Re-open routes used by Shah-i-Hamadan to reach Kashmir: Mehbooba Mufti

Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today stressed the need for reviving the teachings of Hazrat Amir Kabir Mir Syed Ali Hamdani saying these hold the key to many of the issues confronting humanity in the present day world. Speaking at a seminar, ‘Shah-i-Hamdan-The savior of our soul’ here today, the Chief Minister said the present day society which lives in a state of social recession and cultural crisis needs to go back to the teachings and philosophy of Hazrat Amir e Kabir to get back on the path of virtue, peace…

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NHPC exploiting youth of Chenab valley: MLC Firdous Tak

Member of Legislative Council (MLC) of the Peoples Democratic Party Firdous Tak on Sunday said the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) is exploiting youth of the Chenab valley, especially in Kishtwar district, as they are not being given permanent employment in hydel power projects in the region. Tak was speaking at a one-day convention organised by the Chenab Valley Power Projects Workers’ Union. He was chief guest on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, Tak said the PDP would not allow exploitation of the youth to continue and party was fighting…

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Post digitisation, vehicle registration gets tougher

As formalities ‘increase’, commuters allege harassment In the process of digitising the system, the Transport Department of Jammu and Kashmir has made it more complicated for the public to register their vehicles as it take more visits to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to complete the online process. The department, which has started digitising the system, has made almost everything online as people have to apply online for a driving licence, its renewal and for the registration of the vehicle. The department has now given exclusive rights to vehicle dealers…

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Aimed at curbing student protests tuition centres across valley shut for 90 Days

Syed Altaf Bukhari, Minister of Education, on Sunday ordered closure of all private coaching centres across Kashmir for 90 days in view of the ongoing protests against the Kathua rape-murder case. The minister said after deliberations with principals and other officials concerned, the government had come to a conclusion that private coaching centres were a distraction for students. “We will come up with the formal order in the next few days,” the minister said. “Principals of schools say quality education is suffering because of these centres. If students have any…

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Ministers who participated in ‘Pro-rapist’ rallies had to go: Mehbooba to Modi

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said she had put the state police in a “do-or-die” mode to bring the culprits to book when the horrendous case of the rape and murder of an eight-year-old Kathua girl surfaced. In an interview to Kashmir Post, the CM, speaking on the case that brought the three-year-old PDP-BJP alliance to a breaking point, said now she was looking toward the judiciary for justice after the chargesheet had been filed and the accused were in jail. On whether she had served…

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Yashwant Sinha quits BJP, says Indian democracy is in danger

Yashwant Sinha said he is not an aspirant for any top post but will work towards “saving democracy in the country”. Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, who has been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government at the Centre, announced on Saturday that he will end his long-time ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Stressing that “democracy is danger”, Sinha said in Patna he will launch a movement for “the restoration of democracy as it is vital for the country, its people and their freedom”. “I am taking…

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Cabinet clears ordinance for death penalty to child rapists, key features

The move seeking death penalty for child rapists comes after nationwide outrage over the brutal rape of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua and the alleged rape of a minor in Unnao. The Union cabinet on Saturday cleared a proposal to award the death penalty for those convicted of raping children below 12 years by amending the existing law. The government will make the changes to the law through an ordinance as Parliament is not in session. The move seeking the death penalty for child rapists comes in the backdrop of…

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Tourism properties, resorts ‘No-polythene zones’: Director Tourism Mehmood Shah

Use of polythene and disposable plastic at tourist destinations and properties in Jammu and Kashmir can now lead to cancellation of a violating operator’s license. A ban ordered by the government (No PLN/171/DTK/2660-69) directs tourism operators and stakeholders to stop use of non-biodegradable plastic in their properties failing which certificates of registration issued to them by the tourism department would be cancelled. “It shall be the duty of hotel keeper, houseboat owners, travel agents, shikara walas and tourist unit holders to ensure that polythene and disposable plastic is not allowed…

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Shift India’s capital abroad to hear PM Modi speak about country’s problems: Shiv Sena

Modi, who is currently in London, had spoken about the brutal rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua at an interaction with audience there. In a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Shiv Sena on Friday said that the capital of India should be shifted outside the country, so that the PM makes statements on important issues. An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, the party said that PM Modi becomes a “mauni baba” when he is in India but speaks up on…

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Reopen all rape, murder cases in Kashmir since 1990: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Demanding exemplary punishment to the culprits in the gruesome rape and murder case of a minor girl of Kathua, chairman APHC Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday said all the rape cases reported in Kashmir during past three decades including the mass rape of Kunan-Poshpora should be reopened and reinvestigated so that the guilty “roaming free” are brought to book. Addressing the Friday congregational gathering at the historic Jamia Masjid, here, the Mirwaiz urged the world human rights bodies to raise their voice against the brutal rapes and murders of Kashmiri women…

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