The Supreme Court of India wrapped up its hearings on a series of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 on Tuesday afternoon, marking a significant milestone in a contentious legal battle. The extensive arguments, which commenced on August 2 and continued daily, were presented before a five-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court, presided over by Chief Justice of India, DY Chandarchud. Throughout the proceedings, prominent legal minds, including Gopal Subramaniam, Dr. Dhawan, Adv. Dave, and Advocate Kapil Sibal, among others, passionately debated the constitutionality of the Indian government’s…
Read MoreMonth: September 2023
India may rename itself to Bharat, reflecting Ancient Roots
In recent reports, there is a growing contemplation within the Indian government regarding a potential name change for the nation, from “India” to “Bharat.” The term “Bharat” has deep historical roots and is still widely used across many Indian languages. Although there has been no official declaration from the government concerning this potential change, public reactions have been varied. Some view it as an opportunity to reconnect with our ancient heritage, while others see it as an unnecessary and potentially confusing alteration. It remains too early to definitively predict whether…
Read MoreIndia’s World Cup 2023 Squad Revealed: KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan In, Samson, Chahal, Ashwin Out
Indian cricket team’s squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup has been revealed, and there are some big changes from the team that played in the 2019 World Cup. The biggest surprise is the inclusion of KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan, who have both been in excellent form in recent months. Rahul has been in top form in all formats of the game, while Kishan has been a revelation in the IPL. Another surprise is the exclusion of Sanju Samson, who was a member of the 2019 World Cup squad.…
Read MorePresidential Invite for G20 Dinner Sparks Opposition Debate: ‘India’ Or ‘Bharat’?
Opposition Alleges Rashtrapati Bhavan Used ‘President of Bharat’ in G20 Dinner Invite The opposition Congress party on Tuesday alleged that the Rashtrapati Bhavan had sent out an invite for a G20 dinner, with the invite reading ‘President of Bharat’ instead of the ‘President of India.’ Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the development was “deeply disturbing” and that it “undermines the basic values of our Constitution.” He also said that the Article 1 of the Constitution, which defines India as a “Union of States,” would now have to be changed…
Read MoreOmar Abdullah denies coalition rumours with BJP: Calls them Baseless
National Conference leader and former Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir said that there was no question of joining hands with the Bhartiya Janta Party while maintaining that alliance with PDP will be decided only with time. “Those spreading and starting this narrative that JKNC was going to join BJP for power are those who are in hands in glove with them. (BJP) First, they need to answer why are/ were they with they BJP enjoying the privileges and benefits from BJP,” Omar Abdullah told Quint during an interview, without naming…
Read MoreTruth at Risk: Mehbooba raises concerns over Journalism in Kashmir
Mehbooba Mufti Expresses Concerns Over Truth in Jammu and Kashmir Following BBC Report on Journalism in the Region Truth has become a casualty and stating facts can invite punishment in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said on Monday. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief was reacting to the Jammu and Kashmir Police warning of legal action against the BBC for a report titled “Any story could be your last: India’s crackdown on Kashmir Press” on the state of journalism in the Union…
Read MoreKashmir’s dark side: How black magic is destroying lives
By : Mehr-u-Nisa Zargar By early May, Shoby Jan, a resident of the Kachdoora area in south Kashmir’s Shopian allegedly showed an immense transformation in her behaviour. It was not normal. After days of struggle, her husband Muzaffar Ahmed Sheikh got in touch with a faith healer from Qazigund in the Kulgam district. The “faith healer” came to her house in Kachdoora and right away said, Shoby was possessed by a Djinn. After the “revelation” Shoby started facing a social boycott. Nobody visited her or went close to talk to…
Read MoreStabbing in Srinagar Claims Life of Teenager
A juvenile on Saturday stabbed to death a 15-year-old boy in Srinagar, sending shock waves across the city. The incident happened in Chinar Bagh area of Dalgate in Srinagar and the accused was arrested. “A juvenile (name withheld) apprehended for stabbing and murdering a 15-year-old boy in Chinar Bagh area. The weapon of offence was also recovered on the instance of the accused. This knife was thrown by the accused in a marshy area after the crime. FIR No 36/2023 was registered in Kothibagh Police Station,” Police said in a…
Read MoreKashmir’s Mental Health Crisis: The Invisible Scars of Conflict
After consulting with several doctors in the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, Aayat Hameed was advised to seek help from a mental health expert for her bouts of unspecified anxiety, random palpitation attacks and occasional but strong suicidal thoughts. A psychiatrist diagnosed her with acute depression. On a recent hot summer day, Hameed was among scores of other patients visiting a mental health clinic in Srinagar, where she had been undergoing rounds of counselling along with prescription medication. “I realized seeing a psychiatrist or reaching out to someone you trust…
Read MoreKashmir Grapples with Prolonged Dry Spell: 80% of Region Experiencing Moderate to Severe Dryness
By Faizan Arif Over the past four weeks, Jammu and Kashmir has been grappling with a significant shortfall in rainfall. According to India Meteorological Department data related to the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), approximately 80 percent of the area in Kashmir region (8 out of 10 districts), has been impacted by moderate to extreme dryness between August 3rd and August 30th. The SPI, relying on precipitation data, is a widely utilized index for characterizing meteorological drought on a range of timescales. This index is negative for drought and positive for…
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