September 2023 | Page 11 of 11

Combatting Youth Drug Addiction: A Multi-Front Battle in Kashmir, from Mosques to Classrooms

September 3, 2023 Editor

Religious centres and educational institutions are assuming a new role in Kashmir by doubling up as counselling and testing centres to curb the fast-spreading menace of drugs. These rare interventions come as the Valley is battling a drug addiction crisis; over 10 lakh people were officially designated drug addicts by the Jammu and Kashmir administration this year. Otherwise restricted for the clergy, the pulpit at Magam Imambara in north Kashmir’s Baramulla, where Shia Muslims organise large religious congregations, recently saw Muzaffar Khan, a clinical psychologist who heads the Drug De-Addiction and Rehabilitation…

J&K Transport Association’s Strike brings Jammu to Partial Standstill

September 2, 2023 Editor

The All Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association (AJKTWA) called a strike on Friday, September 1, 2023, to press their demand for the removal of a toll plaza along the Jammu-Pathankot highway. The strike caused a partial standstill in Jammu, with public transport not operational and commuters and students facing difficulties. The members of the AJKTWA staged a protest at the toll plaza, demanding its immediate removal. They said that the toll plaza is causing financial hardship to them and their families. They also said that the toll plaza is…

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Under House Arrest for 210th Consecutive Friday, Calls for Release Grow Louder

September 2, 2023 Editor

The prolonged house detention of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a prominent religious figure, has sparked concern and calls for his release. Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar expressed deep dissatisfaction with the authorities for keeping him under house arrest for over four years. In an official statement, the Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid emphasized that today marks the 210th consecutive Friday that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been denied the opportunity to perform his vital religious duties, such as offering Friday prayers and delivering sermons. The statement further lamented that due to his extended…

Opposition Alliance names Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti to Lead Election Campaign

September 1, 2023 Editor

In a significant development, the INDIA alliance, a coalition of opposition parties, has revealed key appointments and committee members in preparation for the upcoming elections. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have been selected as vital members of the coordination committee and election strategy committee within the alliance. Sources suggest that the National Conference will not yield any of its Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir to other partners in the coalition. In the previous parliamentary elections, the National Conference secured all three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir, defeating…

Kashmir leaders slam BJP for ‘Peddling Lies’ in Supreme Court hearing on Article 370

September 1, 2023 Editor

Political parties and leader across Jammu and Kashmir have expressed their disappointment in the submissions by the Union government in the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday. After solicitor general Tushar Mehta submitted in the apex court that the Union government is ready for elections at any time in J&K but cannot provide a timeline for restoration of its statehood, former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti accused the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre of peddling lies before the SC. National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), People’s…

Wazwan: The Pride of Kashmir, or Just a Symbol of Inequality?

September 1, 2023September 1, 2023 Editor

The psychological impact that such standards of hosting weddings in Kashmir create has been beautifully depicted in a recent Coke studio song By: Romana Majeed Probably everyone has heard of the word wazwan and knows what it is. Literally speaking waze means cook and wan means shop but wazwan in real is the ultimate banquet in Kashmir which is served on special occasions. It is the ultimate feast in Kashmir that is prepared on important occasions. It is the pinnacle of Kashmiri culinary art. When Timur invaded Hindustan in 1398, he took with him chefs (Waze) from the land of Samarkand (Uzbekistan).…

Meteorological Forecast: September expected to be the Driest Month of the Year for Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh

September 1, 2023 Editor

This year, May and June saw early and unprecedented heat conditions across J&K. May, June, and July months were the warmest. September would be one of the driest months of the year for Jammu and Kashmir as well as Ladakh as there is no prediction of any major precipitation for the first two weeks of the month. “Climatologically also, September is the driest month of the year for J&K and Ladakh. No significant weather expected for next 2 weeks,” MeT Director Sonam Lotus wrote on X (Formerly twitter) on Thursday.…

Kapil Sibal Criticizes Centre’s Approach to Jammu and Kashmir Situation: Democracy and Development in Question

September 1, 2023September 1, 2023 Editor

Centre is making Mockery of Democracy: Kapil Sibal

Debate on Democracy and Development Intensifies Amid Ongoing Legal Proceedings In a significant turn of events, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal has raised strong concerns over the Centre’s approach towards the ongoing situation in Jammu and Kashmir. His comments came as a response to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s assertions regarding the state of affairs following the abrogation of Article 370. On the 13th day of the ongoing hearing, Mehta emphasized the progress witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir post-Article 370’s abrogation. He argued that the right individuals were placed under house arrest…