Year: 2017

For now, Traders and Consumers to bear ‘Double Tax’ brunt

Editor

Major FMCG players may face a severe crisis as they will be running short of supplies in the very first week of July. With Goods and Services Tax being rolled out from July 1 across India, people in Jammu and Kashmir will have to face double taxation on import and export of commodities, triggering fears of soaring prices till a consensus is evolved over extension of the new tax regime to the state. As the central government is bringing India under “one country, one tax” from July 1, the state…

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Work on Smart City project to begin soon

Editor

After making it to the final list, the work on the Rs 3,500-crore Srinagar Smart City project is set to begin soon with the government promising to complete the project in a fixed time frame. Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner Shafqat Khan said the government was committed to start the work soon and develop the overall infrastructure of the city which was home to over 11 lakh residents. “There will be development of the overall infrastructure in Srinagar city with smart interventions in everything to make it people-friendly. The work…

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Woman killed in encounter between forces and militants in Anantnag

Editor

A woman was killed during a gun battle between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag today. According to police, after receiving a specific information regarding presence of militants in Birnhi Batpora Dailgam security forces cordoned off the area in the wee hours. While the cordon was being laid, some militants outside a house fired upon the security personnel which was retaliated. In the cross firing one woman sustained injuries and later on succumbed. However, some militants are holed up in the house. Efforts are on to take…

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Amarnath Yatra 2017 – Update (01 July 2017)

Editor

Amarnath pilgrim from Bengal dies of cardiac arrest in Kashmir A 72-year-old pilgrim from West Bengal died today due to cardiac arrest en route for the cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir, taking the death toll in the ongoing yatra to three. A K Mukherji, a resident of Howrah, died due to cardiac arrest at Poshpathri this morning, a police official said. With this, the death toll in this year’s yatra has risen to three. A pilgrim from Jammu was killed by a shooting stone at Brarimarg on June…

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Rift wide open in BJP-PDP coalition

Editor

It’s now clear that Jammu and Kashmir will not be a part of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, which is bringing the Indian economy under a single tax bracket from July 1 as the state failed to evolve a consensus on its implementation. The move, however, has not only put the ruling alliance partner BJP in the dock but has also brought in the open the saffron party’s serious differences with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The BJP claimed the state government failed to implement the GST in…

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Traders, Transporters call for strike today

Editor

We’re ready to face losses but won’t allow implementation of GST in present form: KTMF Have decided to stop booking of goods, essentials from outside Valley: Transport Asscn GST implementation will trigger another unrest: KEA Traders and transporters have called for Kashmir bandh on Saturday to protest against implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in J&K saying they will fight “tooth and nail” against the tax bill. “We are ready to face any losses but won’t allow implementation of GST in the state in its present form,” Kashmir Traders…

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Fear, Insecurity create a new minority in Kashmir

Editor

A new microscopic minority has come up in the radicalised Kashmir – those who believe in violence-free society and the capabilities of moderate voices. These people drawn from various walks of life are practically living in dread of their own shadows – they are having hallucinations about the radicalised lot amidst them. “I came out of my house and I saw three long-bearded men with short trousers and slippers standing outside my house. I was so scared that I stood frozen at my gate. I became unsure of myself,” a…

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Center must safeguard Article 370 or PDP-BJP alliance may fall apart: Muzaffar Baig

Editor

As controversy over implementation of Goods and Service Tax (GST J&K refuses to die down, senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig has said that if New Delhi refuses to ensure safeguards to protect the state’s fiscal autonomy and Article 370 under the new tax regime, then separation of the alliance partners, PDP and BJP, was a possibility. He blamed the government for its failure to create awareness about the GST, saying “some people” in the government who were responsible for “spreading the message” remained in deep slumber which allowed misunderstanding…

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After Air India, will BJP government look to sell Kashmir citing expenditure: Shiv Sena

Editor

The Shiv Sena on Friday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government’s decision to privatise Air India, saying tomorrow the government may similarly look to sell Kashmir citing expenditure on its security. In an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece Saamana, the Shiv Sena said, “Air India is an icon of the country’s pride and prosperity. If this decision was taken by the previous Congress government, the BJP would have heavily criticised it and asked if the government cannot run the national carrier how is it going to run the…

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Restrictions in parts of Srinagar today

Editor

Authorities have decided to impose restrictions in parts of Srinagar on Friday in view of the protests called by separatist leaders and United Jehad Council (UJC) against designating of UJC chief, Syed Salah-ud-din as a “global terrorist” by United States. District Magistrate Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Lone said restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC will remain in force in areas under the jurisdiction of Police Stations Nowhatta, M R Gunj, Rainawari, Khanyar and Safakadal in district Srinagar. UJC has condemned the Trump administration’s move. “Designating Salah-ud-din as global terrorist is against…

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