Month: November 2018

Omar tweets, Mehbooba likes – In thank you note to rival Omar, Mehbooba stinging jibe at BJP

Editor

An indication of a new bonhomie between arch-rivals Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti was witnessed on microblogging site Twitter when the latter liked a tweet by the former immediately after the confirmation of alliance between the two parties. Omar, who is the working president of the National Conference (NC), tweeted: “Whoever said ‘may you live in interesting times’ knew what they were talking about.” Mehbooba, president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was quick to ‘like’ Omar’s tweet — a virtual confirmation that the two former Chief Ministers of the…

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What compelled rival parties in J&K to foster alliance

Editor

Two arch-rivals in Kashmir politics — National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party — had come under intense pressure from their MLAs to form government in Jammu and Kashmir as it was feared that continuing political hostility would pave way for the success of “BJP’s machinations” to break these groups. The decision on the alliance came before the annoucement of the dissolution of the Assembly and sought to utilise the remaining period of more than two years of the six-year term of the Assemblyto unite all for “Kashmir’s special status”. It…

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J&K’s political thriller ends in anti-climax with Governor dissolving Assembly

Editor

At the end of a day of dramatic developments, Jammu & Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday night dissolved the state assembly in a contentious decision that may well be challenged in the courts. The dissolution, announced in a statement by Raj Bhawan, came after Mehbooba Mufti’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its arch-rival National Conference (NC) teamed up with the Congress for a shot at government formation with the support of 56 legislators in the 87-member assembly. The People’s Conference led by Sajjad Lone, later staked a rival…

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PDP likely to head grand alliance with Congress, NC to form govt in J&K

Editor

A grand alliance is shaping up in Jammu and Kashmir where arch rivals Peoples Democratic Party and National Conference are set to team up with the Congress to stake claim to form the government. Former finance minister and senior PDP leader, Altaf Bukhari confirming the alliance move said, “My leadership has confirmed it to us that the three parties (Congress, PDP and NC) have agreed to make a coalition to defend the special identity of the state politically and legally. Very soon you will get a good news.’’ Another senior…

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Mourning as well fear across valley after rebels abducted, executes civilians

Editor

After spending four harrowing hours in the custody of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants at an unidentified location, Farooq Ahmed Thokar and Shahid Ganai found themselves blindfolded, standing on what they could tell was a macadamised road somewhere in south Kashmir. They were accompanied by two militants, who had just interrogated them. Thokar and Ganai were asked to turn their backs towards the car that had been used as transportation. “[Then] they removed our blindfolds. A voice came from behind and told us that we were free to go. One of…

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PDP, Congress and NC appear to be joining hands to form a coalition govt?

Editor

In a potentially far-reaching realignment of political forces in Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP, Congress and the National Conference appear to be joining hands to form a coalition government, sources in the three parties indicated Tuesday. The state is currently under Governor’s rule which cannot be extended after it completed its six-month period on December 19. It is proposed to impose President’s rule thereafter but the 87-member assembly is not being dissolved, according to Governor Satyapal Mallik. The government headed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s Mehbooba Mufti fell when its…

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Hurriyat leader Hafizullah shot dead in Anantnag, JRL calls for shutdown

Editor

Unknown gunmen on Tuesday shot dead a top separatist leader, Mir Hafizullah, at his residence in Badura locality in Akingam Achabal area of Anantnag district. Mir was shot dead barely 20 yards away from his home on Anantnag-Kishtwar highway at Akingam at around 10:30 am. “A car stopped on highway outside his home and a masked person alighted from it while two remained seated inside. As the masked man approached towards him, Hafizullah started asking the masked man who he was and why they had stopped outside his house. Within…

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Thupstan Chhewang, Ex-MP writes to PM Modi, harps on false promises to Ladakh

Editor

Thupstan Chhewang, the BJP’s face in Ladakh who recently resigned as a Lok Sabha member, has questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi what will he tell people now after all promises made by the party to the region sound like empty rhetoric. He alleged that the Prime Minister went around the country projecting the BJP’s victories in Ladakh as “signs of its increasing reach” but the fact was that “the BJP achievement was based only on the strength of slogans”. He also accused the party’s J&K incharge and national general secretary…

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Real Kashmir FC to lock horns with Mohun Bagan

Editor

Real Kashmir Football Club (FC) will take on the 130-year-old Mohun Bagan in an I-League game here on Tuesday. With the previous two Real Kashmir FC games getting rousing support from the local crowd, the team is banking on the home advantage in the crucial tie with Mohun Bagan. “No pressure on us at all….we are the underdogs playing against the 130-year-old club …but pressure is on them to get results. Pressure is on those guys,” Real Kashmir FC coach David Robertson told reporters in a press conference. Mohun Bagan…

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