Coming down heavily upon Congress leader P Chidambaram for his tweet regarding the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance, the BJP on Sunday dubbed the former as ‘failed ex-home minister,’ while saying that the grand old party was fishing in troubled waters by making such negative assertion. Coming down heavily upon Congress leader P Chidambaram for his tweet regarding the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance, the BJP on Sunday dubbed the former as ‘failed ex-home minister,’ while saying that the grand old party was fishing…
Read MoreMonth: April 2017
Sale of online chopper tickets for Amarnath Yatra from April 25
Online booking of tickets for the helicopter service for the annual Amarnath Yatra will begin from April 25, a top official said today. Umang Narula, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) said that advance online booking of helicopter tickets for this year’s yatra will commence at 10 AM on Tuesday. SASB has made arrangements with UTAir India Pvt Ltd and Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd for the Neelgrath-Panjtarni- Neelgrath sector and with Himalayan Heli Services Pvt Ltd for the Pahalgam-Panjtarni-Pahalgam sector for providing helicopter services for Amarnathji…
Read MoreRain brings flood scare across Kashmir
Rain is considered a blessing, but in Kashmir, it causes a scare and brings back the fear of floods every time the water level rises in the Jhelum and other water bodies. Since the 2014 floods, the fear of floods has not died down. To add to the panic, the level of water in the rivers this summer is already high as the winter witnessed heavy snowfall. Meanwhile, the weatherman has predicted possibility of floods in future. Summer blues Despite investment of crores of rupees under Centrally schemes to improve…
Read MoreInternet Ban in Kashmir
Government in a worst form of crackdown which defies logic and says more about autocratic means has banned the internet and the mobile networks across Kashmir. The ban was imposed after the killing of HM militant commander, Burhan Wani. The blockade is the worst and has come when New Delhi has been championing the cause of digital democracy and the digital outreach. The internet blockade has ensured many things for the state: young men have not been able to give vent to the rage on the social networking sites and…
Read MoreBJP needles coalition partner as it backs forces on curbing protests
Amid serious differences with its coalition partner — PDP — over dealing with stone-throwers in the Kashmir valley, the BJP today endorsed methods being adopted by the Army and security forces to restore normalcy in violence-hit areas. By approving the approach of the security forces, the BJP has taken a stand against the PDP which had expressed its reservation over it, especially after the “human shield” video had gone viral on social media. The video showed a Budgam youth tied to an Army jeep and being used as a human…
Read MoreMajor challenges staring Govt in the face as Darbar readies to move Kashmir
As the Darbar Move offices will resume functioning after a gap of six months in the summer capital on May 8, three major challenges are staring government in the face: Ensuring good governance, smooth Amarnath pilgrimage and the by-poll for South Kashmir seat slated for May 25. Interestingly, two out of the three issues will be discussed in the Unified High Command meet scheduled to be held anytime after May 10. The meeting, to be chaired by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar, will work out a strategy for the…
Read MorePrime Minister Narendra Modi asks states to reach out to Kashmiri Students
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while summing up the third meeting of NITI Aayog Governing Council today, urged upon the Chief Ministers present there to take special care in reaching out to students from the Kashmir valley studying in their respective states. The Prime Minister’s remarks relating to the Valley students came after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti raised the point at the meeting, asking her counterparts to “make them (Kashmiri students) their ambassadors” in J&K. Modi’s advice assumes significance as it comes against the backdrop of thrashing of some Kashmiri students…
Read MoreYouth across valley looking for options as govt gags Social Media
Apps like Snapchat, Telegram see record downloads Amid apprehensions of permanent social media ban in Kashmir, youth are looking for other options to stay connected with friends and family. Mobile apps like Telegram and Snapchat, which allow chatting and transfer of data in encrypted form along with other security features, are witnessing record downloads and gaining currency in the Valley. Besides these, many free messaging apps provide more features, encrypted messaging and full privacy options. The mobile Internet services in the Valley were blocked by the authorities last week as…
Read MoreIndia wants Kashmir, but not Kashmiris?
What has led to the extreme and inhumane reactions against Kashmiris across India? Remember how strongly we condemned the hate crimes against Indian immigrants in the United States in recent times? Our blood boiled at the sight of the images of body of Hyderabad techie Srinivas Kuchibhotla, who was killed by a xenophobic American in Kansas. We all reacted instantly and channelised our anger in demanding immediate action against the culprit by the Donald Trump administration. We were right in our demands. After all how could we tolerate our Indians…
Read MoreAlliance in trouble as PDP, BJP drift apart
“When we arrest stone-pelters, we face enormous political pressure to release them because some of the stone-pelters are from both the PDP and the NC. Both parties use their own influence to subvert law and order,” From their political philosophy to socio-cultural idiom, every innate fault line within the PDP-BJP alliance is proving to be antithetical to governance and security in Jammu and Kashmir. Two years after they come to power in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP and the PDP are locked into a war of words both publicly and…
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