Month: October 2018

Shutdown affects life across Kashmir Valley, Kulgam sealed off to foil JRL solidarity

Editor

Life in Srinagar and other places of the Valley was affected on Thursday by a separatist-called shutdown protesting against militant killing. The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik called for the Valley-wide shutdown against the killings of two Kashmiri militants in the outskirts here. Sabzar Sofi, a PhD scholar who joined militancy in 2016, and his associate were killed in a gunfight in Nowgam on Wednesday. Shops, public transport and other businesses remained shut in the city and other district headquarters…

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Insurance Policy with Reliance was full of frauds, scrapped: Satya Pal Malik

Editor

‘Rates changed to suit company, tender opened on holiday’ Rs 100 cr deal unearthed in construction of dam 12-15% commission taken shamelessly Governor Satya Pal Malik today announced scrapping of Jammu and Kashmir Group Medical Insurance Policy for Government employees with Anil Ambani’s Reliance General Insurance saying “it was full of frauds”, which has been established and officers involved identified. He said the entire process was carried out in hush hush manner and even the tenders were opened on holiday to suit a company. Malik announced cancellation of another contract…

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NC, PDP taught a lesson, Satisfied with 4% voter turnout: Ram Madhav

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Training guns at National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for criticizing low voter turnout in recently held municipal polls, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav on Wednesday said many leaders from these parties were elected as Members of Parliament with fewer votes. “We are very happy and satisfied. Our candidates have won in the valley. Even 4 percent votes matters for us,” Madhav said while felicitating the winning candidates of party at a function here. He accused NC and PDP of threatening people and held them responsible for low…

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Sabzar Sofi, Scholar turned rebel and associate killed in Nowgam gunfight

Editor

A research scholar-turned-militant Sabzar Ahmad Sofi and his associate Asif Shergojri—both belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen—were killed in a gunfight in Nowgam area of Srinagar on Wednesday morning, days after a PhD scholar Manan Wani, who had also picked up arms, died in a gun-battle in northern Kupwara district. At least six police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel were also injured in encounter but were said to be “stable.” According to police, the slain researcher Dr Sabzar Ahmad Sofi—a resident of Nainan area in southern Anantnag district—had joined militancy soon…

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Laced with 86000 MW capacity, united J&K can have free power, water for 100 yrs: Survey

Editor

The united Jammu and Kashmir has an estimated power potential of whopping 86000 megawatts (MWs) which, if harnessed properly, can pave way for free electricity and water for the next 100 years in the power-starved region without seeking help from either India or Pakistan, according to a survey. The survey findings were released by a socio-cultural NGO, X-MITA on the United Nations Day celebrated on October 24. According to the researchers, the environment-friendly hydro-power generation capacity of the united J&K can get up to 86000 MW with Gilgit-Baltistan contributing 40000…

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Shutdown in Assam against Citizenship Bill, protesters disrupt road, rail traffic

Editor

Protesters burnt tyres on roads, disrupted of vehicular movement and rail traffic at several places in the state as a 12-hour shutdown called by 46 indigenous groups in Assam against the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 began Tuesday morning. The shutdown, backed by the opposition Congress and the BJP’s ally the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), has been called from 5 in the morning till 5 pm. Essential services have been kept outside its purview. The bill proposes to grant citizenship to religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Assam’s indigenous…

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Post opposition, govt withdraws circular on Urdu version of ‘Bhagwat Geeta’ in schools, colleges

Editor

The Jammu and Kashmir government has withdrawn a controversial circular that had asked the Education department to provide the Urdu version of “Bhagwat Geeta” and “Koshur Ramayana” in schools and other educational institutions in the state. “The circular regarding the introduction of some religious books stands withdrawn ab initio under the orders of the chief secretary,” an official said Tuesday. The state government had issued the circular Monday, directing the Director of School Education for the Jammu and Kashmir divisions to purchase these religious books. The circular had asked the…

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Will once again extend hand of friendship to India after 2019 polls: Imran Khan

Editor

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that he would once again extend a hand of friendship to India after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as he believed New Delhi rebuffed his offer of talks because Pakistan is an issue in the elections in the neighbouring country. Speaking at the high-profile Future Investment Initiative forum in Riyadh, Khan said Pakistan wants “peace with all our neighbours particularly India and Afghanistan for regional peace and stability.” “Peace with India would help the two countries to divert their resources towards human development…

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Over IWT Pakistan to launch aggressive campaign against India

Editor

Pakistan will launch an aggressive campaign against India to highlight its concerns over the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) after New Delhi failed to let Pakistani officials visit two hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir, a media report said Tuesday. Pakistan’s Commissioner on Permanent Indus Water Commission Syed Mehr Ali Shah said the Indian water commissioner had promised on the conclusion of the August 29-30 annual meeting to arrange a visit to the 1,000MW Pakal Dul and 48MW Lower Kalnai in Jammu and Kashmir in the last week of September.…

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New highway connecting Kargil to Gurez announced by Rajnath Singh

Editor

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday announced that a new highway would be constructed in Jammu and Kashmir along the border from Kargil to Gurez. He made this announcement at a high-level meeting convened here today to review the implementation of various developmental initiatives in the State. Governor Satya Pal Malik, Advisors to the Governor, B B Vyas, K Vijay Kumar and Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, Union Home Secretary, Rajiv Gauba, J&K Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam, state’s Administrative Secretaries and other senior officers of the Central and the State Government were…

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