Month: October 2018

‘Shastra Poojan’ performed, rallies taken out by RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal activists on Vijaydashmi

Editor

In order to celebrate its 93rd foundation day on the occasion of Vijaydashmi on Thursday, activists of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vihswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal took out rallies and performed the “Shastra Poojan” (weapon worshipping) across the Jammu Region. During the day, the RSS activists performed Shastra Poojan (weapon worshipping) and marched through the main towns of RS Pura, Kathua, Vijaypur, Bari Brahamana, Udhampur, Ramban, Kishtwar and Bhaderwah in the “Ganvesh” (the complete RSS dress) and sang the “Sanchalan Geet” (RSS group song) invoking “Maa Bharti” (motherland).…

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Build Ram temple at the earliest: RSS Chief to Govt

Editor

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sang (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government to consider introducing legislation for the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, cautioning that it was “in nobody’s interest to test the patience of the society without any reason.” Bhagwat’s comments drew flak from critics of the RSS who linked the timing to key state elections at the year-end leading up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The demand for the legislation, earlier made by RSS affiliate Vishwa Hindu…

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Extending 73rd, 74th constitutional amendments to J&K direct attack on Article 370: NC

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Extending 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments to Jammu and Kashmir is a “direct attack” on Article 370, the National Conference said on Thursday, and slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party for advocating such “alterations.” Day after state BJP president Ravinder Raina pitched for extension of these amendments to Jammu and Kashmir—which would give greater financial and administrative powers to panchayats by putting in place a three-tier panchayat system—the NC’s general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar said: “It is a calculated attempt to fiddle with the state’s special status. The amendments in J&K’s Panchayati…

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161 Free symbols including, Shoe, Chappals, Chilli to spice up coming panchayat election

Editor

From chappals to shoe and from bangles to green chilli, at least 161 symbols finalised by the state election authority for the upcoming panchayat elections will offer a bewildering choice to the electorate who will elect their new sarpanches and panches. The interesting part of the show during the campaigning will include the ‘mode of expression’ to be chosen by a candidate highlighting his or her symbol, including chappals, shoe, green chilli, bangles, bricks, etc. to woo voters. It will also be exciting to see as how the candidates, having…

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Unopposed poll not new in local bodies elections, In 2005, 114 candidates were chosen uncontested

Editor

Even as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC) leaders are claiming that due to their boycott many candidates have been chosen unopposed in the local bodies elections, the poll data makes it clear that the uncontested election at the local level is not a new thing in J&K. In the 2005 civic elections, nearly 114 candidates were elected unopposed when the security situation was predominantly normal. In the just-concluded civic elections, 244 candidates have been elected unopposed and there was not even a single candidate in 177 wards,…

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Omar Abdullah attacks Mehbooba Mufti for calling Manan Wani a ‘Victim of Violence’

Editor

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference chief Omar Abdullah has accused PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti of showing ‘fake sympathy’ with sedition case accused Kashmiri students of Aligarh Muslim University and shedding crocodile tears over the encounter of slain Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Mannan Wani. “How short Ms Mufti’s memory is! She forgets that she was the architect and beneficiary (it kept her allies in good humour) for her entire period in office. She is in no position to criticise anyone for ‘relentless violence’,” Omar wrote on Twitter. Omar…

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Without public trust, holding elections in Kashmir was a bad idea

Editor

Since 1989, the first time I was old enough to understand the importance of elections in a democracy, elections in Jammu and Kashmir have intrigued me. I belong to the ‘J’ part of the state – Jammu – and it was fascinating to see the long queues outside polling stations in the Jammu region even as large-scale disenchantment with the political class became somewhat of a national phenomenon and kept growing roots. But, it was the Kashmir region and its hide-and-seek with elections, which was the subject of discussion in…

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Gurez, Sonmarg get season’s first snowfall, Chill across Valley

Editor

Several remote areas of the Valley received the season’s first snowfall on Tuesday. The meteorological department has forecast another day of wet spell. The snowfall was received in remote mountainous regions of Kashmir, including in Sonmarg in Ganderbal district and Gurez in Bandipora district. Shahid Choudhary, Bandipora Deputy Commissioner, said the snowfall was received in Gurez, which remains cut-off during winter months. The Deputy Commissioner said the road connecting with Gurez, which is located along the Line of Control in north Kashmir, was open while the departments concerned had kept…

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How the inflation equation could impact politics

Editor

Inflation is back on the economic agenda. The annual growth in wholesale price index (WPI) in the quarter ending September 2018 was 4.98%. This is the highest since September 2014, which was the first full quarter after the current government assumed office. To be sure, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) grew at 3.88% in this period, after having grown at more than 4% in the last three quarters. Both CPI and WPI have been rising The political context is important here. Inflation was rising at a fast pace — CPI…

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Gunfight in Fateh Kadal, Three Rebels, Policeman killed; Internet suspended, educational institutions closed

Editor

Gunfight broke out between militants and the government forces in Fateh Kadal area of Downtown Srinagar early Wednesday. Reports said a joint team of the state police and the CRPF cordoned off Fateh Kadal after “specific information” about presence of some militants. As soon as the forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired at them, triggering an encounter. Three militants and a policeman were killed in a gunfight which was underway since early Wednesday in Fateh Kadal locality of downtown Srinagar, police said. Three militants and a policeman…

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