Month: February 2017

2 Years On, PDP-BJP Alliance a story of unkept promises

Editor

Agenda of Alliance, which laid roadmap for the coalition, is today a document of unfulfilled assurances On March 1, 2015, when the BJP first came to power in Jammu and Kashmir riding on the shoulders of the ideologically poles apart Peoples Democratic Party, the government could have fallen within one hour of its swearing-in. It has survived for two years, a marvel of political compromises that goes by the document called the “Agenda of Alliance”. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on becoming the Chief Minister rattled the Hindu nationalist BJP leadership with…

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Minister Lal Singh wants forest funds for Kashmir diverted to Jammu

Editor

Wildlife department moots controversial proposal to redirect Rs 3 crore; Top official says ‘will take care of Kashmir next year’ In a controversial move, J&K’s Forests, Ecology and Environment department headed by BJP minister Choudhary Lal Singh has proposed to shift funds for Kashmir under a centrally-sponsored scheme to Jammu region, sources said on Sunday. According to sources, the Wildlife department that works under the command of Singh has mooted a proposal to withdraw Rs three crore from Kashmir to spend these in Jammu region under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund…

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Anxiety in security grid, but situation not worrisome: Lt Gen Sandhu

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Says stone-throwing to continue in foreseeable future, Army’s approach balanced The Army’s topmost officer in Kashmir Lt Gen JS Sandhu has said the approach of the Army in Kashmir was balanced, making it clear that the Army would act if people resorted to stone-throwing during anti-militancy operations. This comes days after Army Chief General Bipin Rawat issued a stern warning to the stone-throwers in Kashmir. “The approach of the Army has largely been very balanced and mature over a period of time. We will continue focusing on our job of…

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BJP, Congress on same page in condemning Farooq’s remarks

Editor

While the BJP today asked Jammu-based leaders of the National Conference (NC) to clear their stand on Farooq Abdullah’s recent statement in which he came to the defence of militants, the Congress termed former Chief Minister’s remarks as highly “objectionable.” “The NC president has crossed all limits and indulged in making statements which are well-planned and aimed at provoking the people of Kashmir. His utterances are the attempts to regain the lost faith and ground in Kashmir and the Jammu-based leaders should come clean on what has been said by…

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Infight within BJP overshadows developmental activities

Editor

Infighting among “disciplined” leaders of the BJP is badly affecting developmental activities in the Jammu region as party ministers are not ready to even share dais with each other due to their “egos”. Today, a high-level meeting was convened by Minister of State (MoS) in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh to lay online foundation stones of 222 roads projects, worth Rs 1,400 crore, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for the Udhampur-Doda constituency. Foundation stones were laid for road projects from backward districts, including Kathua, Udhampur,…

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Bandipora – Srinagar Road in Shambles, Locals aghast, Admin unmoved

Editor

Traders’ body calls for public meet to press for repair of dilapidated road Owing to pitiable condition of 59 kilometer Bandipora-Srinagar Road, people from all walks of life are assembling here in Main Bandipora Chowk on February 26 to press the government to repair the road. Traders Federation Bandipora which is organizing the mass public meet has initiated a campaign to press the government for the repair of the dilapidated and potholed 59 kilometer Srinagar-Bandipora road. They (members) have called for a public assembly on 26th February in Gulshan Park…

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NHAI promoting ‘Mafia Raj’ at Ban toll plaza: Devender Singh Rana

Editor

Rana writes to DGP, seeks probe into working of plaza administration Three days after a truck mowed down a man to death at the Ban toll plaza on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the National Conference (NC) has slammed the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for failing to put in place the road safety and medical emergency measures on the highway leading to frequent accidents. The party has also written a letter to the Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid, requesting him to look into the working of the…

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Police arrests seven students from Maulana Azad Memorial College hostel

Editor

Youth allege ABVP-BJP-Police collusion The campus of Maulana Azad Memorial (MAM) College, Jammu remains tense after police picked up seven Muslim students late last night from the college hostel. The seven boys who have been picked up and lodged in Gandhinagar Police Station include Mohammed Israr, Rabnawaz, Fazal, Murtaza, Zulfiqar, Sheraz and Mumtaz. All these seven belong to the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. They boys arrested after police lodged an FIR against them under sections 451, 323 and 147 RPC. Sources said that the FIR was lodged…

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Tariq recounts torturous incarceration back home after 12 years

Editor

‘Acquittal in a fabricated case can’t be called justice’ “If you call my acquittal in a fabricated case as justice then the whole meaning of the word justice changes,” said Tariq Ahmad Dar who was recently acquitted in the 2005 Delhi serial blast case after 12 long years as the prosecution failed to prove his guilt. A resident of Solina locality of Srinagar, Tariq returned home Friday to a rousing reception. The local residents had erected banners with Arabic text “Ahlan wa sehlan” to mark Tariq’s homecoming. Another banner read:…

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Daily 50 flights to arrive at Srinagar Airport from March onwards

Editor

Airlines’ proposal to double daily in and out flights to 100 welcome step: Tourism Inc After taking a nosedive due to last year unrest, air traffic to Kashmir may witness more than cent percent increase with a record number of 100 flights scheduled in and out at the Srinagar Airport beginning March. Seven airlines operating to Srinagar in their new schedule submitted to Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), New Delhi, have increased their number of flights to Srinagar taking the total count of daily arrivals to the capital city…

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