Month: August 2017

Venkaiah Naidu sworn in as 15th Vice President of India

Editor

Former Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu was today sworn in as the 15th vice president of India. President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Naidu, 68, at a ceremony in the Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior BJP leader L.K. Advani and other Cabinet Ministers were present on the occasion. Mr. Naidu was elected the 13th Vice-President of India on Saturday. Naidu polled a massive 516 of the total 760 votes, aided by cross-voting by Opposition MPs in the 15th vice-presidential…

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Businessman’s office, house raided in Srinagar by Enforcement Directorate

Editor

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday raided the house and office of a leading businessman and carpet exporter in Kashmir in connection with exports proceeds involving over Rs 20 crore. A joint team of the Enforcement Directorate and Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday raided businessman Sheikh Ashiq’s office Al-Khuddam at the Sangarmal complex inSrinagar and his house at the Ahmad Nagar locality of the city. Ashiq and his family are into carpet export business and also run a tour and travel agency under the name of…

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Geelani down but not out

Editor

Since last year, journalists – locals as well as from mainland India – have tried their luck to get an interview of Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani as the state has made it impossible for the journalists to meet him. Not everyone is lucky to get into the heavily monitored residence-cum-office of ailing senior Hurriyat leader. On the pleasant morning of August 10, 2017 (Thursday), I was one of the few lucky journalists who was able to sneak through the heavy contingent of state police and paramilitary personnel, after…

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BJP hatching conspiracies to influence referendum process: Geelani

Editor

“Pro-Indian parties rhetoric about prevailing situation is just a political gimmick and added that they are responsible for tampering and fiddling with article 370.” Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani on Wednesday said, that authorities in New Delhi are hellbent to tamper with the Muslim majority character of Jammu and Kashmir. Cautioning people against the nefarious designs of Delhi and its henchmen in state, Geelani said that people in state won’t allow anyone to alter or interfere with the integrity and special status of the state and will safeguard it…

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Mehbooba meets Rajnath amid row over JK’s Special Status

Editor

Meeting seen as part of efforts to stall abrogation of Art 370 CM likely to meet PM, President today Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Thursday met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh amid reports that she had come to the national capital to drum up support for preventing attempts to remove special status to the state under the Constitution. The meeting lasted for nearly 45 minutes, officials said without elaborating about the topics that were discussed. The meeting comes in the backdrop of growing pressure on Mehbooba, who is caught in a…

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Mehbooba Mufti wants to run with hare, hunt with hounds: Omar Abdullah

Editor

Slams CM’s move to reach out to both New Delhi, parties in Kashmir As the clamour over the possible scrapping of Article 35-A grows in the Kashmir valley, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday accused Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti of being in a dilemma and said she wanted to “run with the hare and hunt with the hounds”. The National Conference working president in his hard-hitting commentary against Mehbooba said she wanted to “govern with the BJP and opposed their politics with us”. “That is the crux of her…

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Ready to quit assembly, join Hurriyat: Er Rasheed

Editor

Independent legislator and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) chairman Er Rasheed on Thursday offered to resign from assembly and join united Hurriyat “for the larger Kashmir cause of right to self determination”. Rasheed made the remarks during a press conference in Srinagar in response to Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s call to pro-India politicians to join the Hurriyat. “It is not time to blame each other but work for resolution of Kashmir dispute and stop New Delhi from its utterances and efforts, it is indulged in changing the dispute…

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Mehbooba Mufti likely to meet PM Modi today in Delhi over Article 35A Row

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi today “to seek his help” in defending the special status of the state, a media report said. “Mehbooba Mufti is expected to reach Delhi on Thursday to seek Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support in defending a constitutional provision that bars outsiders from owning property in the state,” reported NDTV.com. The reported meeting comes days after Mehbooba met Opposition National Conference President Farooq Abdullah amid a debate on Article 35-A. Earlier, she had warned…

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Muslims Insecurity, Triple Talaq, Kashmir Imbroglio; Hamid Ansari steers political debate

Editor

Ansari’s remarks drew political reactions, with the ruling BJP accusing him of playing ‘Muslim politics’. In his final interview as the Vice President of India, Dr Hamid Ansari did not refrain from expressing his opinion on a range of topics affecting the national political discourse. From ‘insecurity creeping among minorities’ to the politicisation of triple talaq, and the current imbroglio in Kashmir, Ansari gave his insights which were at variance with the stance adopted by the ruling government. Here are the highlights from his interview to Rajya Sabha TV: On…

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Jhelum cruise showcases old city’s heritage

Editor

Trial run started on July 12, service likely to give a boost to tourism Even as the government’s plan of a water transport service is yet to see the light of day, the Jhelum cruise has been making travellers discover Srinagar’s rich heritage. The cruise offers glimpses of old heritage buildings and ancient structures of Khanqah-e-Moula, Hanuman Temple, Badshah’s tomb and Hazrat Bulbul Shah shrine on the banks of the Jhelum. “It is just a trial run at present. The cruise is showcasing Srinagar’s heritage,” said Ufair Ajaz, vice-president, business…

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