Year: 2018

PC alternative to dynastic politics, Grand Alliance was to keep me out of power: Sajad Lone

Editor

Two days after the NC and the PDP staked claim to form a coalition government in J&K, People’s Conference (PC) chairman Sajad Lone on Friday termed the alliance as “opportunistic to stall the entry of a third regional party in Kashmir”. Lone said his party represented the regional aspirations of Kashmiris and would be a change-maker in the next Assembly elections. “It was an opportunistic alliance to stall the entry of a third regional party, but they have failed and we have emerged. We are the new alternative and will…

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Beating Netflix and Amazon BJP become top advertiser on Indian Television

Editor

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the top advertiser on Indian television, placing ahead of Netflix and Trivago, in the weeks and months leading up the crucial state polls and the 2019 general election. Citing the latest data from the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), The Economic Times reported today that BJP beat Vimal Pan Masala in the week ending 16 November, and is ahead of major companies like Amazon and Hindustan Lever. BJP, which was in the second position in the preceding week, is now ranked number one…

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What they achieved being loyal to Delhi for 70 years? Separatists mock arch rivals

Editor

After being dubbed by the BJP leadership as the parties working at the behest of Pakistan in Kashmir, the mainstream parties on Friday came under fire from the separatists who questioned them what have they achieved by being loyal to Delhi for 70 years. This stinging remark against the NC and PDP was made by All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Twitter: “NC, PDP despite doing New Delhi’s biddings at the cost of betraying their own people, have not been able to earn New Delhi’s trust.” He…

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Amit Shah a Key Conspirator in Prajapati Killing, Investigating Officer Tells Court

Editor

In explosive testimony before the special Central Bureau of Investigation court here on Wednesday, Sandeep Tamgadge, chief investigating officer in the 2006 Tulsiram Prajapati fake encounter case, has said that Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah and IPS officers D.G. Vanzara, Dinesh M.N. and Rajkumar Pandiyan were the “principal conspirators” in the controversial killing. In his deposition recorded on November 21, the 2001 batch IPS officer told the court that Shah was a part of the “criminal-politician-police nexus” and Prajapati, his associate Sohrabuddin Shaikh and Sohrabuddin’s wife Kausar Bi were…

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Brief alliance with PDP holds lessons for India: NC’s Spokesperson Sameer Kaul

Editor

National Conference (NC) spokesperson Sameer Kaul said in an interview on Thursday that the coming together of three mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, if only briefly, sets an example for the rest of the country to follow in Lok Sabha elections next year. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday staked a claim for forming a new government in J&K with the support of its arch rival NC and the Congress. The claim didn’t pass muster, with Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolving the assembly, in suspended animation since…

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How BJP was outsmarted in Kashmir

Editor

‘Although the tactical move to outflank the BJP fell through with New Delhi’s decisive intervention and eventual dissolution of the state assembly, the PDP, NC and the Congress appeared to be more than satisfied.’ ‘They see the assembly dissolution as their ‘great achievement’.’ ‘If one were to believe what they say, this was also their main objective,’ reveals Mohammad Sayeed Malik, the doyen of Kashmiri commentators. For once — just once — in Kashmir history, it was the tail that wagged the proverbial dog to re-set the balance of forces on…

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Hizbul meet held in Srinagar; Alert sounded across city post major security breach

Editor

In a massive security breach, terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen reportedly held a meeting at the heart of Srinagar city, at Hazratbal Shrine on Tuesday. Terrorists from Hizbul, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror groups participated in the meeting, as claimed by Hizbul in a letter. In light of the recent developments, security forces have reportedly sounded an alert in the city. In fact, a photograph of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Umar alias Hanzalla posing in front of Ghanta Ghar at Lal Chowk in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar surfaced on Thursday, with…

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Raj bhawan’s fax becomes a butt of ridicule

Editor

The fax machine in Governor Satya Pal Malik’s office became a butt of ridicule with National Conference (NC) Vice President and former chief minister Omar Abdullah Thursday holding it responsible for the “death of democracy” in the State. Addressing a news conference, a sarcastic Omar said there should be an investigation why the fax machine in the Governor’s office was not able to receive a fax from PDP chief and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti staking claim to form the government, but was able to send a communique about the…

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Gunfight erupts in Bijbehara, Six Hizb rebels killed in gunfight

Editor

Six Hizb ul Mujahideen militants were killed in a gunfight in Shalgud village of Dashnipora in Bijbehara area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday, police and army said. An army spokesman in Srinagar said that six militants were killed in the gunfight. “Six militants killed, weapons and warlike stores recovered. Operation in progress,” said the spokesman. The identity of the slain militants was not immediately known. “Bijbehara Encounter update: 06 militants eliminated in the encounter. Arms and Ammunition recovered. Identities are being ascertained,” police said on Twitter. Reports said…

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Governor Satya Pal calls PDP-Cong-NC ‘Grand Alliance of Opportunists’

Editor

NC, PDP wanted dissolution of Assembly for last five months ‘Horse trading of MLAs was going on since last 20 days’ ECI to decide when to conduct LA polls Terming NC-PDP-Congress grand-alliance of “opportunists”, Governor Satya Pal Malik Thursday claimed they were not in a position to provide a stable government in Jammu Kashmir. He said instead horse-trading of legislators had increased during the last 15 to 20 days, compelling him to dissolve the State Assembly. “I will not allow any political party to arrange support for government formation under-hand…

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