to PDP in govt formation

As suspense mounted over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tonight ruled out the party’s unilateral support to PDP from outside in any new dispensation with Congress backing. Omar, a former chief minister who was the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s predecessor, also regretted the political uncertainty in the state where some people are “fishing in troubled waters” and asserted that an “accountable government” should be in place at the earliest. The state, where PDP is in alliance with BJP, is currently under Governor’s rule. “I…

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Clashes Occur at Funeral of Rebel Commander in Kashmir

Clashes have erupted in Kashmir after police fired tear gas to stop thousands of people from marching in the funeral procession of a rebel commander killed in a clash with government forces. Police Inspector-General Syed Javaid Mujtaba Gillani said the militant, Sajad Ahmed Bhat, was killed in the clash Monday night on the outskirts of Srinagar, the main city in the disputed Himalayan region. On Tuesday, thousands of people chanting slogans against Indian rule assembled in the militant’s home village and tried to march on the highway connecting the region…

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Cold wave condition in Kashmir is likely to intensify further

Cold wave continued across the Kashmir on Tuesday as the Met Office said its intensity is likely to further in the days to come. “Because of clear night sky the present cold wave condition in the (Kashmir) valley is likely intensify further as we expect weather to remain dry during the next 24 hours,” a meteorological department official told IANS on Tuesday. “The minimum temperature was minus 0.8 in Srinagar today (Tuesday) while it was minus 2.1 in Pahalgam and minus 6.0 in Gulmarg. Leh town recorded minus 13.1 and…

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