Year: 2019

Imran Khan sees better chance of peace talks with India if BJP wins the ​election

Editor

He said Mr. Modi, like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was electioneering based on “fear and nationalist feeling” Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said he thinks there may be a better chance of peace talks with India if Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wins the general election due to begin on April 11. Mr. Khan said that if the next Indian government were led by the opposition Congress party, it might be too scared to seek a settlement with Pakistan over Kashmir, fearing a backlash from the right. “Perhaps if the…

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Observe complete shutdown tomorrow in poll-bound​ constituencies: JRL

Editor

The Joint Resistance leadership (JRL) comprising Hurriyat Conference (G) led by Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat Conference (M) led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has called for a complete shutdown on Thursday, April 11 against the parliamentary elections, NIA “aggression”, closure of highway for civilian traffic twice a week, and recent attack on prisoners in Srinagar Central Jail. The parliamentary polls are going to start Thursday from Baramulla parliamentary constituency. JRL in a statement called for complete shutdown against “NIA aggression which includes the shifting of…

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Anantnag Parliamentary seat has a Non-State subject candidate​ in the ​fray

Editor

For the first time in the electoral history of Jammu and Kashmir, a non-state subject is contesting Lok Sabha elections from the Anantnag parliamentary constituency. Shams Khwaja of Noida in Uttar Pradesh, a lawyer by profession is among the eighteen candidates whose nomination papers were accepted by the district election officer of Anantnag. Khwaja’s nominations as an independent candidate was contested by the opposition parties on the ground that his name was not in the electoral roles of the constituency. However, in his defense Khwaja argued that the constitutional requirement…

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BJP Manifesto: For Kashmir, Not Kashmiris?

Editor

BJP’s reiteration to repeal Articles 370, 35A will have serious repercussions in J&K, further alienating Kashmiri youth. Nowhere in the country have people reposed their faith in institutions of democracy as much as the people of Jammu and Kashmir, even braving bullets to reiterate their belief in ballots. While the rest of the country continues to celebrate the day of election, for people in Kashmir it can mean a tryst with death. Yet, people come out and risk their lives to assert their right to vote. Imagine who it feels…

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If problem of just two districts, Why to lockdown whole highway:​ Omar asks Modi

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference party, vice-president, Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the “ensuing Lok Sabha election provides an opportunity to send credible and strong voices to parliament.” Addressing a mammoth gathering at Naidkhai Sonawari, party vice president said, “How can Mehbooba be trusted with protecting state’s special status when she was the one who implemented GST in the state? We impressed upon her not to implement it. We raised our voice against the implantation of GST in state. We told her that the implementation of GST will infringe…

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As BJP vows to revoke special rights, Kashmir leaders warn of ‘Unimaginable Repercussions’

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)is widely expected to retain power after the Lok Sabha election that starts on Thursday, though with a much smaller mandate, hit by concerns over a shortage of jobs and weak farm prices. It pledged to spend Rs 100 trillion rupees on infrastructure in the next five years to help create jobs for the millions entering the workforce each year. Pollsters say BJP’s re-election bid got a boost from recent hostilities with arch-rival Pakistan, after the Jaish-e-Mohammed based in the country claimed a…

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RSS leader Chandrakant Sharma killed, Curfew imposed, Internet suspended, Army called in Kishtwar

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The Rashtriya Swayamasevak Sangh (RSS) leader Chandrakant Sharma who was critically injured after a gunman opened fire on him in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir has died, officials said. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jammu spokesperson Arun Gupta confirmed Singh’s death to Kashmir Post. “Chandrakant ji succumbed to injuries in Kishtwar,” Gupta told Kashmir Post. Sharma’s personal security officer was also killed in the attack at the district hospital Kishtwar.Curfew has been imposed in Kishtwar, Doda and Bhadarwah town as a precautionary measure, said a police official. Curfew was imposed…

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Article 370 hindering the ​development of J&K, People now want Change: PM Narendra Modi

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PM Modi said it was former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s policies which were being an obstacle for the development in the Valley. The people of Kashmir want a change, including Article 35A and Article 370 as they hinder development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. “The problem in Kashmir is largely due to the 50-odd political families there. They have been milking the issue. They don’t want any benefit to be given to the common Kashmiri people. They are using public sentiment for political gains. The income tax department has cracked…

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Is India really ready to Integrate and Assimilate Kashmir and Kashmiris?

Editor

By targeting Kashmiri students, did fanatic groups not undermine India’s message? And by not acting firmly against them, did Modi send the right message to Kashmir and Kashmiris about their future with India? “The Kashmir conflict will be resolved within the parameters of insaniyat (humanity),Kashmiriyat (composite secular, eclectic Kashmiri culture) and jamhooriyat(democracy),” were the words of our late prime minister A.B. Vajpayee. While growing up in Kashmir during the early 2000s (when NDA-I was in power), one could see a deepening of jamhooriyat in the backdrop of the humane policy (insaniyat) of the Central government.…

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BJP is playing with fire: J&K parties hit BJP over Articles 370, 35A poll pledge

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The BJP’s manifesto for the general elections has stirred a hornets’ nest with political parties in Kashmir insisting that the proposal to scrap Article 370 and Article 35A of the Constitution is a dangerous move. Mainstream political parties in Kashmir on Monday termed the BJP’s proposal to scrap Article 370 and Article 35 A in its manifesto as dangerous which will have far reaching consequences and will end relations of state with India. The BJP in its election manifesto released in Delhi had said that party’s position on Article 370 has…

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