Year: 2018

No Names, No Faces, No Campaign: Secrecy drapes Kashmir Valley local polls

Editor

The first phase of local body elections in J&K starts October 8 but there’s no campaigning, no door-to-door canvassing, no poll rally in the Valley. Even the names of candidates who have filed nomination papers or their political affiliations are not being disclosed. Officials cite “security reasons” for the veil of secrecy over the conduct of the “faceless” poll process, especially in the troubled south of the Valley. They say disclosure of candidate details will make them vulnerable to threats, even endanger lives. So far, 851 candidates have filed nomination…

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Jaipur reported two Zika Virus cases during last fortnight

Editor

A 17-year-old boy of Shastri Nagar area in Jaipur district has tested positive for Zika virus, said Dr VK Mathur, the director of public health department. This is the second positive case of Zika virus in the area in less than a fortnight. The first case was reported on September 21. “We sent samples of suspected cases to National Institute of Virology, Pune, and one of them has tested positive for Zika,” Dr Mathur said. The confirmation from the NIV came on Monday evening, he added. Sawai Man Singh Medical…

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J&K Pollution Control Board ‘Ignores’ genuine aspirants to ‘Adjust’ former minister’s kin

Editor

A grave instance of “murder of merit” due to alleged political connections has come to the fore in the J&K Pollution Control Board. The PCB recently employed the son-in-law of a former minister as Assistant Information Officer, ignoring the requisite qualification for the post — a degree in Mass Communication and Journalism. The appointee is an arts graduate. Documents, which are in possession of Kashmir Post, reveal that while conferring the benefit on a junior candidate, Tanveer Ahmad Dar, who is son-in-law of former state Education Minister, the Board brazenly…

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SPO Adil Bashir who deserted the force with eight weapons in Srinagar, joins Hizbul Mujahideen

Editor

A special police officer (SPO) who deserted the force and decamped with eight weapons from the official residence of a PDP MLA, has joined the Hizbul Mujahideen as his photographs with the top commanders of the militant outfit have gone viral on social media. A police official said they have taken cognisance of the photographs but refused to comment any further on the issue. SPO Adil Bashir fled with seven AK rifles and a pistol from the residence of PDP legislator Aijaz Ahmad Mir from Jawahar Nagar area of Srinagar…

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PM Narendra Modi remains star campaigner for BJP candidates

Editor

Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned for BJP candidates in Assembly and parliamentary elections, this time also, his photographs are being used by candidates in the local body polls to win the trust of voters. Deprived of local leadership, the BJP has no other star campaigner except Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The candidates are hardly using the pictures of their local MLA, MP or ex-J&K ministers of the BJP in their campaign as they sense this could backfire due to the anti-incumbency factor. “The BJP candidates of municipal elections know…

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At least 215 candidates elected unopposed across Kashmir Valley

Editor

As the filing of nomination for all the four phases of Urban Local Bodies (UBL) polls in Jammu and Kashmir has ended, 215 candidates have been elected uncontested. The filing of nomination papers for the 4th phase of ULB polls ended today. The 4-phase polls for 79 ULBs in the State would be held on October 8, 10, 13 and 16. Sources said at least 215 candidates in the Valley, who filed their nomination papers for the polls, have been elected unopposed while in over 150 wards, no candidate has…

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UN Chief Guterres concerned over Kashmir Situation

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UN secretary general Antonio Guterres has voiced concern over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir while encouraging “positive dialogue” to resolve the disagreements peacefully. He also said that the UN welcomes a greater role for India in addressing regional peace and security challenges. “On the development front, India already is, and can become an even greater regional development force, helping other countries of the region forge a better future,” Guterres told PTI in an email interview here ahead of his visit to India beginning Monday. He said the UN welcomed…

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In a surprise move centre takes control of indebted lender IL&FS

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The dramatic move, which unfolded within the span of a hectic day in Mumbai, underscores the government’s concern about IL&FS’s defaults spreading to other lenders in the world’s fastest-growing major economy. The government will immediately seize control of a shadow lender whose defaults have caused widespread upheaval at mutual funds, a rebuke that’s only happened to one other firm. Officials were granted approval to oust Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Ltd.’s board and a new six-member board will meet before Oct. 8, the National Company Law Tribunal said on Monday.…

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NC-PDP should stake claim for govt formation, ready to join hands on Article 35A: Altaf Bukhari

Editor

The People’s Democratic Party and National Conference should come together to form the government in the “larger interests” of Jammu and Kashmir, the senior PDP leader and former finance minister Syed Altaf Bukhari said on Friday. “This is the right thing to do (to have the NC-PDP alliance) in the present situation when our identity is under attack,” Bukhari said, when asked about the possibility of the two arch-rivals coming together to form the next government in the state, which is presently under Governor’s rule. Talking to media on the…

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PDP, NC activists intimidating BJP candidates: Ram Madhav

Editor

Ram Madhav, BJP national general secretary, on Friday said like separatists and terror groups, activists of the PDP and the National Conference (NC) were also intimidating candidates filing nominations for the civic bodies elections in the Valley. “We have received information from different parts of Kashmir that PDP and NC workers have threatened BJP activists who filed nominations for the civic bodies elections,” Madhav, who was in Srinagar on Thursday, told mediapersons here. “We have already lodged complaints with the police in this regard and investigation has been initiated,” he…

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