Amidst Constitutional Watershed, Jammu and Kashmir’s Future Hangs in the Balance By: Javid Amin In a seismic legal pronouncement, the Supreme Court’s verdict on Article 370 has thrust Jammu and Kashmir into a state of profound ambiguity. The implications of this landmark decision transcend the legal realm, casting an indelible shadow over the region’s intricate future. Article 370, a constitutional provision historically emblematic of Jammu and Kashmir’s unique status, conferred a measure of autonomy upon the region. Its revocation by the Indian government in 2019 ignited a conflagration of protests…
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Short Naps: A quick fix for better memory, productivity, and health
Napping during the day is an ancient custom that is practiced worldwide. While some people view napping as a luxurious indulgence, others see it as a way to maintain alertness and well-being. But napping can come with drawbacks as well as benefits. As an orofacial pain specialist, I have extensive education in sleep medicine and how sleep impacts wellness, due mostly to the relationship between sleep and painful conditions such as headaches and facial pain. My training involved all aspects of sleep, especially sleep breathing disorders, insomnia and sleep-related movement…
Read MoreCentre to Supreme Court: J&K polls can be held anytime, Statehood timeline undecided
The Union government on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that it is ready for elections at any time in Jammu and Kashmir. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the government, said that the process of updating the voter list is substantially over. Mehta said that the legislative assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are likely to be held after panchayat polls and municipal polls. It is, however, for the State Election Commission and the Central Election Commission to decide which election should take place first, he added. “There are three…
Read MoreKashmir’s Drug Crisis: A Growing Threat to Young People
Kashmir’s Drug Crisis: A Call to Action By: Javid Amin The Himalayan region of Kashmir is facing a growing drug addiction crisis. A recent survey found that nearly a million people in Jammu and Kashmir – around 8% of the region’s population – use drugs of some kind. This is a significant increase from previous years, and experts say it is a major cause for concern. There are a number of factors that have contributed to the rise in drug addiction in Kashmir. One is the long-running conflict between India…
Read MoreRestoration of J&K’s Special Status more important than Statehood: PDP
Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday said that the important issue of Jammu and Kashmir is the snatching away of its special status by abrogation of Article 370 and not the restoration of statehood. PDP chief spokesperson Suhail Bukhari said that the Bharatiya Janata Party government wants to shift the conversation towards statehood and other smaller issues to deviate them from the validity of constitutional changes brought about by the abrogation of Article 370. “We used to talk about the solution of Jammu and Kashmir issue, then they took away special…
Read MoreTragic Incident in Ramban: Two Children and Mother Lose Lives in Fire
The woman’s husband and mother-in-law suffered injuries in the incident in Hummar Gali in the upper reaches of Pogal Paristan, he said. A woman and her two children were killed in a fire that engulfed three huts in a village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district on Wednesday, a police official said. The woman’s husband and mother-in-law suffered injuries in the incident in Hummar Gali in the upper reaches of Pogal Paristan, he said. The huts belonged to members of the Gujjar community and according to preliminary information, Najma Begum…
Read MoreAmarnath Yatra Concludes Peacefully, Over 4.5 Lakh Pilgrims Visit Cave Shrine
Chhari Mubarak (the holy mace) reached Panchtarni and will proceed towards the holy cave shrine on Thursday for the final puja to make the formal end of the 62-day-long Amarnath Yatra 2023. The last batch of yatris left for the cave shrine on August 23 and since then, the pilgrimage has remained suspended, an official said. He said that during the beginning of the yatra this year, there was a good rush of pilgrims; however, later it started declining with each passing day, forcing the authorities to suspend the yatra…
Read MoreKashmir’s Pain Can Only Be Healed by the Return of Pandits: Mehbooba Mufti
Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday visited the ancient Thajiwara temple and met Kashmiri Pandits in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The former chief minister advocated for the return of Kashmiri migrant Pandits and said that the “Painful situation” will dissipate after that. Mufti extended her wishes to Kashmiri Pandits on the occasion of their annual hawan to mark Raksha Bandhan at the temple in Bijbehara. “Despite being a Muslim-majority state, Kashmir has long been celebrated for its co-existence and shared heritage. The visit by Mufti underlined this spirit…
Read MoreKashmir’s Vulnerability to Earthquakes: Is the Region Prepared for the Next Big One?
Experts warn that the earthquake-prone valley must step up its seismic-resilience game. By: Sajid Raina & Attaul Munim Zahid The earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria last year had a profound impact on Kashmir, heightening concerns about the potential devastation caused by earthquakes. This anxiety, although transient in the immediate aftermath of such events, frequently affects the people of Kashmir. From January to June of this year, Jammu and Kashmir experienced 32 seismic events, with magnitudes ranging from 3.2 to 5.4 on the Richter scale. These tremors serve as a stark reminder…
Read MoreArticle 370 Case: Supreme Court Questions J&K Bifurcation, Citing Punjab and Northeast
The Supreme Court of India on the twelfth day of hearing petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir noted that the reorganisation of the state was not ‘one of a kind’ as was pointed out by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. The five judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant noted that the case of Jammu and Kashmir bifurcation was no different than other Indian…
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