Year: 2019

Despite US saying no Pakistani jet shot down, New Delhi still insists it did

Editor

INDIA has insisted it did shoot down a US-supplied Pakistani Air Force F-16 fighter jet contrary to a recent US report stating the opposite A document published by Foreign Policy on Thursday cited two unnamed US officials who argued a recent count of Pakistan’s F-16s showed none missing after a dogfight with the Indian Air Force (IAF) on February 27. The encounter left at least one Russian-built Indian MiG 21 Bison destroyed. The plane’s pilot was forced to eject and was consequently captured on the Pakistani side of the so-called…

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Kashmir situation being used for gaining political mileage​: Mehbooba Mufti

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Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party BJP are using Kashmir situation for political ends after “miserably failing” to deliver on 2014 election promises. “Militants’ killings, raids on Hurriyat leaders, air strike inside Pakistan are being used by the BJP for political ends. They have failed to deliver on poll promises,” Mehbooba told a public rally at Uri. “I don’t mind being called a soft separatist if the BJP considers talking about resolution of Kashmir issue and safeguarding special status…

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Battle of nerves for Jammu LS seat, Modi to hold rally in Kathua on April 11

Editor

With just days left for polling in the Jammu-Poonch parliamentary seat, arch-rivals BJP and Congress are leaving no stone unturned to reach out to voters in this politically significant Lok Sabha seat in the state. It will witness polling on April 11 in the first phase of the elections for the six seats of Parliament in J&K. With the Congress forging a pre-poll alliance with the National Conference (NC) and the PDP not fielding any candidate to consolidate “secular forces” aimed at stopping the spilt of Muslim votes, the election…

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Security Cover of 919 “Undeserving Persons” removed in J&K, PDP cries foul

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Security cover of 919 “undeserving persons” in Jammu and Kashmir has been withdrawn, thereby freeing 2,768 police personnel and 389 vehicles, the Home Ministry said on Friday. The list of persons whose security cover has been withdrawn by the Jammu and Kashmir administration include 22 separatist leaders, in a clear message to those involved in “anti-national activities”. The move came following the strict stand taken by the central government on inappropriate usage of scarce police resources in Jammu and Kashmir. It was observed by the home ministry that many undeserving…

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Is there a design to fracture mandate in Kashmir as alleged by Omar Abdullah?

Editor

On the stump across Kashmir, the former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has warned of the attempts being made to divide the mandate in Kashmir Valley, apparently to benefit the BJP in the state. Omar’s worry springs from the growing challenge from the otherwise marginal political parties like People’s Conference headed by Sajad Gani Lone and the launching of a political outfit by the IAS officer turned politician Shah Faesal. This, he thinks, will divide the vote in the Valley rendering any Valley-based party incapable of forming the government on…

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After polls, Chowkidar will be behind bars: Rahul Gandhi

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At a massive election rally in Nagpur on Thursday evening, Gandhi said if the Congress and its allies come to power, an inquiry will be conducted against Modi over his alleged involvement in the Rafale deal A day after Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi said in Gondia that Opposition leaders will be in Delhi’s Tihar jail after the polls, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that all those who “claim to be chowkidars will find themselves in jail after the elections”. At a massive election rally in Nagpur on…

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‘Turning Kashmir into Palestine’, allege politicos over barring civilian traffic from highway

Editor

It is a move that could plunge the Kashmir Valley into a perpetual state of crisis. Reeling under New Delhi’s rule at the moment, Jammu and Kashmir has been hit with the controversial decision to ban movement of civilian traffic in for two days a week (Sunday and Wednesday), for free movement of convoys. A statement issued by government in this regard, said, “There will be a complete ban on civilian traffic on the highway during these two days from 4 am to 5 pm. This prohibition will be from…

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Distrust, Discontent and Alienation: Kashmir During the Modi Years

Editor

The Modi government has done little to stem disaffection in the Valley, but a fair amount to intensify it Sorting out some papers, I came across an old essay in an obscure periodical on a topic of contemporary relevance. Published in December 1973 in the Sarvodaya journal Bhoodan-Yagya, it was written (in Hindi) by Chandi Prasad Bhatt, the pioneer of the Chipko andolanand, arguably, of modern Indian environmentalism itself. However, the essay I speak of was not about the major themes of his work, environmentalism and sustainable development – rather, it dealt…

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From Saffron to Green BJP changes its​ color for Kashmir

Editor

While BJP’s national stand is to give a befitting reply to Pakistan’s misadventure, its Anantnag Lok Sabha candidate says, we want good relations with Pakistan Khalid Jehangir, the BJP candidate for Srinagar Lok Sabha polls, on Monday used green colour in newspaper advertisements to remind Valley residents that the hue is often used to woo voters. Jehangir, however, said the use of the colour was not intentional. “I am a saffron man. It hardly matters which colour I use in advertisements,” he told Kashmir Post, adding, “I don’t see colours…

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Outrage across Kashmir Valley over banning​ civilian traffic on the ​highway

Editor

Response in the form of a “joint line of action” will be worked out very soon: Syed Ali Geelani  Highway closure order ‘dictatorial’, govt should withdraw it, says MirwaizHighway open even during Kargil War, rights of people being tampered with: FarooqGovt should formulate a people-friendly strategy, says Azad Omar Abdullah asks the governor to review civilian traffic ban orderCivilian traffic ban on highway ‘unjust, uncalled’ for: MongaTraffic ban tantamount to intrusion on civil liberties: Altaf BukhariDisallowing civilian traffic during convoy movement will prove disaster for economy: KCCIHighway decision taken in…

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